Kate Middleton was absent from Prince William’s latest royal outing, just days after stepping out for a high-profile day of double duty during the French state visit.
Prince William and Kate Middleton attend the state banquet at Windsor Castle on July 8, 2025.Chris Jackson/Getty
On July 11, the Princess of Wales, 43, didn’t attend the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup 2025 at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, which her husband participated in.
The Royal Charity Polo Cup fundraises for charities and causes that Prince William and Princess Kate are passionate about and helps those organizations carry out their work.
Prince William competes in charity polo match on July 11, 2025.Chris Jackson/Getty
Kate traditionally attends the annual polo outing, but she was notably absent from last year’s event while undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Kate last attended this polo match in July 2023, when she sipped champagne and supported William from the sidelines.
The match this year marks the 14th time William has participated in the polo cup, and this year’s event is expected to take the total amount raised to over $19 million.
Princess Kate shared in March 2024 that she was receiving cancer treatment and subsequently stepped outside of the limelight to focus on her health. She then said in September that she completed chemotherapy and announced in January that she is in “remission,” resuming a more regular schedule of work in the months since.
Kate Middleton and Prince William at the Out-Sourcing Inc. Royal Charity Polo Cup 2023 on July 6, 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImage
Kate’s absence from the polo cup on Friday comes on the heels of a busy week with multiple royal engagements.
On July 8, she and Prince William welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, to the U.K. for their three-day state visit. The diplomatic honor was significant, as they greeted the couple on behalf of King Charles, in a show of their role on the global stage.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were also involved in the carriage procession, military inspection and private lunch at Windsor Castle after, joining the King, Queen Camilla and Macrons for the quintessential events that begin a state visit.
Kate Middleton, Queen Camilla, Prince William, King Charles, President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron during the ceremonial welcome in Windsor on July 8, 2025.DYLAN MARTINEZ/POOL/AFP via Getty
On Tuesday night, William and Kate stepped out once more to partake in the glamorous state banquet at Windsor Castle held in the Macrons’ honor. The Princess of Wales made her dazzling tiara return for the first time since 2023 and had a prominent seat at the dinner beside the French president.
Just last week, Princess Kate openly spoke about the challenges of life after cancer treatment while visiting Colchester Hospital.
Reflecting on her own experience, the Princess of Wales 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.”
Kate Middleton at Colchester Hospital on July 2, 2025.STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty
“You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she continued. “And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”
“You have to find your new normal and that takes time…and it’s a roller coaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be,” Kate explained. “But the reality is you go through hard times.”