Kate Middleton made her return to Royal Ascot on June 17, marking her first appearance at the famous horse racing event in three years. The Princess of Wales joined Prince William on the second day of the meeting and took part in the Royal Procession at Ascot Racecourse. Her appearance comes after she missed Royal Ascot in 2024 while focusing on her recovery following cancer treatment. The outing was another public appearance for Kate as she continues a careful return to royal duties after announcing earlier this year that she was in remission.
Kate Middleton and Prince William Return to Royal Ascot Together
Kate Middleton arrived alongside Prince William as part of the traditional Royal Procession, which officially opens each day of Royal Ascot. The couple shared a carriage with the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and Gordon. For the occasion, Kate wore a bright yellow dress by Roksanda with a matching hat, while Prince William paired his morning suit and top hat with a yellow flower on his jacket. As she stepped into the carriage, people gathered nearby complimented her appearance. In a video shared by Kings Guard Tours on social media, Kate responded with a smile, saying, “Thank you. Hopefully the sun stays out.” Ascot Racecourse also welcomed her return publicly. Sharing footage of the couple arriving, the racecourse wrote on social media, “We are delighted to welcome The Princess of Wales to the second day of Royal Ascot.” The event coincided with the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, one of the major races of the week.
Kate Middleton’s Royal Ascot Appearance Follows Cancer Recovery Journey
Kate’s return carried extra significance because of her absence last year. In 2024, she stepped away from public duties after revealing her cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment. According to PEOPLE, Kate had initially been expected to attend Royal Ascot last year, and her name briefly appeared on the Royal Procession list before an updated version confirmed she would not be there. At the time, former royal spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson told PEOPLE, “She’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life.” Although Kate announced in early 2025 that she was in remission, she has spoken openly about the challenges that come after treatment. During a visit to Colchester Hospital last summer, she said, “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.” Royal Ascot remains closely linked with the royal family, even though it is not an official royal event. This year’s gathering also included King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne and several other family members during what has already been a busy month of royal appearances.
