Prince William marched for the 2024 British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, February 18, however his normal plus one, Princess Kate Middleton, was not by his side one month after her stomach surgical treatment.
“I’m sorry Catherine’s not here. She does love the BAFTAs,” the Prince of Wales, 41, informed Elaine Bedell, president of the Southbank Center, at the honors reveal.
William participated in the event at the Royal Festival Hall in London by himself. He looked dapper in a navy velour sports jacket, which he coupled with black pants and a matching bowtie.
“I remember last year about the films that you’d watched,” Bedell responded, to which William stated, “All the ones I watch, she watches with me. So we go through it carefully.”
William confessed he’s viewed “the fewest I’ve ever done before” concerning this year’s movies, including, “I’ve had a lot on my mind. … But hopefully, I’ll catch up.”
He purportedly spurted over Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, however he hasn’t examined Barbie off the checklist yet, informing the Daily Telegraph, “but I want to.”
Days prior to the event, Kensington Palace validated that William would certainly be at the occasion sans Kate, 42. “The prince, president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), will watch the awards ceremony before meeting category winners and EE Rising Star Award nominees,” reviewed a declaration to People on Friday, February 16.
Kate has actually been relaxing from imperial involvements given that going through a “planned” stomach treatment last month. “The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” Kensington Palace shared by means of X (previously Twitter) on January 17. “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
According to the declaration, Kate really hoped that well-wishers would certainly “understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible” and regard “her wish that her personal medical information remains private.” (William and Kate, that got married in April 2011, share Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.)

Prince William talks with Cate Blanchett throughout the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards in London on February 18, 2024. JORDAN PETTITT/POOL/AFP by means of Getty Images
The declaration ended: “The Princess of Wales wishes to apologize to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”
The royal residence validated on January 29 that Kate was launched from the medical facility to proceed her recovery at home. While William took a quick respite from his royal tasks after the procedure, he went back to deal with February 7.
Prior to her treatment, Kate was last seen in public on Christmas Day as she participated in a worship with the household in Sandringham. She commonly goes along with William to the BAFTAs, as she did most lately in February 2023. At the moment, Kate shocked in a white one-shoulder Alexander McQueen dress and black handwear covers, while William showed off a smooth black match.
As for William resuming his involvements amidst Kate’s healing, he tipped up after his dad, King Charles III, exposed his very own health and wellness fight. In January, the majesty, 75, undertook a restorative treatment for a bigger prostate. Buckingham Palace later on validated that Charles was identified with “a form of cancer,” for which he had “commenced a schedule of regular treatments.” He was “advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” though he has actually proceeded “to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual.”