Why King Charles and Prince William suddenly cancelled all their royal engagements for the week

LONDON, UK: King Charles III and Prince William have unexpectedly cancelled a series of royal engagements this week, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement.

The decision to postpone scheduled outings was attributed to the upcoming general election called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and scheduled for July 4.

According to the statement released by Buckingham Palace, the royal pair opted to postpone engagements "which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign."

King Charles and Prince William suddenly cancel numerous royal events

As a result, Charles cancelled his attendance at an event scheduled for May 23, along with two engagements slated for May 24.

Similarly, Prince William cancelled an outing he had planned for the same week.

“The Royal Family will — in accordance with normal procedure — postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign,” Buckingham Palace said in the statement, per Tatler.

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”

The decision aligns with the tradition of the British royal family to limit public appearances ahead of an election, maintaining their apolitical stance.

However, it also coincides with a challenging period for the royals, particularly for Charles and Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, both of whom are battling cancer and have reduced their public engagements in recent months.

In February, the Palace announced Charles's diagnosis of an unspecified cancer following a routine hospital procedure. He temporarily stepped back from his duties to undergo treatment, returning to work at the end of April.

Catherine, on the other hand, underwent major abdominal surgery in January, with subsequent tests revealing the presence of cancer.

She announced her diagnosis in an emotional video in March and commenced preventive chemotherapy.

“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful,” she said.

“However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”

Tatler's Kate Middleton portrait sparks backlash

Tatler magazine's unveiling of a new portrait featuring Kate Middleton on its cover has ignited a wave of criticism and disappointment among royal watchers.

The portrait, revealed on Wednesday, May 22, failed to meet expectations and has been described as an "insult" by some.

Commissioned as part of a series spotlighting Britain's royal family, the portrait was inspired by Middleton's attire at the first state supper of Charles' reign in November 2022.

The magazine highlighted Middleton's Jenny Packham gown, accented with a bracelet once owned by Queen Elizabeth II, and drop earrings previously worn by Princess Diana, as the basis for the photograph.

The portrait, created by British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor, did not involve Middleton sitting for the painting.

Instead, Uzor reportedly sifted through thousands of photos of Middleton to "capture her likeness." However, the outcome has left many disappointed, with critics expressing their dissatisfaction on social media.

In a statement, Tatler described the portrait as part of a "royal triptych of historic magnitude," alongside portraits of other members of the royal family. However, the response to Middleton's portrait has been far from positive.

Uzor, the artist behind the portrait, shared insights into her creative process, emphasizing her efforts to capture the "soul" of Middleton. Despite spending considerable time studying Middleton's photos and videos, Uzor's depiction has faced criticism for failing to accurately represent the Duchess of Cambridge.