Kate Middleton was joined by friends, family, and 1,600 other guests during her her annual “Together At Christmas” carol service on December 6 at Westminster Abbey. Along with her husband, Prince William, and their kids, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, other royals like Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice showed up in their festive best—a velvet pantsuit for Tindall and a maroon maternity look for Beatrice. However, two very important royals were missing in action at Friday’s event: King Charles and Queen Camilla.
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According to People, there’s no official statement from the palace as to why the monarchs sat out the concert. However, the outlet notes that the king most likely didn’t want to overshadow Middleton on her big day. Charles and Camilla were not in attendance at last year’s event either; the king had a prior commitment at his Highgrove Estate in Gloucestershire at the time.
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King Charles was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, though, and he has continued performing his royal duties during his battle. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla has also been sick with a ongoing chest infection that was later diagnosed as pneumonia. While the queen has continued working while ill, she has also taken a step back, skipping some recent events.
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On December 5, Camilla attended an event for the 50th anniversary of Women’s Aid, where she spoke with survivors of domestic violence. During the appearance, Camilla admitted that she has been feeling a little run down amid her health struggles. “I am still a bit tired. It catches up a bit,” she told representatives for the organization.
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Camilla’s friends recently expressed to the Daily Beast. that they were worried that the queen was doing too much and not taking time to recover. “We are all extremely concerned that this happened,” one source said of her pneumonia diagnosis. “Thank goodness she seems to have recovered. Camilla just needs to rest and recuperate now over Christmas and I only hope they drive her and The King to church on Christmas Day if it’s cold!”
