The Prince of Wales will be attending the Bafta film awards in London alone tonight as the Princess of Wales continues to recover from abdominal surgery.
William, who is president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta), is attending his first high-profile royal engagement since his wife’s operation last month.
Initially, it was thought he would miss the event at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall but he is thought to be keen to represent both himself and his wife.
Last year, he attended the ceremony along with the Princess of Wales, where they met award-winners Cate Blanchett, Austin Butler and Emma Mackey.
Kate had surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic and has since returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be with their three children.
Since the royal health announcements, which have also included his father the King’s unspecified cancer diagnosis and separate prostate treatment, William has attended few events – however, he will attend the BAFTAs this evening, without Kate by his side (the pair pictured at last year’s event)
Date night on hold: The couple have made their appearance at the award show an annual night out in previous years (Pictured in 2023)
Since the royal health announcements, which have also included his father the King’s unspecified cancer diagnosis and separate prostate treatment, William has attended few events.
He gave a speech at a London charity engagement raising funds for London’s Air Ambulance Charity’s new fleet of helicopters earlier this month.
Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic about atomic bomb creator J Robert Oppenheimer is expected to be a big winner at the Baftas after Oppenheimer received 13 nominations.
William has been the president of Bafta since 2010 and Kate first attended the event with her husband in 2017.
At last years event, Kate Middleton opted for an Alexander McQueen one shoulder gown for the occasion, which she first wore to the event in 2019.
The Prince of Wales was grinning as he waved to royal fans who had lined the red carpet waiting for the couple (Pictured: The ceremony in 2023)
The Prince and Princess of Wales, who regularly attend the BAFTA awards, chatted with Krishnendu Majumdar, Chair of BAFTA at the event
For his outfit, William kept things classic and simple in a double-breasted black velvet tuxedo jacket.
After the award ceremony, the couple chatted animatedly with the stars, including Austin and Sex Education’s Emma Mackey, as well as the host of the event, Alison Hammond.
It comes as King Charles returned to London for a short period for further cancer treatment following his diagnosis earlier this month.
Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.
The Queen has been carrying out her royal diary of engagements and last week said her husband was doing ‘extremely well under the circumstances’.
King Charles has been seen returning to London this week for more cancer treatment after his first public appearance at Sandringham
Charles seemed in high sprits on Sunday morning as he attended a church service on the Sandringham estate almost a week after his cancer diagnosis
She said the King, who underwent his first bout of cancer treatment last week, had been ‘very touched’ by all the messages of support he has received from the public.
The King and Queen arrived as downpours swept across London and Charles was photographed waving to well-wishers.
Charles’s diagnosis followed three nights in a private London hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate.
The Prince of Wales may step in to represent his father at events and it has been reported William and his family are spending half-term at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall, which is on the King’s Sandringham estate.
Christopher Nolan’s epic biopic about atomic bomb creator J Robert Oppenheimer is expected to be a big winner at the Baftas after Oppenheimer received 13 nominations.
Cillian Murphy, who played the titular role of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer
Cillian Murphy, who played the titular role in Oppenheimer, will go up against fellow Irish star Barry Keoghan, who is nominated for his leading role in Emerald Fennell’s viral black comedy Saltburn, in the best actor category.
Also expected to attend are Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan, who are both nominated for their roles in Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro, and Colman Domingo, who is nominated for Rustin, where he plays the man who helped Martin Luther King Jr and others organise the 1963 March On Washington.
Mulligan’s best actress rivals Margot Robbie, who is nominated for Barbie; Emma Stone, for Poor Things; Sandra Huller, for Anatomy Of A Fall; Fantasia Barrino, for The Color Purple and Vivian Oparah, recognised for British romantic comedy Rye Lane, will also be at the awards.
The ceremony will also feature a live musical performance by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham while Sophie Ellis-Bextor will sing her 2001 hit Murder On The Dancefloor, which experienced a surge in popularity after it featured in the closing moments of Saltburn.
The EE Bafta film awards will be hosted by Doctor Who star David Tennant at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday February 18.
The ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer from 7pm.
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