Getty On June 18, Kate Middleton pulled out of attending Royal Ascot alongside her husband Prince William at the last minute. This is an example of the Princess of Wales no longer "being a people pleaser" when it comes to royal appearances, a royal biographer said. "It was a wise decision, even though it was probably a difficult one, too," editor-in-chief ofMajestymagazine Ingrid Seward added. WhenKate Middletonpulled out of attending day 2 of Royal Ascot on June 18, it was an example of her putting her recovery first, royal biographer Ingrid Seward said—and returning to royal duties gradually and on her own terms. The Princess of Wales was said to be "disappointed" to miss the planned appearance last Wednesday alongside her husband,Prince William, at the annual, fashionable iconic British horse racing event. According toHello!, even though the future queen's public appearances have begun to resume the pace we as the public were used to prior to her 2024 cancer diagnosis, Kate still "has to find the right balance" as she returns to public life. (After undergoing major abdominal surgery in January 2024, cancer was detected; Kate announced her diagnosis to the world in March of last year and appeared sparingly in public before announcing in September that she'd completed chemotherapy treatment. In January 2025, she announced she is in remission.) Getty As to her Ascot absence, as Kate said herself last September, "My path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes." It seems, in skipping Ascot, that Kate is respecting her limitations. On June 14, she appeared at Trooping the Colour; just two days later, she appeared alongside William and other members of the royal family at the Garter Day service on June 16. Royal Ascot would have been her third major appearance in just four days' time—it makes sense why she needed to prioritize her well-being. "Kate might be back, but she's doing it sensibly, and on her own terms," Seward toldHello!. "Her priorities have changed, and she's listening to her body instead of being a people pleaser. She's absolutely got to be strict with herself and say, 'No, I can't do this.'" Getty "Ascot is more exhausting than it looks," Seward continues. "It involves an early start, and there's a long process of hair and makeup and getting the right outfit. The royals have lunch at Windsor Castle, then there is a bumpy carriage ride while the whole world is looking at you. It was a very hot day, and she probably simply didn't feel up to it. I'm sure she was disappointed and really wanted to be there at William's side." Seward—who, in addition to writing numerous royal biographies, is also the editor-in-chief ofMajestymagazine—added, "She loves racing, and so does her mum [Carole Middleton, who was there that day]. But this was a social event—for fun and pleasure—rather than an official or charity engagement, so I think it was a wise decision, even though it was probably a difficult one, too." Getty Images Reporting forThe Daily Mail, veteran royal journalist Rebecca English cited someone who knows Kate well as saying the Princess of Wales has been "to hell and back" over the past year and a half, and that, while her physical recovery is still a "work in progress," she has a firmer than ever "mental clarity"; as English worded it, "She knows more than ever what is important to her—and that she won't be rushed on her journey back to full health." "On some levels, I actually think this is a good reminder that she was really seriously ill last year and underwent a significant period of chemo," a source told English. "As anyone who has been through that experience will tell you, you can feel very unwell for a long time afterwards. It can take years [to recover]." Getty As Seward toldHello!, "She is definitely playing the long game and prioritizing what is important—her family, her health, and staying well." English added that, while the public likely won't see Kate this week, she's "very likely" to turn up at Wimbledon—which begins next week—and play a "significant" part in July's French state visit at Windsor Castle. "She wants to find the right balance and work with a greater degree of flexibility than before," a source speaking to English said. "This is a woman who plays a very important role in the monarchy, but in order for her to do it, both now and in the future, she needs to get this right." Getty An insider added that Kate is "quite strict now at working out what she needs to be at and what she doesn't," with a source adding, "And people forget that, even if they aren't seeing her in public, she is very hands-on behind the scenes with the team in the office. She has her own projects to pursue, such as her early years initiative. That's a lifelong commitment for HRH [Her Royal Highness]." Read the original article onInStyle