Kate Middleton Makes First Appearance After Pulling Out of Royal Ascot — But It's a Secret One
Kate Middleton was absent from the prestigious event of Royal Ascot this year, sparking numerous speculations about her health and well-being. The Princess of Wales pulled out of the event at the last moment, which was later confirmed as a miscommunication behind the scenes. While the mother-of-three is sensibly planning her outings, as she's in remission after cancer treatment, she recently made an appearance at a secret formal meeting involving Prince William.
Middleton’s secret engagement with William marked her first appearance since the Order of the Garter. According to Hello! Magazine, the Court Circular confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales recently welcomed American philanthropist Melinda French Gates to Windsor Castle. Gates, who is also the founder of Pivotal Ventures, an organisation that works toward giving women opportunities and promoting equality across the U.S, had a meeting with William and Middleton.
The couple represented their Royal Foundation before her in a private setting behind closed doors. No photographs of the meeting were released to the public, and Middleton did not have to travel far from her residence at Adelaide Cottage. The Wales’ have been living at the cottage situated on the grounds of Windsor with their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, for a few years now. It provides the couple with privacy to raise their children away from the media.
The report of the meeting comes after the Royal Ascot, where William also made a solo appearance. On June 18, for the second day of Royal Ascot, many senior members of the family participated in a carriage procession, which also included Middleton. However, according to People Magazine, the princess’s name was dropped about 20 minutes after the list was released. The publication has claimed that the list was inaccurate and mistakenly released ahead of the procession.
Middleton missed the event for the second time in a row. Amid remission, the 43-year-old is still finding the right balance between her public appearances and health struggles. Late Queen Elizabeth’s former spokesperson, Ailsa Anderson, told the magazine that Middleton is carefully analysing what is best for her health and accordingly making decisions. She added, “She’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life.” Ahead of the horse racing event, the princess gracefully attended two back-to-back high-profile events: Trooping the Color and Order of the Garter.
The Daily Mail has reported that Middleton does not have any scheduled public appearances this week. She is expected to attend Wimbledon, set to commence on Monday, June 30. Middleton has been the patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club since 2016 and presents trophies to the winners. She is an avid fan of the sport and has often mentioned that she grew up watching it. Besides her appearance at the sporting event, Middleton is also said to be involved in French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron’s state visit to Windsor Castle in the second week.