Where Is Kate Middleton? Prince William Spotted In Scotland Sans Wife, Kids

They enjoyed a summer trip together to visit Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip before their children went back to school, but it appears Prince William has now gone on a solo trip to Balmoral and left his wife, Kate Middleton, behind.

According to Hello! Magazine, the Duke of Cambridge attended church services with his grandmother on Sunday in the town of Crathie Kirk, Scotland, but his wife and kids were not present. It’s unclear if they simply stayed home from church, or if they were actually still in England instead.

The couple’s lack of appearing together comes after a year which saw them get a rough start, as they became the focus of infidelity rumors when it was reported Middleton had cut off her friend Rose Hanbury after her husband allegedly cheated with her during Middleton’s third pregnancy. The reports were later proven to be false, though they did allegedly force the couple to reexamine their nearly 20-year romance.

“Kate found the rumors hurtful, obviously, and hates the thought that one day her children will be able to read about them online, a Middleton family friend revealed in June. “It forced her and William to sit back and examine their relationship, which they realized they should have been doing more often.”

However, some may also wonder if there was another purpose to Prince William's seemingly solo visit, as rumors have often floated that he would succeed the throne ahead of his father, Prince Charles, despite Queen Elizabeth officially naming her son as her successor in the past.

Of course, while he was the only one pictured with the Queen, the publication notes that much like when he and his wife brought their children to Balmoral in August, he wasn’t the only one there this weekend. In fact, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, were also spotted at the Sunday service.