Kate Middleton Suffers Devastating Setback as She Faces ‘Major Shifts’ Amid Her Cancer Diagnosis
Jason Pham
Just months after she returned to her royal duties following her cancer diagnosis, Kate Middleton is back to taking a break from her public engagements as well-wishers worry about her health.
Kate was scheduled to attend the second day of the Royal Ascot, an annual horse-racing event, with her husband, Prince William, on June 18, 2025. However, news broke at the last minute that she would no longer be attending. As for why, People reported that Kate—who recently attended the 2025 Trooping the Colour celebration with William and their three kids: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—is still struggling to balance her return to work while recovering from her cancer treatment.
Related: See photos of Kate Middleton when she was young to now
Kate—who People reported was disappointed to have to pull out of the Royal Ascot at the last minute—was initially listed on the carriage list of the event and set to join William in the second carriage. William will now be seated with his father, King Charles, and Queen Camilla after Kate’s cancellation.
Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, is also in town and was photographed arriving at the racecourse, which is only a few miles from Windsor Castle, at around 12:20 p.m. local time. William previously attended the Royal Ascot solo in 2024 as Kate was undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Kate’s missing appearance from the 2025 Royal Ascot also comes as a source told People in June 2025 that “major shifts” are coming for Kate and William amid King Charles’ cancer diagnosis. “There are some major shifts coming behind the scenes,” the insider said. “They are really finessing what works and what doesn’t.”
The source also explained how Kate’s cancer diagnosed has affected her and Wiliam’s marriage for the better. “They were able to step back and reassess their priorities in all aspects of their lives,” the insider said.
The source also commended Kate for balancing her royal role while taking care of her health.
“She’s inspiring many people who have suffered similar health issues. She has been open and transparent about her cancer journey and demonstrated how you can get on with your life. It is wonderful to see,” the source said. “I don’t think you ever recover fully from what Kate has had to endure this last year. She has always been a huge asset to the royal family, but even more so now.”
Kate first announced she was diagnosed with cancer in a video statement in March 2024, in which she revealed that she was in the “early stages” of preventative chemotherapy. The announcement came after she underwent an abdominal surgery in January 2024. “At the time, it was thought that my condition was noncancerous,” she said in the video. “The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.”
She continued, “As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
Kate announced that she was done with chemotherapy in September 2024. “Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she said in a social media post at the time. “I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
She confirmed that she was in full remission from cancer in January 2025. “I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,” Kate wrote on social media. “My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything. We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient has been exceptional.”
