Why Kate Middleton Wasn't at Prince Charles' Garden Party Today

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Today, most of the young royals were working: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did their first event as a married couple, attending Prince Charles' 70th birthday garden party celebration. Prince William attended a remembrance service for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing, which happened one year ago today. But his wife Kate Middleton wasn't seen at all—and she won't be, at least at any official royal work engagements for the next couple months.

Middleton, after all, just gave birth to her third child Prince Louis on April 23. This is her maternity leave, though she will and has made exceptions for family affairs. The royal wedding for Markle and Harry that she attended this weekend is one example.

Kate Middleton at the royal wedding on May 19, 2018.

"It is traditional for new royal mums to take a six-month break from official engagements," royal biographer Duncan Larcombe told HarpersBazaar.com. "The wedding doesn’t count because it was a 'family affair' but other than that, she will pick and choose her engagements. If she wanted, Kate could disappear into the background until October!" He speculates that Middleton could make an appearance in June, at the Queen's official birthday party, the Trooping of the Colour.

She did that before, attending the event after giving birth to Princess Charlotte just a month before. Princess Charlotte was born on May 2, 2015. Middleton was out at the Trooping of the Colour on June 13, 2015. Middleton's last event before giving birth was on March 27, 2015.

Kate at the Stephen Lawrence Centre at her last event before giving birth.

Kate outside of the hospital with newborn Princess Charlotte.

Kate at the Trooping of the Colour.

The next time the Duchess of Cambridge was photographed publicly was the next day, at Gigaset Charity Polo Match on June 14, 2015. Her husband William played in the match, so she was there to support him with her firstborn, Prince George:

Charlotte's baptism, a family event on July 5, 2015, brought the full family out, including the Queen:

Middleton also attended the Wimbledon championship on July 8 and the America's Cup World Series event with her husband on July 26, 2015. But she didn't do her first solo event until September 17, 2015, when she went to the Anna Freud Centre and debuted bangs. But she chose to take an almost 6-month maternity leave that time.

Kate at Wimbledon.

Kate with William at the World Series event.

Kate at the Anna Freud Centre during her first solo event.

Prince George was born on July 22, 2013. Middleton's last work outing was June 13 that year; her last public appearance was at the Trooping of the Colour on June 15, a family event. Middleton was next seen with Prince William at the Ring O'Fire Anglesey Costal Ultra Marathon on August 30, 2013, so roughly a month after giving birth. She attended the Tusk Conservation Awards on September 12, 2013 with William but did her first solo event on October 18, 2013. It was the Sportaid Athlete Workshop, and the Duchess played volleyball in wedge heels. Her maternity leave then was about 4 months.

Kate at the Princess Cruises’s Royal Princess naming ceremony, her last work engagement before giving birth.

Kate at the Trooping of the Colour, her last appearance before giving birth.

Kate with newborn Prince George.

Kate with William at the Ultra Marathon.

Kate at the Tusk Conversation Awards with William.

Kate at her first solo event, the Sportaid Athlete Workshop.