Most of the headlines about Kate Middleton lately have had to do with her health. The Princess of Wales, after all, just announced she was in remission from cancer earlier this year and battled the disease most of last year. So, it’s understandable that people go there right away. Which is why when it was announced that she would not be attending the ceremony for the Earthshot Prize, a global environmental award founded by Prince William in 2021, speculation on her health started again.
However, there is another reason why Middleton won’t be at the ceremony, which is set to take place in Rio de Janeiro on 5 November, and it’s not her health. Instead, it’s about Prince William and Kate Middleton prioritizing their children. That’s right, the two reportedly have a rule that at least one of them will be around for Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, particularly for things like school drop-offs.
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The Princess of Wales was present at the inaugural Earthshot Prize event in 2021, held in London. She was also present in the second, which was held in Boston, Massachusetts, but was absent in both 2023 and 2024.
All of this comes right after Prince William’s appearance in Eugene Levy’s new Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler. Among the things the two discussed was how complicated the past year had been for William and Kate’s family.
“We’ve been very lucky; we hadn’t had many illnesses in the family for a very long time. My grandparents lived until they were in the high 90s,” William said in the episode. “They were the vision of fitness, and stoicism, and resilience, if you like. So we’ve been very lucky as a family,” he added. “But I think, when you suddenly realize that the rug, if you were, the metaphorical rug, can be pulled from under your feet quite quick at any point.”
The prince even added, “I’d say ‘23-’24 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” saying. “You know, life is sent to test us and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
Both King Charles and Kate Middleton were diagnosed with cancer in 2024. In September 2024, the Princess of Wales announced she had completed chemotherapy, saying, “As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment.” Then, in January 2025, the Princess of Wales announced that her cancer was in remission.
She has spoken about the subject in public recently, most notably in a conversation with NHS patients and staff members. “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” she explained, adding about the post-treatment phase. “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
“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,” Middleton explained. “But the reality is you go through hard times.”
A renewed sense of mortality can, indeed, help you re-set your priorities, and it seems like for Middleton, that’s her family.
[SRC] https://stylecaster.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/1234857637/kate-william-earthshot-prize/
