Princess of Wales Withdraws from Royal Ascot Appearance as She Focuses on Health and Gradual Public Return
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
The Princess of Wales has withdrawn from attending Royal Ascot at the last minute, as she continues to navigate her return to public life following her cancer treatment. The decision came just moments before the royal carriage procession on Wednesday, despite earlier confirmations that she would attend.
Kate Middleton, 43, was scheduled to appear in the second carriage alongside her husband, Prince William, during the second day of the prestigious event at the Berkshire racecourse. Racegoers had been hopeful to see the Princess, especially as Prince William was named among the dignitaries awarding prizes.
However, shortly before 12:30 p.m., Kensington Palace confirmed that the Princess would not be attending, prompting Ascot officials to release a revised carriage list. It is understood that Kate is “disappointed” to miss the event, but is prioritizing her recovery and working to “find the right balance” as she gradually resumes public-facing engagements.
Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, did attend Royal Ascot, appearing alongside her daughter-in-law Alizée Thevenet, wife of James Middleton. Carole wore a dress by luxury fashion brand ME+EM for the occasion.
The Princess has been easing back into royal duties since announcing in January that she was in remission from cancer. In recent days, she has made appearances at Trooping the Colour, the Order of the Garter service, and a visit to the V&A’s storage facility in London.
Today, King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Royal Ascot in high spirits, joined by Prince William in their carriage. William had originally been scheduled to ride in the second carriage with Kate. The royal couple are hoping for better results with their racehorses after their contender Reaching High fell short in the Ascot Stakes. Their horse Rainbows Edge is entered in the Kensington Palace Stakes and is a favorite among bookmakers.
Kate revealed in January that she had completed cancer treatment after months of chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of the disease. She had been undergoing treatment since late February the previous year, shortly after the King began his own cancer treatment following prostate care.
In a video message marking the end of her treatment, the Princess spoke candidly about the challenges of the past nine months, describing them as “incredibly tough for us as a family.” She emphasized her focus on staying healthy and cancer-free going forward. Prince William later described 2024 as “brutal.”
Yesterday, King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoyed the first day of Royal Ascot and were joined by several members of the Royal Family, including Peter Phillips and his girlfriend, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling. Sperling made her debut appearance in the royal procession—now celebrating its 200th anniversary—riding in a carriage with other royal guests.
The royal procession, which began in 1825 under King George IV, remains a ceremonial highlight of the racing meet. The King and Queen’s coach included Saudi Prince Faisal and Lady Sarah Keswick, followed by the Princess Royal, Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot, and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington. Peter Phillips and his partner followed in a subsequent carriage.
Other royals seen among the crowd included Princess Beatrice, Sarah, Duchess of York, and Zara and Mike Tindall. The royal family continues to honor Queen Elizabeth II’s longstanding love of the sport, with Charles and Camilla taking over her thoroughbred stables. Last year, they celebrated their first Royal Ascot victory with Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes.
Kate was last seen in public earlier this week at the annual Order of the Garter ceremony in Windsor, where she joined the Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence at St. George’s Chapel. The Princess was in good spirits, sharing laughter with Sophie as they watched the ceremonial procession led by the Military Knights of Windsor.
The King, Queen, and other senior royals, including the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal, and Duke of Edinburgh, followed tradition by walking at the rear of the procession in dark blue velvet robes and white-plumed hats.
Kate and Sophie arrived early and appeared relaxed, sharing jokes with event ushers and smiling at the assembled crowd. The Princess wore a Self Portrait ensemble and a wide-brimmed hat by Sean Barrett. Just days earlier, she had taken part in the Trooping the Colour carriage procession, another high-profile return to public life.
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