Prince William and Kate Middleton attend the 2023 BAFTAs.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince Williammay have attended the2024 EE BAFTA Film Awardssolo, but his wifeKate Middletonwas not far from his mind.
Speaking with Elaine Bedell, chief executive of the Southbank Centre, at the event, Prince William apologized for his wife’s absence at this year’s awards. “I’m sorry Catherine’s not here. She does love the BAFTAs,” he said.
“I remember last year about the films that you’d watched,” Bedell replied.
“All the ones I watch, she watches with me. So we go through it carefully,” William shared.
Prince William attends the 2024 BAFTAs on Feb. 18, 2024.Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool/Getty
Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool/Getty
However, Princess Kate’s abdominal surgery on Jan. 16 and the following recovery has delayed the royal couple’s movie nights. Prince William admitted that he’s watched “the fewest I’ve ever done before, annoyingly” from this year’s nominees.
“I’ve had other things on my mind. It’s been a bit [hand motion] — a bit like that. But hopefully, I’ll catch up,” he added, quipping that he would make his list of what to watch at the event.
One film that Prince William was able to see before this year’s BAFTAs wasOppenheimer, which seized the prizes for best film and best director.
“I’m a big fan ofChristopher Nolanso I’ll be pleased if he wins … I lovedOppenheimer,” Prince William said according toThe Daily Telegraph.
But the prince hasn’t completed theBarbenheimertrend.
“I haven’t watchedBarbieyet,” he reportedly said, “but I want to.”
Cate Blanchett and Prince William at the 2024 BAFTAs on Feb. 18, 2024.Jordan Pettitt - WPA Pool/Getty
Princess Kateoften accompanies her husband to the BAFTAs, including hitting the red carpet last year as the couple made their debut as the Prince and Princess of Wales at the event.
The pair’s appearance at the 2023 BAFTAs was the first time they had attended the ceremony in two years. In 2021,William pulled out of an appearance at the BAFTAsfollowing his grandfatherPrince Philip’sdeathat the age of 99 on Apr. 9, while in 2022, it was announced that both William and Katewouldn’t attend the awards ceremonydue to diary constraints.
Prince William’s appearance at the BAFTAs came after he took a week off from royal duties to look after Princess Kate and their three children —Prince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5 — during the kids’ half-term vacation from school. While Kate left the hospital on Jan. 29, she is continuing her recovery at home and isn’t expected to return to public royal duties until at least Easter.
Prince William and Kate Middleton in Wales on Sept. 8, 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
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Prince William’s family time followed abrief return to public dutieson Feb. 7 after taking several weeks out of the public eye to focus on Princess Kate’s recovery. The engagements were also the first appearances William had made since his fatherKing Charles’cancer diagnosiswas revealed on Feb. 5.
A friend recently told PEOPLE of William, “He iscoping remarkably wellconsidering his wife had surgery and he only found out his father’s news recently.”
source: people.com
