Kate Middleton to stay behind as Prince William heads to Brazil for Earthshot Prize amidst family transition

Kate Middleton will not be accompanying Prince William to Brazil for the Earthshot Prize awards on November 5, with her absence attributed to a combination of personal and family matters. The Earthshot Prize, a global initiative championed by William to find impactful environmental solutions, will be held in Rio de Janeiro this year.

[caption id="attachment_399485" align="aligncenter" width="1160"] Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Earthshot prize award in Boston USA in 2022[/caption]

While Kate has attended the event in the past, including the inaugural 2021 ceremony in London and the 2022 event in Boston, she missed the 2023 ceremony in Singapore to support Prince George during his school exams. Last year, she also missed the awards in South Africa due to her cancer diagnosis and treatment.

This year, Kate's decision to skip the Earthshot Prize ceremony is linked to her ongoing recovery from cancer, as well as her focus on her role as a mother to their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—during their half-term break. The family is also preparing for a significant move from their current home, Adelaide Cottage, to a larger residence, Forest Lodge, within the Windsor Great Park estate.

The Wales family sees Forest Lodge as their "forever home," planning to make it their base even as William’s future as king looms. Despite Kate’s absence, William will be joined by a star-studded prize council for the ceremony, including Gisele Bündchen, Sir David Attenborough, Cate Blanchett, José Andrés, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Following the awards, he will attend the UN climate conference in Belém, Brazil, on November 6.