Buckingham Palace has a detailed contingency plan in place in the event of Princess Kate Middleton's death, according to a forthcoming book by royal commentator Bertrand Deckers. The protocol, named "Operation Reading Bridge," was reportedly chosen by Prince William as a tribute to Kate's hometown. The revelation was published June 4 by Le Figaro ahead of the book's June 11 release.
Deckers, a Belgian royal expert, describes the codename selection as "almost a declaration of love," underscoring Prince William's deep personal involvement in the protocol planning. The existence of the operation comes amid heightened public interest in the Princess of Wales's health following her March 2024 cancer diagnosis and her January announcement that she is in remission.
On the same day the plan was revealed, Princess Kate, 43, resumed her royal duties with an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle. The engagement was recorded in the Court Circular, the official registry of British royal engagements, and marked her quiet return to work after a school break with her three children.
Kate and Prince William had cleared their calendars to spend time with Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, during their holiday. The couple's parenting style departs from traditional royal norms by sending their children to day school rather than boarding school. The family resides at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor Great Park, a short distance from the castle where Kate's meeting took place.
The Princess of Wales has made early childhood development a central tenet of her royal role. In 2021, she founded The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and expanded her efforts with the "Shaping Us" campaign in January 2023. She later launched a business task force to involve corporations like IKEA, LEGO, and Unilever in advancing early years initiatives.
Prince William, 42, also resumed duties on June 4 with a visit to the Army Air Corps in Suffolk, marking his first visit in his capacity as Colonel-in-Chief. King Charles appointed him to the role in August 2023, assigning him leadership of the regiment previously affiliated with Prince Harry.
During the visit, William made remarks that some royal watchers interpreted as a veiled reference to his ongoing estrangement from his brother. While speaking to soldiers on a water break, he asked, "Families okay? See you enough? Some of them might not want to see you that much. It's a mixed bag sometimes," according to Daily Mail.
