Why Prince William and Kate Didn’t Attend King Charles’s First State Opening of Parliament
King Charles III hit a big milestone today, having hosted his first State Opening of Parliament alongside wife Queen Camilla. And while sister Princess Anne took part in the event, in her role as Gold Stick in Waiting, the monarch’s eldest son and heir to the throne, Prince William, did not attend.
While it’s not required for the heir to be present at the traditional royal event, King Charles accompanied his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to her State Openings of Parliament several times over the years. Still, Prince William and Princess Kate had a good reason for not showing up for the occasion.
The Prince of Wales hosted an event of his own today, the Earthshot Prize award ceremony in Singapore, where he honored environmentalists working to halt global warming and solve Earth’s most urgent issues. Other faces in attendance included actors Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham, and Sterling K. Brown.
“The focus of my visit this week is how we collectively overcome our planet’s greatest environmental challenges,” William said in a statement shared by Kensington Palace. “Like all initiatives created through the Royal Foundation, United for Wildlife and the Earthshot Prize are underpinned by finding innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. As a hub for innovators and entrepreneurs, Singapore is an ideal place to host our discussions today. This United for Wildlife summit will address how to protect our natural world from the international criminal gangs intent on plundering it.”
Princess Kate did not accompany her husband to the award ceremony this time around, and instead stayed home in England to help eldest son Prince George “through his first set of major exams,” per the palace.
You Might Also Like
