Kate Middleton and Prince William expected outing in 2024 draws speculation

Princess Kate and Prince William, who faced backlash due to their ‘lazy’ behaviour in 2023 are subjects of intrigue as enthusiasts eagerly await clues about their first outing of the year.

According to the reports of PEOPLE, the Prince and Princess of Wales usually do not have scheduled royal obligations in the initial weeks of January, as their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, are on a school break.

William and Kate commonly reduce their royal commitments to enjoy quality time with their children during school vacations, exemplifying their distinctive approach to parenting compared to previous generations of royals.

A palace insider previously told PEOPLE, "Those children look pretty happy with life," adding, "A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings — and that's how she grew up. William absolutely loves it."

George,10 Charlotte,8, and Louis,5, are scheduled to resume classes at Lambrook School on January 8, 2024.

In the previous year, Prince William and Princess Kate marked their initial public engagement of 2023 on January 12, coinciding with the release of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare.

As Kate approaches her 42nd birthday this weekend, the upcoming celebration is likely to precede her actual birthday on Tuesday.

While her birthday observance is typically a private and understated affair, the tradition involves commemorating the occasion at their country residence in Norfolk, Anmer Hall.

Read also: Inside Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton Carol service 2023

This includes extending invitations to family and friends for several days filled with activities such as shooting and other countryside pursuits.

The roster of attendees has previously featured Princes Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, William's lifelong companion Tom van Straubenzee and his spouse Lucy Lanigan-O'Keeffe, James Meade and his wife Laura, as well as neighbours and longtime friends Sophie Snuggs and Robert.

During past birthday weekends, Kate and William have been observed participating in a church service at St. Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where the royal family recently observed Christmas.

They have already solidified many plans for the upcoming year, hinting at potential international travel, with Rome, Italy, being mentioned as a possible destination.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will continue their respective initiatives, with Prince William advancing his Homewards initiative aimed at addressing homelessness, while Kate spearheads the Shaping Us program to champion early childhood development. Additionally, Prince William is set to promote the fourth year of his Earthshot Prize later in the year.