King Charles has issued an emotional statement following the surprising decision by his son, Prince William, and daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, to skip the 2025 BAFTA Awards. Kensington Palace confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales will not be attending the prestigious EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony, scheduled for Sunday, February 16.
Prince William, who has served as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) since 2010, has been a regular fixture at the annual event. However, despite his absence from the red carpet this year, the future king will still be involved in the ceremony. He is set to appear in a special video package as part of the awards and will also visit the London Screen Academy on Wednesday, told The Independent.
Following Kate and William’s decision, King Charles has now released a heartfelt message, though not directly referencing their absence. Instead, he turned his attention to a cause close to his heart, expressing his support for the newly launched Allergy School, an initiative designed to provide teaching resources on allergies, developed in collaboration with experts from The King’s Foundation.
The King’s Foundation shared the monarch’s statement on its official Instagram handle, emphasizing his pride in the initiative. King Charles stated, “I am particularly heartened that my King’s Foundation has been closely involved with the project.”
He further added, “I am delighted to hear of the launch of ‘Allergy School’, the new educational program by the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation.”
The monarch’s statement, while focused on the education program, comes at a time when public interest in Kate and William’s absence from the BAFTAs is high. Many royal watchers had anticipated their attendance, given William’s longstanding association with the event.
The exact reason behind their decision to skip the ceremony remains unclear, sparking speculation. However, it is understood that William’s continued commitment to the BAFTA is unwavering, as evidenced by his planned video appearance.
Kate and William last attended the BAFTAs together in 2023. In 2024, William made a solo appearance at the event, shortly after news emerged of Kate’s abdominal surgery, which was later revealed to be part of her ongoing treatment for cancer.
While King Charles’ statement does not directly address the couple’s absence from the awards, his focus on charity work and education reflects the Royal Family’s continued dedication to public service amid ongoing personal and public challenges.
