Kensington Palace has addressed the sudden announcement that Kate, Princess of Wales, would not attend Royal Ascot for the second consecutive year. Following her ongoing recovery from cancer, the princess is cautiously managing her return to public life, prompting a reconsideration of her participation in high-profile events like Ascot.
Despite being initially listed among the guests riding in the traditional carriage procession alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William, Kate’s name was subsequently removed amid a palace statement clarifying her absence. Kensington Palace confirmed that the earlier inclusion was due to a “communications error,” and that Ascot officials had not received official confirmation of her attendance. The withdrawal was only announced two hours before the procession began.
A palace spokesperson explained: “We notified Ascot that Her Royal Highness would not be attending. Unfortunately, an inaccurate version of the carriage list was issued in error after that notification. The correct list was then circulated.” The Prince and Princess of Wales are not expected to participate in any further days of the festival.
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Kate has gradually resumed public engagements in recent weeks – including visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s new East Storeroom, the Trooping the Colour celebrations marking the King’s official birthday, and the annual Order of the Garter service in Windsor. The palace emphasized that the princess is seeking the right balance between public duties and her health following her remission announcement in January.
Since late February of the previous year, Kate has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea. She announced the end of her treatment last September, describing the past months as “incredibly tough” for her family and affirming her focus on staying cancer-free.
While Kate missed Ascot this year, other royal family members were present, including the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Zara and Mike Tindall. Prince William was seen socializing in the royal box and later presented prizes in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla watched from the royal box as their favored horse, Rainbows Edge, failed to win in the Kensington Palace Stakes.
As Kate continues her careful approach to public appearances, the palace and royal supporters remain hopeful for her return to future royal engagements in full health.