Prince William's emotional promise to Kate Middleton before she pulled out of Royal Ascot
Royal fans expressed concern this week when Princess Kate withdrew from the Royal Procession on the second day of Ascot. She appeared to cancel her attendance at the last minute; however, Buckingham Palace sources have since clarified that an administrative error caused the change in plans.
The Duchess of Cambridge disclosed her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 following abdominal surgery earlier in January of that year. Post-surgery, Kate stepped back from public duties as she underwent preventative chemotherapy.
At the beginning of this year, she joyfully shared news of her remission and her focus on recuperation.
Kate has been returning to public life, seen at events like Trooping the Colour and the Order of the Garter service, and was anticipated to join Prince William for the carriage procession from Windsor Castle to the Berkshire racecourse. Still, despite her absence, which disappointed the princess, ensuring a balanced itinerary is deemed vital for her ongoing recovery.
Prince William remains committed to supporting his wife while fulfilling Royal responsibilities. During a visit to Surplus to Supper, a food redistribution charity in Surrey, he assured a staff member that he would "look after" Kate, who in turn entreated him to "take care" of her, reports the Mirror.
"I will do, I will," William had reassured Rachel Candappa with a supportive hand on her shoulder during their conversation.
The Prince of Wales, William, attended Royal Ascot without his wife, Kate, who is focusing on her recovery after sharing her cancer diagnosis in an emotional video from the family's Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. The family, including their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, recently celebrated Father's Day by sharing two photos on social media, along with a heartfelt caption: "Happy Father's Day, Papa (before and after! ) We love you! G, C and L" accompanied by a heart emoji.
Kate, now in remission, has been working on projects she is passionate about, including her Early Years Initiative. She has been studying research on improving the lives of young children, with The Princess's Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood funding a trial of a baby observation tool to help health visitors identify signs of social and emotional development in young children.
At Royal Ascot's second day, William rode in the first Royal carriage alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud. Wearing a traditional morning suit, he presented Billy Lee, the rider of Ombudsman, with a trophy for winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes.
The five-day Berkshire event is expected to draw a total of 250,000 spectators, with extravagant fashion on display on Ladies' Day.
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