Princess Kate opted out of a royal outing this weekend as her husband, Prince William, took her parents and siblings out hunting at the Queen's estate.

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Michael and Carole Middleton, along with their children Pippa and James, accompanied their son-in-law to hunt pheasant at Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham Estate on Saturday.

According to the Daily Mail on Sunday an invitation to hunt with the royal family is a rare honor and speaks to the bond between these two families.

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Kate, who is currently pregnant with her second child, chose instead to stay at Amner Hall with her one-year-old son, Prince George. The little prince likely enjoyed the extra time with his mother, especially since Kate and William left the boy behind on Dec. 25 to attend Church with Queen Elizabeth for Christmas.

William and his in-laws rejoined Kate at Amner Hall for tea later that afternoon, which gave Michael and Carole some time to spend with their royal grandson. William and Kate have split their time all week long between the Queen's estate and their own mansion, which has allowed them to see more of the Middleton family.

William and Kate married in a highly publicized ceremony in 2011 and have spent Christmas with Queen Elizabeth on three separate occasions since then. Since young children do not attend church on Christmas with the royal family, young George will have someone to keep him company when his parents return to Sandringham in 2015.

Tags: Kate Middleton Prince William celebrity baby