The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at a Remembrance service at the Royal Albert Hall this evening after the Queen had to cancel her engagements.
William and Kate, both wearing poppies, were seen in conversation after taking their seats next to each other at the Royal Albert Hall.
It comes after Queen Camilla announced she also not be attending the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph after being diagnosed with a chest infection.
A Palace spokesperson said: ‘Following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s Remembrance events.
‘While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week.’
Kate’s presence at the Royal British Legion event comes after William spoke candidly spoke of how 2024 has been ‘brutal’ and ‘probably been the hardest year in my life’, with both Kate and the King diagnosed with cancer.
The King received applause as he took his seat at Saturday’s event which honours sacrifices made by the British and Commonwealth armed forces community and includes musical performances and personal testimonies.
Camilla’s doctors have also erred on the side of caution because it would involve her standing outside for a prolonged period in unpredictable weather which would set back a full recovery.
Her condition has not worsened but it is understood that she does not want to pass on the chest infection to anybody else.
It was announced that Camilla was unwell on Tuesday with a chest infection.
She was scheduled to attend the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.
She also pulled out of the Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes hosted by the King.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time: ‘Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.
‘With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.
‘She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.’
While she is under doctor’s supervision, the palace has remained tight-lipped about any further details.
In a video Kate released in September, she revealed she had finished her chemotherapy treatment, and spoke of how she was ‘looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months’.
But she added her focus was ‘doing what I can to stay cancer free’.
On Sunday Kate will watch, as is tradition, from above, on the nearby Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office balcony overlooking Whitehall, taking part in the solemn two-minute silence and viewing the veterans’ march past.
William said on Wednesday during his trip to Cape Town that his wife was “doing really well” and has been “amazing this whole year”.
The Duchess of Gloucester has stepped in to attend the Field of Remembrance opening at Westminster Abbey this week so it is believed she will do the same this weekend.
The Duchess, Birgitte, is the wife of Queen Elizabeth’s cousin Duke of Gloucester who is a full-time working member of the royal family.
Birgitte, 78, who was born in Denmark, married into the Windsor family after meeting Prince Richard in the late 1960s while studying at Cambridge University.
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