Prince William Attends Royal Ascot Solo After Princess Kate Skips the Event Last Minute

Prince William made an appearance at the Royal Ascot by himself after his wife, Princess Kate, opted to skip the event at the last minute.

The second day of the annual horse races took place on Wednesday, June 18, at the Ascot Racecourse in England. The royal family typically appears in a procession of carriages every year.

Ascot posted the carriage lineup on social media Wednesday at noon UK time and originally listed the Prince of Wales, 42, and the Princess of Wales, 43, as sitting in carriage two with professional golfer Justin Rose and his wife, Kate Phillips, per The Daily Mail.

However, Kensington Palace confirmed around 12:30 p.m. UK time that Kate would not be there, and Ascot published a new list shortly after.

William ended up sitting in carriage one with King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud. Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, and sister-in-law Alizee Thevenet, were photographed at the event, but were not part of the royal procession.

According to The Daily Mail, Kate was “disappointed” about missing out on the event, but is still “trying to find the right balance as she fully returns to public facing engagements” following her treatment for cancer.

Kate’s absence marks the second consecutive year she has been unable to attend the Royal Ascot. In January 2024, she stepped back from her royal duties due to her cancer diagnosis, which she revealed to the world in March of 2024, and slowly returned to the public eye in 2025.

She attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony to celebrate the official birthday of King Charles on Saturday, June 14.

In January, Kate announced that her cancer was in remission.

“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal,” she admitted in a post shared on her social media.”I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”

She also took the time to acknowledge The Royal Marsden, the hospital in London that treated her “for looking after me so well during the past year.”

“My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn’t have asked for more,” the mom of three — who shares Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, with William — added. “The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.”

Despite attending the Royal Ascot solo, William was in good spirits, handing out the trophy for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the races.