BREAKING NEWS Kate Middleton pulls out of Royal Ascot: Princess of Wales will not join Prince William at horse racing meet as she continues phased return to duties after cancer battle
The Princess of Wales has pulled out of attending Royal Ascot at the last minute as she continues to find the right balance following her battle with cancer.
Kate is said to be disappointed at not attending the famous social and sporting occasion in Berkshire with her husband and the King and Queen.
Racegoers had been hoping to see Kate as William was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during the second day of the meet.
Just 20 minutes before the announcement that Kate would not attend, Ascot officials had announced at 12pm that the Princess was due to be in the second carriage in the royal procession with William.
It comes after the King and Queen yesterday enjoyed a day at the races as they welcomed the girlfriend of the Princess Royal 's son to the royal fold.
Charles and Camilla hosted guests in the royal box on the first day of Royal Ascot including the King's nephew Peter Phillips and his partner, NHS nurse Harriet Sperling.
She made an appearance for the first time in the carriage procession the Royal Family make onto the famous Berkshire racecourse to signal the start of the day.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition begun during the reign of George IV in 1825 when the monarch was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
The King and Queen rode in the first carriage yesterday with Prince Faisal, a member of the Saudi royal family, and Lady Sarah Keswick, one of the Queen's official companions.
Behind them travelled the Princess Royal with Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot and the Duke and Duchess of Wellington and they were followed by a coach carrying Anne's son Peter Phillips and his girlfriend.
Other royals spotted among the crowds yesterday included Princess Beatrice and her mother Sarah, Duchess of York and Zara and Mike Tindall.
The head of state and his wife have continued Queen Elizabeth II's close association with the Berkshire race meet but they had no luck with the sport of Kings when their horse Reaching High was well beaten in the Ascot Stakes.
The late Queen was a passionate owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
Charles and Camilla have taken on her stable of horses and enjoyed their first Royal Ascot winner in 2023 when their horse Desert Hero triumphed in the King George V states.
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