The Princess of Wales sparked concern as she pulled out of attending Royal Ascot yesterday, apparently at the last minute.
But royal sources insisted there was nothing to worry about and that it was simply a case of crossed wires.
Aides also stressed that Catherine was continuing to ‘balance her return to public life’ following her cancer diagnosis last year, after which she made clear that she would resume her duties with a slow and measured approach.
The mini-drama came as her husband, Prince William, handed out the prize for the Prince of Wales stakes at the racecourse in Berkshire.
Executives at Ascot had expected the princess to join him, travelling down in the carriage procession from Windsor Castle with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
At 12pm they issued the procession list for the day, featuring the Prince and Princess of Wales in the second carriage after the King and Queen.
But 22 minutes later, guidance was issued which said Catherine would not be attending. It is understood an ‘inaccurate version’ of the list was ‘issued in error’.
An updated list was circulated and Lord Soames – a good friend of the King – lost his seat to make way for William in the first carriage with Charles and Camilla.
They were also joined by Saudi’s Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Saud.
Sources stressed there was ‘no cause for alarm’ and Catherine was following guidance palace aides have always given: that she would ‘balance her return to public duties’, following appearances at Trooping the Colour on Saturday and Monday’s Order of the Garter service.
They added that she was ‘disappointed’ not to attend but ‘has to find the right balance’.
Catherine, 43, had abdominal surgery last January, after which she was told cancer had been present, forcing her to undergo preventive chemotherapy.
At the beginning of this year she revealed she was in remission and would begin a slow and measured return to royal life.
While Catherine was not present at Ascot, Charles and Camilla were there for the second day running and plan to attend all week.
Her Majesty wore an emerald crepe silk dress by Anna Valentine, with a matching hat by Philip Treacy and an emerald and diamond drop brooch which belonged to Queen Elizabeth.
The Princess of Wales’s mother Carole Middleton also attended, alongside her daughter-in-law Alizee Thevenet, the wife of Kate’s brother James Middleton.
The King hosted Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of his late aunt Princess Margaret and a favourite of the late Queen.
She was joined on the fourth carriage by her artist husband Daniel Chatto. Also in the procession were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who sat in the second carriage.
The royal procession is celebrating its 200th anniversary, a tradition begun in 1825 when George IV was accompanied by the Duke of Wellington.
The King and his wife have continued Queen Elizabeth’s close association with the Berkshire race meet, but they had no luck when their horse Reaching High was beaten in the Ascot Stakes.
The late Queen was a passionate owner of thoroughbreds and had more than 20 Royal Ascot winners during her 70-year reign.
