Why Prince William Attended Family Friend’s Wedding Without Kate Middleton

Prince William

Prince William went solo at the wedding of his longtime friend and the Duke of Westminster, as he was photographed at the event without his wife, Kate Middleton, or their three children.

On Friday, William was spotted by paparazzi outside England's Chester Cathedral, where his family friend and the godfather of one of his kids, Hugh Grosvenor, would later say "I do" to his fiancée, Olivia Henson. The Prince of Wales was photographed looking dapper in dark gray dress pants, which he paired with a black tail coat, a white button-up and a pair of black leather loafers.

William, who turns 42 later this month, served as an usher during the June 7 event, which he attended without the presence of Kate or their children amid swirling rumors about the princess' health. His brother Prince Harry, who is also a good friend of the duke's, was also absent from the 400-or-so-person affair, despite the duke also being a godparent to his 5-year-old son, Prince Archie.

CHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Prince William, Prince of Wales, ahead of the wedding of The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral on June 07, 2024, in Chester, England.<p>Chris Jackson/Getty Images</p>
CHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 07: Prince William, Prince of Wales, ahead of the wedding of The Duke of Westminster and Miss Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral on June 07, 2024, in Chester, England.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

As for why the Princess of Wales and the couple's three kids–Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6–were among those missing from the star-studded celebration, the answer is simple, really.

Kate has been keeping a relatively low profile since going public with her cancer diagnosis in March and starting "preventative" chemotherapy treatments. Though, in the latest health update provided by her husband, when asked if the princess was "getting better," he reportedly shared: "Yes she is. She'd have loved to be here," referencing Wednesday's outing in Portsmouth, honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

As for the three kids, they remain at boarding school four hours away in Berkshire until the end of their summer term in July. But once the session is over, a royal insider revealed that Mom has big plans for the summer, which she intends to make all about the children.

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