Prince William goes solo as Princess Kate pulls out of Royal Ascot

Princess Catherine withdrew from Royal Ascot at the last minute as she continues to find the “right balance” after cancer treatment.

Princess Catherine has pulled out of attending the Royal Ascot race meeting as she continues to find the “right balance” in fulfilling her public duties following her battle with cancer, the Kensington Palace office said on Wednesday.

The famed sporting event in Berkshire in southern England is a key event in the royal calendar and kicked off on Tuesday, June 17.

But the Princess of Wales would not be joining her husband Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla as she continued to “find the right balance following her battle with cancer,” the domestic Press Association news agency reported.

Britain's Prince William and Catherine leave after attending the Order Of The Garter Service at Windsor Castle. Picture: AP

Instead, a top-hat clad Prince William attended the event alone.

The 43-year-old future Queen has been making a gradual return to public duties since she announced she was cancer free in September last year.

Prince William smiles as he attends day two of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse. Picture: Getty Images

In March that year, the mother-of-three revealed she was undergoing a course of “preventative chemotherapy” for an undisclosed cancer.

Catherine, who in January revealed she was in remission, was said to be disappointed not to able to attend Royal Ascot, a renowned social and sporting occasion for which the royal family come out in force.

Prince William smiles at Royal Ascot but Princess Catherine stayed home. Picture: AP

Prince William made a presentation to the wining jockey of the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, James McDonald who won riding Crimson Advocate. Picture: AP

The annual five-day race meeting was said to be the late Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite sporting event.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted to loud cheers as they graced Day one of the iconic British horse racing festival on Tuesday.

Prince William on the Parade Ring at Royal Ascot. Picture: AP

They also spoke of their “delight” witnessing last year’s Australian winner – Henry Dwyer’s mare Asfoora – in a message to racegoers as the sun shone brilliantly at the venue west of London.

Saudi's prince Khalid Abdullah (R), Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales (2nd R), Britain's Queen Camilla (2nd L) and Britain's King Charles III (L) arrive on a horse-drawn carriage during the 2nd day of Royal Ascot. Picture: Getty Images

Charles was accompanied by the Queen as they marked the 200th anniversary of the First Royal Procession, initiated by George IV.

The pair were photographed in a carriage procession, a key feature in the royal calendar, which took place from Windsor Castle to the racecourse.

Prince William attended Royal Ascot without Princess Catherine. Picture: Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse

Charles was dressed in a grey suit complete with a black top hat while Queen Camilla was elegant in a mint green ensemble. Picture: Getty Images

King Charles III waves to crowds. Picture: Getty Images

The British Monarch and the Queen Consort travelled in the first carriage, accompanied by Prince Faisal bin Salman Al Saud from Saudi Arabia’s Royal Family and Lady Sarah Keswick.

Charles was dressed in a grey suit complete with a black top hat while Queen Camilla was elegant in a mint green ensemble with a Dior coat and a Philip Treacy hat with diamonds and pearls.

Princess Anne, Princess Royal arrives on horse-drawn carriage. Picture: AFP

Anne, Princess Royal also arrived in the traditional carriage procession wearing a subtle green ensemble with a white hat.

In their message to racegoers, the King and Queen said: “This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first royal procession to Ascot racecourse from Windsor Castle in the reign of King George IV. This has become a familiar feature of the Royal Meeting ever since and a unique spectacle in the world of racing.”

“Last year we were delighted to witness an Australian winner of the first running of the King Charles III Stakes and look forward to seeing a number of top-quality international runners compete this week,” they added.

Queen Camilla and King Charles react as they watch the races on the first day of the Royal Ascot. Picture: AFP

King Charles III during a presentation of the King Charles III Stakes Trophy. Picture: Getty Images

Royal Ascot has strict dress codes and each Royal Ascot enclosure has its own fashion requirements.

Horse trainer Henry Dwyer said the nation’s hopes rested on his shoulders when Australian mare Asfoora attempts to defend the prestigious title, the King Charles III Stakes.

Horse trainer Henry Dwyer said the nation’s hopes rested on his shoulders when Australian mare Asfoora attempts to defend the prestigious title, the King Charles III Stakes. Picture: Nigel Howard / Nigel Howard Media

The six-year-old mare was victorious in the group 1 race at the one of world’s most elite racing carnivals in the world in 2024 and has spent the past week training at Newmarket in West Suffolk – the headquarters of British racing.

When Asfoora won the King Charles III Stakes in 2024 Dwyer said he had the privilege of meeting the King and Queen Camilla and had a “good chin wag” with them, describing it as a “great life experience”.

“We compared notes and patted ourselves on the back and all the rest of it, it was a great bit of fun,” Dwyer said.

“They were very lovely and incredibly relaxed, probably not what you expected of the King and Queen, they were very down to earth”.