Why Kate Middleton Isn't Joining Prince William on His New York City Trip

The Prince and Princess of Wales traveled to the U.S. together late last year, visiting Boston for the second Earthshot Prize awards ceremony

Prince William is back in the United States — without his wife, Kate Middleton.

The Prince of Wales, 41, touched down in New York City for a two-day visit this week. In addition to events on Monday, the highlight of his stateside visit will be Tuesday's Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, where this year's finalists will be unveiled. The event serves as a rev up to the 2023 Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, which will take place in Singapore on Nov. 7. William launched the Earthshot Prize in 2020 to promote impactful approaches to pressing environmental challenges, with plans to award the prizes until 2030.

It will be a solo trip, with Princess Kate, 41, staying back in the U.K. There was likely a practical reason for the decision: their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Although the family has the help of longtime nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, Prince William and Princess Kate regularly drive their kids to school and make sure at least one of them is home most evenings for their return.

Related: Kate Middleton and Prince William Ignite the Earthshot Prize! Peek Behind the Scenes with Backstage Photos

The Prince and Princess of Wales are working to ensure George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5, have normal upbringings while simultaneously preparing them for their future royal roles — especially Prince George, who is second in the line of succession to the throne.

"It's a massive balancing act," a palace insider previously told PEOPLE exclusively. "William and Kate are doing the right thing, protecting him so he can have as normal a childhood as possible, but he's also dipping into duties as a future monarch."

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Kate also had her own outing in the U.K. on Monday. She visited the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, one of the Royal Navy's two principal air stations and one of the busiest military airfields in the U.K.

The Princess of Wales was recently named Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm by King Charles. She took over the role from Prince Andrew, who held the role until 2022.

It will also be a quick trip to the Big Apple for Prince William. He'll likely head back to the U.K. shortly after his outings in the U.S. wrap, as King Charles and Queen Camilla are also heading overseas that week. Buckingham Palace previously announced that the royal couple will head to France from Sept. 20 to Sept. 22 for a state visit. King Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 76, were originally scheduled to visit the country in March, but they postponed the trip due to riots happening across France at the time.

Although Prince William is not required to be in the U.K. when his father is overseas, he is one of the King's Counsellors of State — one of the royals who can carry out constitutional duties for King Charles if he is abroad or unwell.

Princess Kate may not be joining Prince William in New York, but she's a strong supporter of his Earthshot Prize endeavor. She accompanied her husband to the previous awards shows, including the inaugural event held in London in 2021.

Related: Prince William Is 'Very Excited' to Take Earthshot Prize Awards to Asia, CEO Says (Exclusive)

Late last year, the royal couple traveled to Boston for the second ceremony. In addition to supporting Prince William's project, Kate made a solo outing during the trip to Harvard University's Center on the Developing Child, relating to her work on early childhood development and providing children with the best possible start in life.

Prince William and Princess Kate visited the U.S. in an official capacity on two previous occasions — in 2011, just a few months after their royal wedding, Kate and Prince William traveled to California after a tour of Canada, and in 2014, they spent time in New York City. Their time in the city that never sleeps included meeting JAY-Z and Beyoncé at a Brooklyn Nets game, visiting the National September 11 Memorial and a gala dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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