Since entering the royal family, Kate Middleton has become extremely popular among the public. Today, the mother of three is taking on many royal duties and engagements while also raising her and Prince William’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Royal life can be stressful, and even though they have much help from nannies and aides, it can still be too much. Even as royals, the family has to come first.

Now, Kate has decided to take a break from her royal activities and, according to The Mirror, it is because of one very special person.

It’s been a very hectic year for the royal family. When Queen Elizabeth passed away in September last year, everything changed, as the senior royal family members suddenly had to take on new responsibilities.

William and Kate understandably do their best to juggle family life and royal duties. However, the last year has meant more than just long hours.

Kate Middleton has dealt with anxiety and stress, royal expert claims

According to royal correspondent Jenny Bond, their workload was crazy following the queen’s death.

“It’s been a brutal [work] schedule for William and Catherine and they’ve got a very young family,” Bond told OK!, adding, “I think the work-life balance must have been difficult these past few weeks and, let’s face it, it’s not going to get any easier with their new responsibilities.”

Royal expert Katie Nicholl, author of the new book The New Royals, said it hasn’t just had an effect on William and Kate’s work-life balance. In fact, she claims that the workload, the move to Windsor, and the queen’s passing caused William and Kate significant anxiety and stress.

“They’ve said that themselves… that this hasn’t been the settling period that they had hoped for,” Nicholl said on TalkTV’s show The Royal Tea.

“Of course, they made that big move just after the summer holidays to move to Windsor. A significant and pretty bold move leaving Kensington Palace, enrolling the children in new schools, and setting up a new life for themselves in Windsor,” she added.

“I think, really, so that they could be below the radar and have this normal family life which they are pretty successful in having. Of course, no one could have expected that the queen would have died just at the start of all of that. Very, very difficult times. I think behind the scenes there is a fair bit of stress and anxiety for all of the family.”

William & Kate criticized for “not pulling their weight

While this year has been very special, with new routines and duties to fulfill, some say that Prince William and Kate Middleton aren’t doing enough. According to OK! Magazine sources, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been accused of “not pulling their weight” after being put in a “difficult position.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla went abroad not too long ago, and there is a big plan for a tour of the Commonwealth, including a trip to Australia. Meanwhile, according to the news outlet, tensions are growing over what role Prince William and Princess Kate will play in overseas visits.

“There’s a growing feeling that William and Kate aren’t pulling their weight. They are the future of the monarchy and are themselves senior members of the Royal Family,” a source told OK!.

Another source said that the couple is in a problematic spot not because of their duties but because they have to juggle royal responsibilities and raise their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, simultaneously.

“William and Kate have been put in a very difficult position of choosing between the right path for their family or the future of the monarchy. Both are very important to them, but they have decided to put their children first while they are so young,” a source told the magazine.

When Prince William, Kate, and their children moved to Windsor and their new home of Adelaide Cottage, it was also time for the kids to change schools.

Where do the royal children go to school?

Previously, Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended Thomas’ Battersea school, while Prince Louis spent his days at Willcocks Nursery School. Now, all three children attend Lambrook School, located only a 15-minute walk from George, Charlotte, and Louis’ home.