Despite not being present at Royal Ascot, Kate attended three events in the days leading up to it. Her itinerary featured the launch of the new V&A East Storeroom in London, engaging with the public at Trooping the Color for the King’s official birthday, and participating in Garter Day in Windsor.

At first, Kate was scheduled to attend with the King for the historic 200th Royal Ascot carriage procession, but plans changed after Kensington Palace revealed she would not attend.

In January, Kate announced her remission status and commitment to recovery, while mentioning that the King is still undergoing his weekly cancer treatments. King Charles received a cancer diagnosis following treatment for an enlarged prostate in January 2024.

Kate earlier recounted her experience with chemotherapy, stating, “As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty.”

In a sincere video message from September 2024, Kate shared her experiences over the past nine months as being “incredibly tough for us as a family” and highlighted that “doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus.”

Ailsa Anderson, former communications secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, discussed Kate’s strategy with People magazine. “She’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life,” Ailsa said.

Last year, Kate was mostly out of the spotlight, but she did have significant appearances at events such as Trooping the Color and Wimbledon. As autumn arrived, Kate revealed that she had completed her chemotherapy sessions, and in an honest video, she shared her experience fighting cancer as “complex, scary and unpredictable.”