Kate Middleton leaves fans worried with unexpected decision

Princess Kates left royal fans worried about her health with her surprising absence from a major royal event.

According to a new report, royal sources insisted that Kensington Palace had notified Ascot earlier in the day that future queen Kate  would not be attending the event.

The Palace notified Royal Ascot of the Princess of Wales' decision to withdraw from the Royal Procession on Wednesday ahead of a major blunder that sparked confusion.

"Unfortunately, an inaccurate version of the carriage list was issued in error after that notification. The correct list was then circulated," a source told the Mail.

The administrative mix-up unfolded when Ascot executives released the day's procession list at midday, listing both the Prince and Princess of Wales in the second carriage behind the King and Queen.

Just 22 minutes later, revised guidance emerged confirming Kate would not be attending, with officials acknowledging an "inaccurate version" had been "issued in error".

The last-minute change necessitated a reshuffle of the carriage arrangements, with Lord Soames, a close friend of the King, losing his place to accommodate Prince William in the first carriage.

William joined King Charles, Queen Camilla and Saudi Arabia's Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud for the traditional procession, whilst an updated list was hastily distributed to correct the earlier mistake.

Royal aides emphasised that Kate was "continuing to balance her return to public life" after her cancer diagnosis last year, maintaining the careful approach she had previously outlined for resuming official engagements.

A source said: "Catherine knows she should not overdo things. She is grateful that her recovery has gone well, but things have not been plain sailing. She had a busy day at Trooping the Colour at the weekend and, if she’s feeling slightly under the weather, it’s better that she takes it easy."

Princess Catherines absence left fans worried as they were expecting their beloved royal would attend the event. However, Kate was reportedly also disappointed not to attend the races but "has to find the right balance" in her schedule.

Prince William's wife Kate underwent abdominal surgery in January 2024, and during the subsequent tests, cancer was discovered, leading to the royal undergoing preventive chemotherapy treatment. Now, she is in remission and undertaking a gradual and return to royal responsibilities.