Princess Kate and Prince William end seven-week absence from Royal Family duties with joint engagement

They observed the Museum’s newly transformed gardens and met children and young people taking part in learning programmes which see them connecting with nature and boosting biodiversity in urban areas.

In addition, Kate and William were shown how cutting-edge technology is being used around the garden to inform the Museum’s conservation and research biodiversity projects.

The royals joined school children from Lewisham who were taking part in a pond dipping session.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also met students from Manchester who had created new habitats on their school grounds through the National Education Nature Park programme.

The couple's last public appearance came at the men's singles final at Wimbledon on July 13.

Prince William and Princess Kate usually take time off over August to spend the six-week school holiday with their young children.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have returned to school this week.

The three young royals are pupils at Lambrook School, a preparatory school located in Windsor.

This summer holiday held particular importance for Prince George, who enters Year 8 upon his return to Lambrook this week.

This marks his final academic year at the preparatory school.

Lambrook provides education through to Year 8, with pupils typically aged 13.

George is scheduled to finish his studies there in the summer of 2026, before transitioning to secondary education.

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will continue their education at Lambrook for several more years.

Charlotte has multiple academic years remaining before she moves to secondary school, whilst Louis has only recently begun his preparatory school experience.