Prince William will attend the 2024 BAFTAs without his wife Kate Middleton as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery.
On Friday, Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince of Wales, 41, “will attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday February 18,” in a release seen by PEOPLE.
“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 nominees,” it added.
William has been the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, and 42-year-old Kate regularly attends the annual awards ceremony. William’s late grandfather, Prince Philip, was the academy’s first president.
Last year, William and Kate made their BAFTA debut as the Prince and Princess of Wales with Kate dazzling in a white one-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown, which she accessorised with long black gloves and gold jewellery, including Zara earrings.
This year’s ceremony is led by actor i A doctor who is star David Tennant, while awards are presented by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Bryce Dallas Howard, Hugh Grant, Dua Lipa and David Beckham.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the 2023 BAFTA Awards Chris Jackson/Getty Prince William visits Kate Middleton in hospital after her abdominal surgery, will spend ‘as much time as possible’
William’s appearance at the ceremony will come after he took a week off from royal duties to care for Princess Kate and their three children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 – during the children’s school holidays.
PEOPLE reported last week that Kate was able to travel to Anmer Hall in Norfolk, her and William’s home on the Sandringham estate, which is about 140 miles from Windsor, to spend time with William and their children during the children’s half-term break from school. It was the first time Kate had left Windsor Castle since her “planned” operation in January.
William briefly returned to public duties that had been delayed by his wife’s illness on February 7. The appearances also marked William’s return to royal duties for the first time since his father King Charles’ cancer diagnosis was revealed on February 5.
A friend told PEOPLE of William’s return to public life, “He’s doing remarkably well considering his wife had surgery and he only recently found out about his father’s news.”
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Prince William at the 2023 BAFTA Awards in London.
Chris Jackson/Getty
King Charles doesn’t want to put ‘pressure’ on Prince William over cancer diagnosis, source says
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Kate’s surgery was announced in a statement from Kensington Palace on January 17. “The surgery was a success and she is expected to remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” the statement said. . “Based on current medical advice, he is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normalcy as possible for her children; and her desire to keep her personal medical information private,” the statement continued. “Kensington Palace will therefore only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’s progress when there is significant new information to share.”
PEOPLE realize that the problem was not cancer.
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