Princess Catherine caused what palace insiders called “a real sense of panic” when she suddenly pulled out of Royal Ascot at the last minute on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
The 43-year-old princess was supposed to join Prince William in the traditional horse racing event at Ascot, England. Her name was removed from the official program just over an hour before it was scheduled to start, leaving palace staff confused and worried.
A former palace worker told The Daily Beast that everyone was asking what was happening. “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 source said.
The withdrawal is part of Kate’s ongoing health journey that started in January 2024 when she had planned stomach surgery at The London Clinic in London. After the operation, doctors found cancer during routine tests, which changed her life dramatically.
Kate announced her cancer diagnosis on March 22, 2024, in a video message. She explained that while doctors thought her January surgery was for a non-cancerous condition, “tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” leading her medical team to recommend preventative chemotherapy.
The announcement came after weeks of speculation about Kate’s whereabouts and her health condition. Things worsened in March 2024 when major news agencies, such as the Associated Press and Reuters, removed a Mother’s Day family photo because they believed it had been digitally altered. Kate later apologized and admitted she had edited the image.
After her diagnosis, Kate started preventative chemotherapy in late February 2024. She mainly stayed out of public view throughout 2024, only appearing at a few events, such as Trooping the Colour in June and Wimbledon in July.
In September 2024, Kate announced she had finished her chemotherapy treatment in another video featuring her family. The footage showed the Wales family playing cards and spending time together. She said the previous nine months had been incredibly tough for the family.
On January 14, 2025, Kate visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, where she had been treated. During this visit, she announced she was officially in remission. She said it was a relief and that she was focused on recovery, noting that anyone who has had cancer knows it takes time to adjust to a new normal.
Since announcing her remission, Kate has gradually resumed her royal duties, although her schedule is significantly lighter than before. She attended Trooping the Colour on June 14, 2025, with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Two days later, she went to the Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle.
However, the busy schedule of events back-to-back, combined with a heat wave in England, led to her decision to skip Royal Ascot. Kensington Palace stated that Kate was disappointed not to attend, but she needs to find the right balance between her public duties and her health.
Royal experts say Kate is changing the way things are done by prioritizing her health. This is unusual for the royal family, where public duties typically take precedence over personal needs.
Behind the scenes, rumors briefly spread that Kate had gotten sick and needed to see a doctor or go to the hospital, but these weren’t true. Palace insiders said the chaotic way the announcement was made reminded them of the difficult times in 2024 when her health crisis first began.
Even though Kate wasn’t there, Royal Ascot continued with Prince William joining King Charles, Queen Camilla, and a Saudi prince in the first carriage. William later gave out the trophy for the Prince of Wales’ Stakes. Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, and sister-in-law were at the event.
Royal sources indicate that there is no reason to worry about Kate’s health. Some reports suggested the confusion came from a paperwork mistake, where Kate was incorrectly listed before a corrected list was quickly sent out.
Kate hasn’t revealed what type of cancer she had, and Kensington Palace keeps medical details private.
Kate’s experience has demonstrated the intensity of public attention during health issues. One palace source noted she hasn’t had the privacy that people facing this illness usually get. Despite these challenges, her gradual return to public duties demonstrates that she’s committed to resuming her royal duties while taking care of her recovery.
