The Princess of Wales was scheduled to return to the annual horse racing event with Prince William for the second day of racing on Wednesday, June 18.

She is thought to be unhappy not to be able to attend, but people close to her point out that she is still working to achieve the perfect balance as she prepares to return to public engagements following cancer treatment.

Kate was originally placed on the carriage list for Wednesday when it was released. She was supposed to join William in the second carriage. Now, we know that he will sit next to his father, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.

Her mother, Carole Middleton, was photographed arriving at the racecourse, which is only a few miles from Windsor Castle, at about 12:20 p.m. local time.

Later, during the races, William will perform a particular duty at the racecourse: presenting the trophy to the winner of the Prince of Wales’ Stakes.

The royal pair has been regulars at Royal Ascot throughout the years, although William attended alone last year while Kate was having treatment for an unidentified form of cancer. People spotted him mingling with members of the royal family and his in-laws, Carole and Michael Middleton.

The Princess of Wales spent much of 2024 away from the public spotlight to focus on her health, but she declared in January that she is in remission and has begun a gradual return to royal responsibilities.

Wednesday’s excursion caps a busy few days for the pair. Over the weekend, they attended King Charles’ birthday procession, Trooping the Colour, with their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. On Monday, they attended the annual Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle.

Kate’s gradual return to the public eye has led some close to the couple to speculate about their future plans.

Ailsa Anderson, Queen Elizabeth’s former spokesperson, tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue, “She’s being sensible, listening to what her body is telling her, and easing back into public life.”

Behind the scenes, the royal family is discreetly planning for the future. With King Charles’ illness now being defined by advisers as a “managed” condition, the Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing for an unavoidable transition.

“Some major shifts are coming behind the scenes,” a friend tells People.