The moment Prince William stepped in to rescue his mother-in-law, Carole Middleton, from a sticky situation during a visit to the racetrack on Wednesday was caught on camera, as Princess Kate stayed away amid her cancer treatment.
William attended the Royal Ascot horse-racing event near Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England, alongside Queen Camilla and a large group of extended members of the royal family. Among those present were Princess Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
The couple's attendance was notable as it was their first official public outing since their eldest daughter announced in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving a course of preventive chemotherapy.
Kate made her return to public events on June 15, attending King Charles III's Trooping the Colour birthday celebrations in London. Prior to this, her last appearance at an official royal photo call was on Christmas Day.
During their time at Royal Ascot, the Middletons were seen interacting with members of the royal family, including Prince William's cousins Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne, and Princess Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew.
At one point during their time socializing in the winners' enclosure, Carole Middleton was photographed during an awkward moment as she found herself stuck with her high heel sunken into the turf.
Nearby, William came to her rescue, offering her a hand and pulling her free. The moment was caught by the press photographers covering the event. William's laughing delight at the lighthearted mishap was captured.
William's relationship with his in-laws was drawn into public focus in 2023, as his early relationship with Princess Kate was dramatized in the final season of Netflix's royal series The Crown.
The portrayal of Carole Middleton as a social climber, scheming to marry her daughter to the future king, drew criticism in Britain, with some social-media users labeling it "sexist" and "misogynistic."
Both Kate and William remain close to the Middleton family. In May 2023, Michael and Carole, together with their two other children, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, were guests present at the coronation of Charles and Queen Camilla.
The family were also present for Kate's "Together at Christmas" carol concert at Westminster Abbey, London, in December.
One member of the Princess Kate's family who made headlines earlier this year was Carole's younger brother, Gary Goldsmith.
The former business owner, who was a guest at the royal wedding in 2011, entered the Celebrity Big Brother house in Britain, with his on-air comments about the royal family, and in particular Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, being widely circulated.
Goldsmith was the first contestant of the season to be evicted by public vote. In a post-appearance interview, he said that he had not spoken to his niece, Princess Kate, "in years."
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more
