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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate Middleton rewrites royal playbook, puts herself first in unprecedented move: experts
Kate Middleton canceled her Royal Ascot appearance at the last minute — and several royal experts claimed we can expect more sudden changes from the princess. On Wednesday, Fox News Digital learned that the mother of three was originally set to appear at the annual horse racing event with her husband, Prince William. While the Princess of Wales was said to be disappointed not to be there, she is still trying to find the right balance as she returns to public-facing engagements following her cancer treatment. "She has been forthright regarding her still experiencing 'good days and bad days,' as she once said," British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. "She is hoping the public will be patient since she is 'not out of the woods quite yet.' She has acknowledged having to be sensible, listening to what her body is telling her as she eases back to public life." Kate Middleton Unexpectedly Pulls Out Of Royal Ascot Appearance "We should expect her to maintain a lighter schedule of engagements than previously for the foreseeable future," said Fordwich. "Her decisions, as always, will be responsible and dignified." Royal experts told Fox News Digital that as a future queen consort, Kate is breaking the mold, prioritizing her health while being a supportive player in the House of Windsor. Following her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, Kate has reduced her appearances to focus on recovery. And while the princess is now cancer-free, healing continues to be a priority for Kate, and she has adopted a case-by-case approach to fulfilling royal duties. Read On The Fox News App On Wednesday, William made a solo appearance on the second day of the horse racing event at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England. He was accompanied by his father, King Charles III, and stepmother, Queen Camilla. Kate's mother, Carole Middleton, was also present. At one point, she shared a warm exchange with the king, 76, as they watched the action take place. It's a good sign, said Fordwich. "Princess Catherine is making steady progress in her recovery," said Fordwich. "This announcement is confirmation that she'll remain cautious, flexible and measured with her health taking precedence. We should expect similar last-minute adjustments since navigating such challenging health issues isn't easy." "I believe she might well attend Wimbledon, which she so loves," Fordwich added. Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that the U.K. is experiencing blistering temperatures. It could have contributed to Kate's decision. "At the moment we are experiencing a heatwave making London warmer than the Caribbean," he said. "I presume Kate may be feeling the effects of this and, still taking aggressive drugs, may have been told by her doctors to be very careful." "We are hearing apparently all is well and that Kate is making steady progress but still finds an energy lapse on some occasions," Turner noted. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams agreed. "The Princess of Wales had been expected to join the royal procession at Royal Ascot, which commemorates 200 years this year since it was first held in 1825," he explained. "According to a source, she was disappointed not to be able to attend. She would have joined Prince William, who presented the trophy to the winner of the Prince of Wales stakes." "Catherine is in remission from cancer and is striving to find the right balance of engagements as she recovers, obviously much influenced by medical advice," he shared. "She has recently appeared at [several key events]. It may also be that the heat affected her decision." Like What You're Reading? Click Here For More Entertainment News People magazine reported that Royal Ascot is a social event, not a ceremonial commitment, on the royal family's calendar. They noted that the royal family's attendance is an "informal tradition." "Royal Ascot is a splendidly organized royal event which is the highlight of the royal calendar," said Fitzwilliams. "It was the first event listed in the diary of Queen Elizabeth, who was renowned for being an equestrian enthusiast every year." "It is hoped that the Princess of Wales will attend next year, her last appearance being in 2023 due to her cancer treatment," he added. Despite Kate's absence, British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard, who was at Ascot, assured Fox News Digital royal watchers shouldn't be worried. "[Kate] and her medical team would have decided that today's event would be too much for her, hence the last-minute cancellation," said Chard. "It is also super hot here, and I imagine she could be left feeling very unwell. I really don't believe we should be worried." "Princess Catherine is doing well and, as previously confirmed, has been given the all-clear from her medical team, cancer-wise," said Chard. "Like many of us, she has medical challenges (not necessarily cancer-related) which, on occasion, impact her everyday and working life." Queen Elizabeth II's former spokeswoman, Alisa Anderson, recently told People magazine that this year, Kate will be prioritizing her health as she returns to royal duties. "She's being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life," Anderson told the outlet. Kensington Palace, which handles the offices of the Prince and Princess of Wales, has emphasized that Kate will tackle royal duties. The outlet pointed out that her withdrawal from the Royal Ascot is an example of her case-by-case approach that we'll likely see more of, as necessary. "She has not been able to have the privacy that a person who faces this kind of illness is normally afforded," a source close to the royal household told the outlet. In March 2024, Kate announced in a video she had cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. The revelation came after weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts. In January of that year, she was hospitalized for unspecified abdominal surgery. The news was another jolt to the royal family. In February of that year, Buckingham Palace announced Charles was being treated for an unspecified type of cancer. The illness was discovered while he was undergoing a procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. In September 2024, Kate announced she had finished her preventative chemotherapy, although she said her path to full recovery would be long and that she would take it day by day. "As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," she wrote. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life, as you know it, can change in an instant, and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown." "The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you. With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything. This time has, above all, reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved. Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus." King Charles Won't Hand Throne To Prince William As Monarchy Shake-up Could Spark 'Crisis': Experts "Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes," said the princess. "I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can. Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life." "William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time," she shared. "Everyone's kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling. To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright." In January of this year, Kate announced that her cancer was in remission, and she would remain "focused on recovery." WATCH: KATE MIDDLETON ANNOUNCES SHE HAS COMPLETED CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal," she said at the time. Since then, Kate has slowly returned to royal duties. Over the weekend, she and William joined their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, for Trooping the Colour, King Charles's birthday parade. On Monday, Kate also appeared at the annual Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle. Turner previously told Fox News Digital that both the Prince and Princess of Wales have faced mounting pressure as future king and queen in support of Charles, who is still seeking treatment. "King Charles is looking his age now and his illness has taken its toll," said Turner. "A new era of [a] young monarchy is set to take over the mantle in the future." "The pressure of being the Princess of Wales, looking after a young family, being by William's side, still recovering from cancer treatments, as well as the mental trauma she faced still weighs heavily on Kate. But she seems to be smiling throughout, delighting crowds when seen in public, and giving a new confidence to the future monarchy."Original article source: Kate Middleton rewrites royal playbook, puts herself first in unprecedented move: experts
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Chaos and ‘Panic' Break Out at the Palace Over Kate Middleton's Health
A royal insider told The Daily Beast there was a 'real sense of panic' at the palace Wednesday, after Kate Middleton dramatically pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the Royal Ascot horse-racing festival at the last minute. The palace has provided no on-the-record explanation for the absence. However, Kate's team sought to play down the idea that the cancellation signaled a downturn in her health, with some media briefed that it was just a question of the princess seeking 'balance' as she continues to recover from cancer. Kate herself clearly said that her plans could be subject to change when she announced she was cancer-free earlier this year, which at least gave a superficial plausibility to the claims that Wednesday's unscheduled cancellation was no big deal. The U.K. media has largely gone along with the palace spin, dutifully reporting that Kate's decision to abandon the legendary Ascot carriage procession was almost routine. In fact, pulling out of such a high-profile event, just over an hour before she was due to appear with the king and queen, is highly unusual. Behind the scenes in the royal household, people are far less sanguine. The Daily Beast can reveal that the announcement left staff behind palace walls 'bewildered and worried' as they tried to figure out what was happening. The situation was made worse by the fact that an official 'carriage list' published at noon by the palace said Kate would be there, only for her to cancel within the hour. One former courtier who retains good links with serving staff said, 'Everyone was wandering around going, 'What is going on?' One minute she was going, and the next she wasn't. This is one of the biggest days of the year in the royal calendar; you don't just miss Ascot on a whim, so there was a real sense of panic. The chaotic nature of the announcement was eerily reminiscent of the dark days of last year. People were bewildered and worried.' The insider added that rumors had briefly swirled around the palace that the future queen had been taken unwell and either needed to see a doctor or had been rushed to the hospital. Kate's office did not respond to The Daily Beast's requests for comment, but a friend of the princess told The Daily Beast: 'My understanding is that Kate was basically exhausted after Trooping the Color on Saturday and Garter Day on Monday and couldn't face it. There are good days and bad days, as she herself has very candidly said. ' Kate's March 2024 announcement that she had cancer came after the catastrophic failure of an attempt to impose a news blackout on Kate's health. The information vacuum meant Kate's whereabouts became the subject of worldwide speculation. This time, at least, palace aides have not tried to simply remain silent in the face of self-evidently unusual events. Discreet briefings were issued to the media saying that while Kate was 'disappointed' not to go, she is seeking 'to find the right balance' when it comes to doing public engagements. However, there was no denying that Prince William looked decidedly somber on arrival at the festival, although he seemed to cheer up later when he was photographed smiling and having a drink. One of the few hints in the U.K. media that there might be more to Kate's non-appearance than meets the eye came in a line in a report in the usually well-informed Daily Telegraph, reading: 'Her appearance, recently so healthy, has belied how difficult things were last year, and how hard the fight to return to normality has been.' Kate finished 'preventative chemotherapy' in September and announced she was in remission in January of this year. She said, in a precedent-busting video: 'There are good days and bad days. I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.' King Charles has also said that he has cancer, which is understood to be being managed on an ongoing basis with weekly treatment.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Royal Ascot: Catherine, Princess of Wales, cancels at last minute
June 19 (UPI) -- The Princess of Wales unexpectedly pulled out of attending Royal Ascot at the last minute, with officials saying it was related to her recovery from cancer. Kate Middleton skipped the Royal Family's traditional excursion to the event 30 miles southwest of London on Wednesday, which is a key fixture in the country's horse racing calendar. The decision came amid efforts to strike a balance as she eases back into her public role as the wife of Prince William, Kensington Palace said. An official told The New York Times she was "disappointed" not to be able to attend, adding that she needed to find the "right balance" in the level of public engagements she takes on. The decision was very likely unplanned. Two hours before a royal procession along the Straight Mile that kicks off the event was to take place, she was still listed in the official program as being in the second carriage with husband Prince William, behind the king and queen. In the end, William arrived from Windsor in his father's carriage along with Queen Camilla and Prince Saud bin Khalid Al Saud, a member of Saudi Arabia's Royal Family. It was the 200th anniversary of the procession, which was begun by King George IV in 1825. On that occasion, the Duke of Wellington rode along in George's carriage. Carole Middleton, Kate's mother, did attend the event. The princess has been gradually returning to her public duties after announcing she was in remission in January, with her most recent appearance at an Order of the Royal Garter service in Windsor, where she was seen smiling and chatting. Two days before that, on Saturday, she attended the Trooping of the Color in London, a military parade celebrating the monarch's official birthday. It was the second consecutive year the princess had missed Royal Ascot. She was unable to attend in 2024 as it came three months after she announced she had been diagnosed with cancer in March. However, The New York Times speculated that her absence on Wednesday may have had nothing to do with her recovery, but was related instead to the event itself or the weather. Wednesday was one of the hottest days of the year with temperatures in the mid-80s F. King Charles is a fellow cancer survivor, receiving his diagnosis in February 2024, three weeks after he was hospitalized for treatment for an enlarged prostate at the same hospital where his daughter-in-law was recovering from major abdominal surgery that would take months to heal. The late Queen Elizabeth II, somewhat of a racing fanatic, was closely linked with Royal Ascot. Race horses she owned or bred won more than 20 titles at the world-famous track over the course of her seven decades on the throne.
News24
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Health concerns keep UK's Princess Catherine away from Royal Ascot tradition
Princess Catherine has withdrawn from Royal Ascot as she continues her recovery from cancer, missing the event, which will be attended by Prince William and King Charles. The future queen has gradually returned to duties after remission in January. The Royal Ascot, a cherished event for the royal family, was also Queen Elizabeth II's favourite sporting occasion. Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, who is recovering from cancer, has pulled out of the Royal Ascot race meeting, her Kensington Palace office said on Wednesday. The famed sporting event in Berkshire in southern England is a key event in the royal calendar. Catherine, also known as Kate, would not be attending Royal Ascot with her husband, Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla as she continued to 'find the right balance following her battle with cancer,' the Press Association news agency added. The 43-year-old future queen has been making a gradual return to public duties since she announced she was cancer-free in September 2024. In March that year, the mother-of-three revealed she was undergoing a course of 'preventative chemotherapy' for an undisclosed cancer. Kate, who in January revealed she was in remission, was said to be disappointed not to be able to attend Royal Ascot, a renowned social and sporting occasion for which the royal family came out in force. The annual five-day race meeting was said to be the late Queen Elizabeth II's favourite sporting event. Royal Ascot begins each day of the week with the Royal Procession, a historic tradition in which the monarch and various accompanying members of the royal family arrive along the track in horse-drawn carriages. Samir Hussein/WireImage They then watch the racing from the exclusive Royal Enclosure. The enclosure operates a strict dress code: top hats and morning coats—jackets with a long 'tail'—for men and hats and knee-length or longer dresses or skirts for women. Samir Hussein/WireImage Andrew Matthews/PA Images via Getty ImagesAFP AFP Charles, 76, has also faced his own cancer battle. The king announced in early 2024 that he, too, had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer. He has since returned to public duties but is still undergoing treatment. Catherine on Saturday appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the rest of the royal family following Charles' annual birthday parade. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images On Monday, she was photographed attending an official royal event at St George's Chapel at the royal family's Windsor estate, west of London.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Chaos and ‘Panic' Break Out at the Palace Over Kate Middleton's Health
A royal insider told The Daily Beast there was a 'real sense of panic' at the palace Wednesday, after Kate Middleton dramatically pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the Royal Ascot horse-racing festival at the last minute. The palace has provided no on-the-record explanation for the absence. However, Kate's team sought to play down the idea that the cancellation signaled a downturn in her health, with some media briefed that it was just a question of the princess seeking 'balance' as she continues to recover from cancer. Kate herself clearly said that her plans could be subject to change when she announced she was cancer-free earlier this year, which at least gave a superficial plausibility to the claims that Wednesday's unscheduled cancellation was no big deal. The U.K. media has largely gone along with the palace spin, dutifully reporting that Kate's decision to abandon the legendary Ascot carriage procession was almost routine. In fact, pulling out of such a high-profile event, just over an hour before she was due to appear with the king and queen, is highly unusual. Behind the scenes in the royal household, people are far less sanguine. The Daily Beast can reveal that the announcement left staff behind palace walls 'bewildered and worried' as they tried to figure out what was happening. The situation was made worse by the fact that an official 'carriage list' published at noon by the palace said Kate would be there, only for her to cancel within the hour. One former courtier who retains good links with serving staff said, 'Everyone was wandering around going, 'What is going on?' One minute she was going, and the next she wasn't. This is one of the biggest days of the year in the royal calendar; you don't just miss Ascot on a whim, so there was a real sense of panic. The chaotic nature of the announcement was eerily reminiscent of the dark days of last year. People were bewildered and worried.' The insider added that rumors had briefly swirled around the palace that the future queen had been taken unwell and either needed to see a doctor or had been rushed to the hospital. Kate's office did not respond to The Daily Beast's requests for comment, but a friend of the princess told The Daily Beast: 'My understanding is that Kate was basically exhausted after Trooping the Color on Saturday and Garter Day on Monday and couldn't face it. There are good days and bad days, as she herself has very candidly said. ' Kate's March 2024 announcement that she had cancer came after the catastrophic failure of an attempt to impose a news blackout on Kate's health. The information vacuum meant Kate's whereabouts became the subject of worldwide speculation. This time, at least, palace aides have not tried to simply remain silent in the face of self-evidently unusual events. Discreet briefings were issued to the media saying that while Kate was 'disappointed' not to go, she is seeking 'to find the right balance' when it comes to doing public engagements. However, there was no denying that Prince William looked decidedly somber on arrival at the festival, although he seemed to cheer up later when he was photographed smiling and having a drink. One of the few hints in the U.K. media that there might be more to Kate's non-appearance than meets the eye came in a line in a report in the usually well-informed Daily Telegraph, reading: 'Her appearance, recently so healthy, has belied how difficult things were last year, and how hard the fight to return to normality has been.' Kate finished 'preventative chemotherapy' in September and announced she was in remission in January of this year. She said, in a precedent-busting video: 'There are good days and bad days. I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.' King Charles has also said that he has cancer, which is understood to be being managed on an ongoing basis with weekly treatment.
