We cannot be the only ones who missed Kate Middleton! The Duchess of Cambridge had her last public outing before officially going on maternity leave in late March, and since she’s welcomed her third baby, Prince Louis, on April 23, we’ve unfortunately seen less and less of the royal.

Fortunately for us, though, that has come to an end! Kate, 36, made her triumphant return to royal life today, and to be honest, it’s so good to see her again! The Duchess of Cambridge visited the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden at Paddington Recreation Ground on Tuesday, Oct. 2 sporting a brand new haircut and a bouncy, stylish blowout.

“The Duchess of Cambridge is visiting @SCTrust Forest School and Wildlife Garden, which gives inner city children a unique opportunity to learn about and engage with the natural world,” Kensington Palace wrote on the social media platform alongside a video of Kate sporting brown tight pants, boots, and a military green jacket.

Kate will sporadically attend events this fall, however, she will resume her busy schedule come January. But keep in mind that Kate had actually seriously spoiled us by still attending a few events over the past few months even though she was on maternity leave. 

For starters, she attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on May 19 just three weeks after giving birth. She also attended Trooping the Colour in June alongside Queen Elizabeth. In July, she and her entire family stepped out for Prince Louis’ christening. Lastly, we got a sneak peek at the royal post-baby when she attended Wimbledon with her new sister-in-law, Meghan, and her husband, Prince William. 

kate middleton and prince louis
Getty Images

This isn’t what fans were used to, though. After Kate welcomed Prince George, 5, in July 2013, she was out of the public eye for six weeks. And when she had Princess Charlotte, 3, in May 2015, no one saw her for two months. We’re so glad to have you back, Kate!

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