A well-placed royal source disclosed to The Daily Beast that a palpable wave of "panic" swept through the palace on Wednesday, following Kate Middleton's abrupt and dramatic withdrawal from her planned appearance at the prestigious Royal Ascot horse-racing festival at the eleventh hour. No official statement offering clarity on her absence was forthcoming from the palace.
Kate's team, however, sought to diminish speculations that the cancellation hinted at a decline in her health, briefing some media outlets that it merely reflected the princess's quest for "equilibrium" amidst her ongoing recovery from cancer. Earlier this year, when Kate announced her cancer-free status, she had candidly mentioned that her plans could undergo modifications, lending a semblance of credibility to the assertion that Wednesday's unexpected cancellation was of little consequence.
The U.K. media, for the most part, adhered to the palace narrative, dutifully portraying Kate's decision to forgo the iconic Ascot carriage procession as a matter of routine. Yet, cancelling such a high-profile engagement mere hours before she was slated to appear alongside the king and queen, stands out as a highly unconventional move.
Behind the palace's hallowed walls, the atmosphere was far from reassuring. As revealed by The Daily Beast, the announcement left palace staff in a state of "bewilderment and anxiety," scrambling to comprehend the unfolding situation. Matters were compounded by the release of an official "carriage list" by the palace at noon, which clearly stated Kate's participation, only for her to rescind her attendance within the subsequent hour, plunging the staff into further confusion.
A former courtier, who still maintains cordial ties with the royal household staff, recounted, "Every soul was in a daze, muttering, 'What on earth is happening?' One instant, she was poised to attend, and the next, she was absent. This is a cornerstone event in the royal calendar’s annual calendar; skipping Ascot whimsically is unthinkable, hence the palpable wave of panic. The announcement's disarray eerily echoed the gloomy days of yesteryear, leaving people baffled and apprehensive."
The insider further revealed that whispers had momentarily circulated within the palace walls, hinting that the future queen had fallen ill and either required medical attention or had been hastily rushed to the hospital. Kate’s office declined to comment on The Daily Beast’s inquiries, but a princess’s confidant shared with the publication, "From what I gather, Kate was utterly drained after Saturday’s Trooping the Color and Monday’s Garter Day festivities, and she just couldn’t muster the energy. She has been remarkably candid about experiencing both uplifting and challenging days."
Kate’s March 2024 revelation about her cancer battle came on the heels of a disastrous attempt to impose a news blackout on her health status. This information vacuum fueled a global frenzy of speculation regarding her whereabouts. This time around, fortunately, palace aides refrained from maintaining a stoic silence amidst these evidently peculiar circumstances. Instead, they discreetly briefed the media, stating that while Kate was "disappointed" to miss the event, she was striving to "strike the right equilibrium" in her public engagements.
There was no denying, however, the noticeable somberness etched on Prince William’s face upon his arrival at the festival, although he later brightened up in photographs capturing him smiling and enjoying a drink. One of the scant clues in UK media suggesting that Kate’s absence might harbor deeper meanings was tucked away in a passage of a report by the usually well-informed Daily Telegraph: "Her recently robust appearance belied the trials she endured last year and the arduous struggle to reclaim normalcy."
Kate completed her "preventative chemotherapy" in September and announced her remission in January of this year. In a groundbreaking video, she said, "There are days filled with sunshine and days shrouded in clouds. I am learning patience, especially amidst uncertainty." Similarly, King Charles has disclosed his cancer diagnosis, which is being meticulously managed through weekly treatments.
