Princess Kate Makes Heartfelt Admission About Prince George as His Long-Awaited Eton Homecoming Arrives

The Princess of Wales has revealed that she has been missing her eldest son, Prince George, since he began boarding school, and is eagerly anticipating having him back at home during the upcoming school break.

George, 13, enrolled at Eton College last month and is expected to return home tomorrow for his first extended break, known as “long leave”.

His younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, will also finish their term at Lambrook School tomorrow, beginning a two-week half-term holiday.

Catherine spoke about her children during a visit to a charity shop and café in Norfolk supporting East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

While meeting customers who were surprised by her appearance, the Princess was asked how George, Charlotte and Louis were getting on at school.

Denise Ashton, 68, was enjoying time with two friends when the Princess of Wales approached their table for a friendly conversation.

Recalling their exchange, Denise revealed that Catherine had spoken about how much she was looking forward to being reunited with her eldest son during the school holidays.

She explained: “She said she’s looking forward to George coming home – she’s missed him.”

Denise also suggested that the Wales family might have plans to spend some time away together during the upcoming break.

She added: “They may be going somewhere (during the break).”

The touching admission comes just weeks after Catherine and her husband, Prince William, were photographed accompanying George to his first day at the prestigious Eton College.

By enrolling at the historic boarding school, the young prince is following in his father’s footsteps, as William also attended Eton during his teenage years.

As news of Catherine’s visit spread, local residents began gathering outside the charity shop, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Princess of Wales.

During her conversations with well-wishers, Catherine took a particular interest in the children who had come to see her, asking whether their half-term holidays had already begun.

When one young boy explained that he was finishing school that day, the Princess responded by sharing her own excitement about the approaching break.

She told him: “My children break up tomorrow and I can’t wait to have them all home.”

The Princess of Wales made an unexpected appearance at Café 98 in Hoveton, a unique venue operated by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

The café, which is situated inside one of the charity’s retail shops, is the organisation’s first and only establishment of its kind. Because of its limited space, Catherine’s visit had been kept confidential until her arrival.

Customers enjoying refreshments and looking through second-hand clothing were astonished when the future Queen walked through the doors.

As Catherine approached the counter to introduce herself to catering manager Morgan Neary, several women sitting nearby caught her attention with an unexpected invitation.

They asked: “Do you want to see our shopping?”

The Princess immediately showed an interest, responding: “Oh yes please,” before joining them at their table.

She then asked: “Do you come in here quite a bit?”

Essie Landsborough, 75, who was sitting opposite Denise Ashton, answered “yes” and began searching through her shopping bag.

She proudly produced a box containing two port sippers, giving Catherine a closer look at her unusual charity-shop discovery.

Examining the items, the Princess reflected on the enjoyment of finding unexpected bargains in second-hand stores.

She remarked: “You never know what you’re going to find [in a charity shop]. That’s what’s so nice. If feels a bit more like a treasure hunt.”

Surprised by Catherine’s enthusiasm, Essie asked: “Do you go to charity shops?”

The Princess confirmed that she was no stranger to browsing second-hand stores.

She replied: “Yes I do,” before adding: “I love going round a charity shop. When I was up at university in St Andrews there were a lot of charity shops.”

Catherine’s visit also included a tour of the upstairs sorting area, where volunteers examine donated clothing and assess its condition before items are placed on sale.

During her conversations with the team, one volunteer explained that the rising cost of living had encouraged customers to purchase second-hand “party wear” rather than buying new outfits.

The Princess welcomed the idea of giving clothing another opportunity to be worn, observing: “So much just goes to waste – should be given another life.”

She then joined volunteer Christine Rich to help sort through a selection of donated garments.

While examining the clothes, Catherine discovered an expensive-looking coat that had unfortunately been damaged by moths.

Reacting to its condition, she said: “that’s a shame” and was instructed to place the garment in the “imperfect” pile.

The Princess also took time to learn about the people who dedicate their time to supporting the charity.

She discovered that volunteers come from a variety of age groups, including younger people and retirees who contribute their skills and free time.

Reflecting on the importance of making volunteering more accessible, Catherine said: “I sometimes think people want to volunteer but they don’t know how…(we) need to make it a bit easier if they want to volunteer.”

Before her surprise appearance at the charity shop, the Princess of Wales had spent almost an hour meeting children and their families during a moving visit to The Treehouse hospice in Ipswich.

The specialist facility provides respite care and palliative support for children and young people living with life-limiting conditions. It also offers bereavement services to families coping with the loss of a loved one.

Catherine, who officially opened The Treehouse in March 2012, returned to see the hospice’s work firsthand and spend time with those benefiting from its services.

During her tour, the Princess visited the music therapy room and explored a specially designed sensory space featuring atmospheric lighting, a water bed and a projector.

One particularly memorable encounter involved 13-year-old Charlotte Freegard, who lives with nemaline myopathy, a rare genetic condition affecting the muscles.

Catherine joined Charlotte at the piano as the teenager performed Perfect, the popular song by Ed Sheeran.

The Princess listened attentively before applauding enthusiastically at the end of the performance, praising the young singer as ‘brilliant’.

Clearly impressed by Charlotte’s singing, Catherine told her: “Charlotte, that was beautifully sung. Well done, you.”

The Princess of Wales praised the range of musical instruments available to children at The Treehouse, highlighting how creative activities can help young people communicate and enjoy themselves.

Speaking to 13-year-old Charlotte Freegard following her performance, Catherine asked: “You’re able to express yourself and really enjoy yourself?”

Charlotte responded enthusiastically: “Definitely.”

During the visit, Catherine also spent time with four-year-old Primrose Harvey, who was born with hypoplastic right-heart syndrome, a rare congenital condition affecting the development of the right side of the heart.

Primrose regularly attends The Treehouse with her parents, who rely on the hospice’s specialist services and family support.

Her mother, Katie Harvey, explained to the Princess that her daughter had already undergone three heart operations. The first took place when Primrose was just six days old, while her most recent surgery had been performed only two weeks earlier.

Moved by the family’s experiences, Catherine praised both the little girl and her parents for their courage.

She told Katie: “Super brave girl and brave parents too.”

Following their conversation, Mrs Harvey described meeting the Princess as “lovely” and welcomed the opportunity to explain how much the hospice means to her family.

She said: “It was really lovely just to talk about, you know, how amazing Each is for us as a family. It’s really nice for her to come here and see first-hand how much they do for families.”

Another young person Catherine met was 11-year-old Freddie Ormrod, who lives with Leigh syndrome, a rare mitochondrial genetic disorder that causes epileptic seizures and severe physical disabilities.

Freddie demonstrated his enjoyment of music by playing chimes and a tambourine while the Princess watched.

His father, James Ormrod, jokingly remarked that there was a limit to how long he could listen to the sound of the chimes.

Catherine responded with a lighthearted observation about the musical preferences in her own family.

She said: “It is noisy. Often in our household, the noisier the instrument the better.”

The Princess also met parents who had experienced the loss of a child and continue to receive emotional support through the hospice’s bereavement services.

She listened as they shared their personal experiences and offered comfort to one parent with a hug.

Earlier in the engagement, Catherine had exchanged her dark green blazer and matching trousers for protective construction equipment, putting on a white hard hat and an orange high-visibility vest.

The Princess toured the building site where The Treehouse is undergoing a major expansion designed to improve the facilities available to children and their families.

The redevelopment, expected to be completed in 2028, will include a new hydrotherapy pool, a dedicated wellbeing and therapy suite, and an additional bedroom to increase the hospice’s capacity.

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