Prince William and Kate Middleton Will Miss Meeting These Swedish Royals on Their Visit to Stockholm

Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine will all miss William and Kate's visit at the end of January

Prince George and Princess Charlotte are unlikely to have any immediate plans for a playdate with a number of young Swedish royals anytime soon — because their parents won’t have the chance to plan them!

Prince William and Kate Middleton are set to visit Sweden on Jan. 30 through the 31st, with a two-day visit to Norway to follow afterwards. And while they’ll meet a few members of the Swedish royal family during their stay, they’ll miss Princess Madeleine, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia.

The reason for Madeleine’s absence is “because of her pregnancy,” according to Royal Palace spokeswoman Margareta Thorgren. Madeleine is currently pregnant with her third child and is due to in March. (Just a month before Kate’s own third child, who is due in April.)

BRITAIN-ROYALS
OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty

Madeleine, who is based in London, where her British-American financier husband Christopher O’Neill works, previously told PEOPLE that she “would love a [playdate]” between her daughter Princess Leonore, 3, and son Prince Nicolas, 2, and British royal children George, 4, and Charlotte, 2. Their children aren’t the only ones who are similar in age: William is 35 and Kate is 36, while Madeleine is also 35 (O’Neill is a little older at 43).

Also absent from William and Kate’s itinerary is a meeting with Prince Carl Philip, 38, and Princess Sofia, 33, the parents of one year old Prince Alexander and four month old Prince Gabriel.

Christening of Prince Gabriel Of Sweden
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip holding Prince Alexander at the December christening of Prince Gabriel. Michael Campanella/Michael Campanella/Getty Images

The couple will be out of the country during William and Kate’s visit. Theyr’e currently on a previously scheduled visit to South Africa, where Princess Sofia is patron of the locally established charity Project Playground.

So who will host William and Kate with all these royal absences? The duty will fall to heir apparent Crown Princess Victoria, 40, and Prince Daniel, 44, to welcome their British counterparts to Sweden during their visit and act as hosts. Victoria and Daniel already friendly with the couple: They attended their 2011 wedding, and Victoria and William are actually fourth cousins, once removed. They will welcome William and Kate to Stockholm’s Haga Palace, the home the Crown Princess shares with her husband Prince Daniel, 44 and their children Princess Estelle, 5, and her younger brother 1-year-old Prince Oscar.

Perhaps Victoria can coordinate a playdate with George and Charlotte for her own children — and one on her sister’s behalf!

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