Oh wait… it’s none of our business!
In an opinion piece, our Editor-at-Large, Charlie Proctor, explains why the Princess and the Palace offer us zero explanation for the guestlist.
In the era of instant outrage and armchair analysis, a missing face at a state reception is apparently enough to send parts of the internet into meltdown. The Princess of Wales did not attend the Diplomatic Reception this year – and within minutes, social media was demanding explanations, speculating wildly, and insisting that somehow, the public is owed a detailed breakdown of her evening plans.
Let’s be very clear: we aren’t.
Earlier that same morning, Catherine had already carried out a major engagement, delivering a significant speech urging business leaders to value “time and tenderness” in early childhood – the cause she has championed for years. She did the work. She showed up where she was needed. She fulfilled the role that genuinely matters.
But somehow, that becomes irrelevant if she isn’t at the banquet in the evening.
And here’s the part people so conveniently forget whenever it clashes with their need for royal entertainment: the Princess of Wales is also the mother of three young children. Children who have school routines, after-school schedules, dinner time, bed time – and a mother who might, shockingly, want to be present for them.
A glittering reception at Windsor Castle may be glamorous for spectators, but it’s also a long, late, high-pressure state occasion that requires hours of preparation and stamina. Not every parent recovering from quite a serious illness chooses to follow up a major morning engagement with an evening gala – nor should they be expected to.
Yet some royal-watchers behave as though Catherine is public property, obliged to parade on demand simply because tiaras were polished and photographers were waiting.
She is not. She does not owe the public an appearance. And she certainly does not owe anyone a reason.
Catherine has attended the Diplomatic Reception for over a decade. Missing it twice – especially after recovering from a major health scare and with three children at home – is hardly scandalous. It is normal. Human. Sensible.
The reason she missed the event is very simple: it is none of our business.
