Kate Middleton Bows Out of Royal Ascot Appearance Last Minute, Prince William Attends Solo

Princess Kate Middleton pulled out of a public appearance at the Royal Ascot on Wednesday, June 18, Us Weekly has learned.

Kate, 43, was set to be in attendance during day 2 of the annual event alongside husband Prince William when an official list revealing which royal family members were set to be in attendance was quickly revised, revealing that William would be riding alongside King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud in one carriage.

Each afternoon, before the horse races begin at the track, royal family members arrive for a procession.

The royal ascot kicked off on Tuesday, June 17, with William and Kate noticeably missing. Charles and Camilla, meanwhile, are set to appear at the Ascot racecourse on five separate occasions. (The Royal Ascot concludes on Saturday, June 21.)

While Kate skipped out on the event on Wednesday her mother, Carole Middleton, was photographed arriving at the racecourse alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, who is married to Kate’s brother, James Middleton.

Kate’s absence comes following her cancer battle last year. The Princess of Wales announced in March 2024 that she had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer and would be stepping back from a series of public-facing duties, only making a few appearances throughout the year.

Earlier this year, Kate announced that she was in remission following her cancer journey.

“My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything,” she shared in a January Instagram statement. “We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.”

She added, in part, “It is a relief to now be in remission. And I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”

Wednesday’s royal ascot marks the first event Kate has missed this year as her recovery continues.

In a video shared via her and William’s joint Instagram last month, Kate detailed how nature kept her strong during her health struggles.

“Over the past year, nature has been my sanctuary. The natural world’s capacity to inspire us, to nurture us and help us heal and grow is boundless and has been understood for generations,” she said. “It is through nature, that we can fully understand the true interconnectedness of all things, the importance of balance and the importance of renewal and resilience. Connecting to nature helps us to experience a deeper sense of ourselves, the world around us and each other.”