As Carole and Michael Middleton attend Royal Ascot 2024, when will Kate Middleton next appear in public?

Dressed in an elegant Self-Portrait blue dress, a label favoured by both the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte, Carole Middleton looked to be enjoying Day Two of Royal Ascot 2024 with husband Michael Middleton. The couple were last seen publicly at their daughter’s annual Royal Carols: Together at Christmas which took place in December last year at Westminster Abbey. 

Although Carole and Michael Middleton have not appeared in public since their daughter’s cancer diagnosis, the family have been supporting her behind the scenes. The Princess of Wales has always enjoyed a close relationship with her parents and photos published by US gossip website TMZ (not published in the UK), showed Carole Middleton driving her daughter around Windsor Castle. 

Prince William is also said to enjoy a close relationship with his parents-in-law  and some have described Carole Middleton as a ‘second mother’ to him. He also reportedly enjoyed a ‘secret trip’ to the pub with her while his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was continuing to recover from cancer treatment. 

It is also believed that Carole Middleton stayed with her daughter, Prince William and her grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis during the Easter holidays. 

It was not only Carole Middleton and Michael Middleton who attended Day Two of Royal Ascot, but the Prince of Wales also delighted fans by making an appearance. However, he was without his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. 

Although Prince William was joined by his wife and three children at the Trooping of the Colour, it was not expected that Catherine, Princess of Wales, would attend Royal Ascot 2024. Before Trooping the Colour, the Princess of Wales shared a new photograph of herself along with an update on her recovery.

The Prince and Princess of Wales posted the update on their Instagram, with a new photograph of the Princess taken by royal photographer, Matt Porteous. In the photo, the Princess of Wales is seen standing beneath a willow tree taken in the gardens of Windsor, and in the photograph, she is seen looking up into the sky.

The Princess of Wales said in her statement that "I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months," she said. "It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times."

The Princess of Wales also said that "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days, you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.

“I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.

“Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.

The Princess of Wales signed off the statement with her initial C.

At Trooping the Colour, the Princess of Wales looked incredibly chic in an upcycled Jenny Packham dress and was pictured on the balcony alongside her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, as well as husband Prince William, Queen Camilla and King Charles. 

Although the Princess of Wales has said that she “hopes to join a few public engagements over the summer,” there has been no official word as to what these engagements might be. However, it is likely that the Princess of Wales would love to attend Wimbledon 2024, which starts on 1 July 2024. Not only is she a huge tennis fan, but she is also a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.