Prince William has already canceled a royal engagement after Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a general election on Wednesday—as the royal prepares to get more than a month of family time.

Public visits by royals will all but grind to a halt so that they do not distract attention away from the campaigning to see who gets to lead the country. That means much of the business of monarchy will be pushed back until after the July 4 vote. The disruption has added to an already chaotic royal year.

So far, King Charles III has postponed a visit to the British car manufacturer Bentley on Friday, and William has done the same regarding an as-yet-unannounced trip planned for Thursday.

For William, the news may have a significant silver lining, though, while, for Charles, it will likely be a frustrating step backward just when he was getting back in his stride.

Princess Kate and Prince William are seen in a composite image. The Prince of Wales has more family time now that the royals are postponing public visits during a general-election campaign. Toby Melville – WPA Pool/Getty Images and Andy Cheung/Getty Images

Charles suspended public duties for months following a prostate procedure in January and his cancer diagnosis in February. He returned to work on April 30, which he described at one point as coming out of his “cage.”

William’s wife, Princess Kate, has also been off royal duties since her abdominal surgery in January and later cancer diagnosis, which saw her begin chemotherapy at the end of February.

William initially took time off work himself so he could focus on family life following Kate’s operation, at The London Clinic in the English capital, on January 16. However, Charles was also ruled out of public visits due to cancer just a couple of weeks later, so it was not long before William was back at work.

Now, though, he can return to focusing on home life with Princess Kate and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I, the story of the relationship between King Charles III and his mother, told Newsweek that she was surprised by the palace’s decision: “I see that Prince William isn’t working at all today, so he’s already nabbed out [tapped out].

“It could be a bit of silver lining for William, but people are already saying that William is a little workshy, which I don’t think he is. People will think it’s very odd,” Seward added.

A statement from the king and Queen Camilla read: “Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a general election, the royal family will—in accordance with normal procedure—postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”

There may be some jobs still in the diary for William, though, with no announcement yet on whether a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June will go ahead.

And no decision has yet been announced on the king’s birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, also in June, which is led by the government due to the military involvement.