Kate Middleton has quietly resumed her official engagements, after cancelling her appearance at the traditional Royal Ascot horse show, where she was due to attend alongside her husband, Prince William, on June 18. Since this unexpected absence, it was rumored that the Princess of Wales would take a further period away from public life, five months after announcing her remission from cancer. But she’s back to work, out of sight but in a very official setting, as she received Melinda French Gates at Windsor Castle.
Kate and William presented the work of the Royal Foundation, the umbrella organization for their charities and philanthropic patronages, to the billionaire and ex-wife of Bill Gates, herself a renowned philanthropist. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were part of the Foundation, left it when they turned their backs on their royal roles. They set up their own foundation, Archewell, in the US. On the British side, Kate and William continue their work in early childhood development, environmental protection, mental health, and homelessness.
These commitments align with those of French Gates, co-founder of the Gates Foundation, whose priorities are the fight against extreme poverty and unequal access to medical care. She left the foundation in 2024, three years after her divorce from Bill Gates. “The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy,” she said, adding that she would mobilize $12.5 billion to help women and families as her priority. “This is a critical time for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, and those fighting to protect and promote equality need urgent support.”
She is also the founder of Pivotal Ventures, which works to “advance social progress and expand women’s power and influence in the U.S. and around the world.” This is not the billionaire’s first collaboration with the royal family, having previously joined forces with Harry and Meghan to support Archewell’s partnership with the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation for “digital wellness programming for young girls in underserved communities across America.” The content of her meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales was kept confidential, with no speeches or photos shared with the public.
Kate’s absence from Ascot had raised concerns about the state of her health. Her name was removed from the list of royals attending the event just minutes before the festivities kicked off. According to the latest information relayed by the British press, the original list was incorrect. “The princess is disappointed not to be there today,” a royal source told Vanity Fair, “but she has to find the right balance as she fully returns to public-facing engagements.”
A friend continued, “Catherine would have loved to be at Ascot. It’s always a fun day out, but the UK is having a heatwave, and she is trying to pace herself. Trooping and the Garter were big occasions and very important dates in the royal calendar that the Princess wanted to be at. She was there and looked wonderful and played her part.” As usual, Kate should have a front-row seat for the Wimbledon tournament, which starts on Monday.
Original story from Vanity Fair France.