Kate Middleton Unexpectedly Cancels Major Public Appearance Hours Before It Begins originally appeared on Parade.
Just before one of the biggest royal events of the year was set to begin, Kate Middleton has pulled out of the Royal Ascot — even though she was previously confirmed to attend.
The Princess of Wales was set to make her return to the annual horse race on Wednesday, June 18 after missing out on last year’s event while she was undergoing chemotherapy. But as reported by PEOPLE, she canceled her appearance at the last minute, even after her mother, Carole Middleton, was already spotted arriving at the race course.
Previously, Middleton was part of the carriage lineup that the official Royal Ascot social media account shared on Wednesday, but they later shared an updated carriage list without the princess included.
The original lineup showed Middleton and husband Prince William riding in the second carriage, but the revised version has him joining King Charles and Queen Camilla in the first one.
While Kensington Palace has not given a specific reason for Middleton’s absence, she is said to be “disappointed not to be able to join.”
However, it sounds like this might be her way of pumping the breaks on her busy schedule to give herself a bit of a rest after her return to work following her battle with cancer. According to PEOPLE, those close to her have said she’s still “trying to find the right balance.”
Related: Kate Middleton Cheers Prince William on at Major Royal Event for the First Time in 2 Years
It has been a rather busy week for Middleton, so it makes sense that she’d want to lay low. After Trooping the Colour over the weekend and Monday’s Order of the Garter service, it’s no surprise she’d want to take this opportunity to rest.
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Kate Middleton Unexpectedly Cancels Major Public Appearance Hours Before It Begins first appeared on Parade on Jun 18, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.