Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Kate Middleton headed back to work on June 25 after her absence at Royal Ascot last week made headlines Princess Kate and Prince William met with Melinda French Gates at Windsor Castle Hello!said that the Prince and Princess of Wales represented their Royal Foundation at the meeting Kate Middletonreturned to work behind closed doors after her absence at Royal Ascot last week made waves. On June 25, Princess Kate andPrince WilliamreceivedMelinda French Gatesat Windsor Castle,Hello!magazinereported. According to the outlet, the news was shared viaThe Court Circular, the British royal family's official record of previous engagements. Hello!reported that the couple represented The Royal Foundation at the meeting. The Royal Foundation is the umbrella for Prince William and Princess Kate's charitable endeavors and vehicle for their philanthropy in the fields of early years, mental health and more. Melinda, 60, is an American billionaire philanthropist, the founder of Pivotal Ventures and co-founder of the Gates Foundation. Pivotal Ventures is a group of organizations working to accelerate the pace of social progress, especially for women, in the U.S. and around the world, while the Gates Foundation (which Melindaco-founded with her ex-husband, Bill Gates, and left in 2024) fights poverty, disease, and inequity globally. Lisa Lake/Getty Pivotal Venturesrecently teamed upwithPrince HarryandMeghan Markle's charity the Archewell Foundation in October 2024, supporting a partnership with theOprah WinfreyCharitable Foundation to offer digital wellness programming for young women in underserved communities across the U.S. The Prince and Princess of Wales' meeting with Melinda didn't take them far from their home atAdelaide Cottage. William and Kate, both 43, live on the grounds of Windsor with their children,Prince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 10, andPrince Louis, 7. The update comes after Princess Kate's absence from Royal Ascot on June 18 caused a stir when she seemed to pull out of the appearance at the last minute, which waslater said to be a miscommunication. June 18 was the second day of Royal Ascot, a social staple on the royal family's summer calendar, and royal watchers expected to see Princess Kate that day after her name was included in the day's carriage procession with Prince William. However, her name wasdropped from the cavalcadeabout 20 minutes after the list was published, sparking speculation. PEOPLE understands that an inaccurate carriage listing was mistakenly released by Royal Ascot, and Prince William went on to appear at the event withKing CharlesandQueen Camilla. Max Mumby - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage Princess Kate was said to be disappointed not to be able to attend Ascot, but she is focused on striking the right balance as she gradually returns to public work after undergoingtreatment for cancerlast year. "She's being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her and easing back into public life,"Queen Elizabeth's former spokeswoman Ailsa Anderson tells PEOPLE in this week'sexclusive cover story. Karwai Tang/WireImage Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Princess Kate's most recent public appearance was theGarter Day Service at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castleon June 16, which came two days after theTrooping the Colour, which she attended with William and their children, on June 14. Read the original article onPeople