At the 2025 BAFTA Film Awards, Prince William and Kate Middleton were notably absent from the event, though the royal couple has attended the prestigious ceremony in the past. This year, instead of gracing the red carpet, the couple reportedly took a family vacation to the private island of Mustique in the Caribbean, coinciding with the start of their children’s school break. Prince William, who has served as the president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) since 2010, made a brief appearance at the event via a video message, but he and Kate did not attend in person.
The absence was attributed to their decision to take time off from royal duties to focus on family. The couple often slows down their engagements during school holidays to spend quality time with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Although they missed the awards ceremony, Prince William showed his continued support for British cinema just days earlier. On February 12, he visited the London Screen Academy, where he engaged with students working on film projects and explored various aspects of filmmaking, including hair and makeup, costume design, and even trying his hand behind the camera.
This is not the first time the royal couple has missed the BAFTAs. In 2021, Prince William canceled his appearance following the death of his grandfather, Prince Philip. In 2022, scheduling conflicts kept them from attending, and last year, William attended alone while Kate was recovering from surgery. Despite their absence, the couple’s ongoing support for the film industry and their focus on family remains evident.
Kate Middleton’s last appearance at the BAFTAs was in 2023, where she wore a stunning white Alexander McQueen gown, and in 2024, Prince William attended solo, mentioning Kate’s love for the event and her absence due to health reasons.