Prince William to attend BAFTA Film Awards solo
Prince William will attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards alone on Sunday (18.02.24), Kensington Palace have confirmed.
Prince William will attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards alone on Sunday (18.02.24).
The 41-year-old royal is president of the organisation and typically attends the annual ceremony with wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, but she is still recovering from abdominal surgery, so Kensington Palace have confirmed the prince will still be in attendance alone.
A news release confirmed William will "attend the EE BAFTA Film Awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 18th February."
It added: "The Prince, President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) will watch the Awards ceremony before meeting category winners and EE Rising Star Award nominees."
William and Catherine previously missed the 2022 BAFTAs due to "diary constraints" and pulled out at the last minute in 2021 due to the passing of the prince's grandfather, Prince Philip, who himself was previously president of BAFTA from 1959 to 1965.
The Prince of Wales returned to work earlier this month after taking some time off with his family - including children Princes George and Louis, 10 and five, and eight-year-old Princess Charlotte - following Catherine's surgery.
William stepped in to lead an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on behalf of his father, King Charles, following the monarch being diagnosed with cancer, and he presented an MBE to England footballer Ellen White.
He also attended a charity gala for the London Air Ambulance service on Wednesday evening (07.02.24) in his role as patron of the organisation, and he thanked well-wishers for their support during the recent difficult time for the royals.
As he arrived at the event, William told well-wishers: “We really appreciate everyone’s kindness. Thank you.”
The prince also shook hands and posed for a photograph with Tom Cruise, 61, before the pair chatted for several seconds and the Hollywood star gently patted the prince on his arm.
William added: “This is Tom Cruise, needs no introduction.”
Referring to how he wore ‘Top Gun’-themed slippers to the premier of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ in 2021, William looked down at his feet and turned to Tom before saying: “I haven’t got my ‘Top Gun’ slippers on,” prompting Tom to laugh as the royal went into another room.
