Prince William Attends Royal Ascot Alone—Kate Middleton’s Last-Minute Cancellation Raises Eyebrows

Prince William Appears Solo at Royal Ascot After Kate’s Sudden Cancellation—Here’s What We Know

All eyes were on Prince William as he made a solo appearance at Royal Ascot on June 18—just hours after Princess Kate was unexpectedly removed from the royal carriage procession list.

The Princess of Wales, 43, was initially expected to attend alongside her husband, but her name was quietly dropped in a last-minute update from Ascot. While it’s understood she was disappointed to miss the glamorous event, royal insiders say Kate is still finding the right balance as she eases back into public duties following her cancer diagnosis and treatment.

William, 42, arrived in the first royal carriage alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. And while Kate wasn’t by his side, two familiar faces from her family were there to show support: her mom, Carole Middleton, and sister-in-law Alizée Thevenet, who is married to Kate’s brother, James Middleton.

Prince William looked every bit the royal as he prepared to present the trophy for the Prince of Wales’ Stakes—a meaningful gesture tied to his future role as king.

It’s already been a packed week for the Wales family. Over the weekend, William and Kate joined their children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7—for the Trooping the Colour parade in honor of King Charles’ birthday. The family also released new Father’s Day portraits and attended Garter Day at Windsor Castle.

Although Kate’s latest outing was her final engagement for the week, her recent return to public life has been met with warmth and admiration. As one fan put it, “She may not be at Ascot, but she’s still the queen of hearts.”