Princess Kate left royal watchers concerned this week when she withdrew from the Royal Procession on the second day of Ascot. The princess seemed to pull out of the event at the eleventh hour but Buckingham Palace sources were quick to reveal this was due to an administrative error.
The Duchess of Cambridge announced her cancer diagnosis back in March 2024 following abdominal surgery that January. Kate then took time out of the public eye as she underwent preventative chemotherapy and at the start of the year, announced she was in remission from cancer and focussing on her recovery.
The royal recently made public appearances at Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter service and there was expectation she would accompany Prince William to the Berkshire racecourse in the traditional carriage procession from Windsor Castle this week. But Palace sources went onto say that while Kate was “disappointed” not to attend, finding the right equilibrium in her schedule was crucial for her recovery.
Prince William has also been keen to find the right balance between carrying out public engagements and supporting his wife. When he visited Surplus to Supper, a surplus food redistribution charity in Surrey, last year he promised a member of staff he would “look after” Kate as she urged him to “take care” of her. “I will do, I will,” William said repeatedly, during the discussion with Rachel Candappa, which saw him place his hand on her shoulder.
