Why Fans Might Not See Kate Middleton Again Until October

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It's a bad day for fans of the Duchess of Cambridge, because it looks like Kate Middleton might be out of the public eye until October.

Sure, Middleton might have been out and smiling while holding her daughter Princess Charlotte's hand during the royal wedding over the weekend, but we regret to inform you that her Alexander McQueen-clad appearance was a very special exception.

"It is traditional for new royal mums to take a six-month break from official engagements," royal biographer Duncan Larcombe explained to Harper's Bazaar. (With the Royal Wedding mayhem, it's easy to forget that Prince Louis was born only a few weeks ago.) "The wedding doesn’t count because it was a 'family affair' but other than that, she will pick and choose her engagements."

A maternity leave makes sense, and seems particularly well-earned considering that Middleton was still hitting the pavement for royal engagements only a few weeks before giving birth to her third child.

"If she wanted, Kate could disappear into the background until October!" Larcombe added.

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But don't bust out the tissues quite yet, Kate Middleton stans, because there is a glimmer of hope: The Duchess of Cambridge might make an exception to her maternity leave for a family affair in June for Queen Elizabeth's official birthday celebration, "Trooping of the Colour."

Keep an eye out for her (and her fancy hats) there, but in the meantime, take solace in Meghan Markle holding down the royal street style fort.