Princess Kate's 'heartbreak' she keeps hidden during royal tours

Princess Kate keeps a secret "heartbreak" hidden during royal tours, according to a royal expert.

When she undertakes her official royal duties, the Princess of Wales is rarely seen looking anything less than picture-perfect.

She is all smiles as she chats with people during her engagements, and she always seems thrilled to be there - representing the crown.

Even on engagement-packed royal tours, which see the undertake gruelling schedules and represent the UK overseas, her smile never wavers.

However, a royal expert has claimed that beneath this exterior, there is a particular aspect of these foreign tours that is really difficult for Kate emotionally, and something she has reportedly struggled with for years.

Author and royal expert Katie Nicholl has travelled with William and Kate on various royal tours over the years.

She says that as a dedicated, hands-on mother, the Princess of Wales struggles to be away from her three children - Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six - for extended periods.

Nicholl told the : "Kate wants to be modern, she wants to be hands-on, she wants to be present."

The royal expert added that the vast amount of wealth and privilege that comes with being the future Queen doesn't make it any easier for Kate when she has to spend time away from her children.

Nicholl also claimed that when Kate and William visited Bhutan back in 2016, Kate admitted how tricky she was finding the separation.

"Despite being the Duchess of Cambridge and being able to afford around-the-clock nannies and so on, she had her mum looking after Prince George and Princess Charlotte, which struck me as just really normal," the royal expert said.

"I could see how much comfort and confidence that gave her in getting on with her job, which she does brilliantly, but I think it is always such a wrench for her to leave her children behind."

It has recently been reported that Kate and William have implemented a parenting rule to ensure their children's wellbeing in this regard - with one of them trying to stay at home with George, Charlotte, and Louis wherever possible, whilst the other travels abroad.

However, there will be future royal engagements away from home that require the presence of both the future King and Queen, so occasionally they will likely have to leave the children in the capable hands of extended family and childcare professionals.