Kate's hospital stay could mean breaking tradition by missing key event
Kensington Palace has today announced that Kate Middleton is recovering in hospital following abdominal surgery, and it could mean she'll miss out on a key event with husband Prince William.
The Princess of Wales underwent the planned procedure yesterday at The London Clinic, and is expected to remain in hospital for the next 10 to 14 days. Once home, it's expected that Kate, 42, will be stepping back from public duties until after Easter, upon advice from doctors.
William will also be scaling back his work in order to concentrate on his wife's recovery. But this might mean that the princess will sadly miss out on a glamorous event she and William, 41, attend every year, breaking tradition.
The couple were attending the awards for the first time since 2020 due to the pandemic postponing the ceremony (Getty Images)
Kate wore a recycled Alexander McQueen gown to the 2023 ceremony (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)Prince William, who has been president of the BAFTAs since 2010, attends the annual awards ceremony each year, accompanied by wife Kate. However with this year's event taking place on February 18, it is unlikely the princess will be able to attend.
The 77th British Academy Film Awards, which will honour the best national and foreign films of 2023, will take place at the Royal Festival Hall within London's Southbank Centre. The royal couple often dazzle fans with their iconic red carpet looks, and last year, the pair made headlines thanks to their flirty gestures.
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Kate was caught tapping her husband's bottom as they walked the red carpet, leaving fans in stitches. Her 2023 look saw her don an elegant off-white Alexander McQueen dress for the occasion - which was reworked from the gown she wore in 2019, with an added sleeve.
The one-shoulder statement dress was accompanied by a pair of dramatic opera-style black gloves, as well as a matching clutch purse from Jimmy Choo. A clip went viral of Kate's cheeky gesture with William, who looked suave in a tux.
Body language expert Judi James said at the time that it seemed Kate performed the move following a mistake by William - and she used it as a reprimand. She told the Mirror: "This bum-tap gesture is part of a swift series of non-verbal signals between the couple, known as tie-signs.
"They were clearly more tactile than usual for this red carpet appearance and their very glamorous styling gave them the look of an A-list power couple. Like all good A-listers, Kate seemed to be using tie-signs or non-verbal cues to help choreograph their movements but there was one small moment when they appeared to fall out of sync, possibly due to the fact that William seemed unable to keep his eyes off his stunning wife.
The future King and Queen at the event in 2019 (PA)
They sent fans wild with their PDA (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)"As they walk past the crowds, Kate seems to look back to acknowledge a complimentary comment with a smile. She then pushes her right hand out towards William’s in what looks like a cue to hold hands. William mistakenly leans in to suggest he is expecting more of the flirty whispering they have been doing and raises his hand as his head gets closer, missing Kate’s offer.
"Kate then 'rewards' William with a pat on the bum. So this works as both a sexy ritual or appreciation and a small reprimand for missing her cue." Prior to last year's glamorous ceremony, the most recent BAFTA event the prince and princess attended was three years before, with the 2021 event postponed due to complications related to the pandemic.
During last year's star-studded event, a pre-recorded tribute to the late Queen was paid by Dame Helen Mirren, who played the late monarch in the 2006 biopic The Queen. A statement from Kensington Palace this afternoon said: "Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery.
"Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.
"Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share. The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."
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