Prince William makes unexpected royal appearance without Kate Middleton

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attends the Sun's Who Cares Wins Awards 2021 at The Roundhouse on September 14, 2021 in London, England.
(Image credit: Getty Images / Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Prince William made a surprise virtual appearance at the 2022 BAFTAS to congratulate all the nominees and winners despite reports he would not be attending.

Prince William gave a virtual address at the BAFTA’s (British Academy of Film & Television Arts) following reports he would not be attending in person.

The father of three and President of the BAFTA’S,  joined the ceremony virtually to address attendees and congratulate all nominees and winners on their contribution to film and television. Sadly though, his wife, Kate Middleton did not join him.

According to the Mirror, BAFTA bosses were left "very disappointed" over the couple being unable to attend in person. A source said they declined their invite due to "diary constraints"  adding, “It's such a shame and everyone is very disappointed.”

This is the second year in a row that the couple has been forced to pull out of the awards ceremony. In 2021, Prince William was set to give a similar online address but following the death of his grandfather Prince Philip in April, he cancelled his appearance.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall on February 10, 2019 in London, England.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall on February 10, 2019, in London, England.

In his virtual speech, Prince William said, “As President of BAFTA, I am extremely proud to see the work that BAFTA undertakes year-round to provide opportunities and support for talented people to develop successful careers in film, games, and television."

He then went on to praise the BAFTA’s Breakthrough programme, which supports and guides young people into their creative careers. 

He said, "BAFTA hopes to inspire and support future generations from all walks of life to become the filmmakers of the future. And I hope that for some of those watching these awards, that journey starts today."

William then concluded his speech, saying, "Congratulations to all the nominees and winners. I wish you all a wonderful evening."

Meanwhile, the BAFTA TV Nominations 2022 are coming soon.

Naomi Jamieson
Lifestyle News Writer

Naomi is a Lifestyle News Writer with the Lifestyle team and has recently earned her Gold Standard Diploma in Journalism from the NCTJ. She has a background in design, having studied Illustration at Plymouth University but has taken a leap into the world of journalism after always having a passion for writing. She currently writes pieces on beauty, fashion, and entertainment for Goodto.com and My Imperfect Life.