Prince William Apologizes for Kate Middleton Missing Awards amid Surgery Recovery: 'She Does Love the BAFTAs'

The Prince of Wales revealed that he and his wife usually watch the nominated films together

Prince William may have attended the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards solo, but his wife Kate Middleton was not far from his mind.

The Prince of Wales, who has been president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 2010, walked the red carpet by himself at the 77th BAFTAs at the Royal Festival Hall in London as the Princess of Wales continues her recovery from last month's abdominal surgery. However, he made sure his wife's love for the U.K.'s biggest movie awards was known.

Speaking with Elaine Bedell, chief executive of the Southbank Centre, at the event, Prince William apologized for his wife's absence at this year's awards. "I'm sorry Catherine's not here. She does love the BAFTAs," he said.

"I remember last year about the films that you'd watched," Bedell replied.

"All the ones I watch, she watches with me. So we go through it carefully," William shared.

Related: Kate Middleton's Best BAFTA Style: All About the Gowns and Glittering Jewels

However, Princess Kate's abdominal surgery on Jan. 16 and the following recovery has delayed the royal couple's movie nights. Prince William admitted that he's watched "the fewest I've ever done before" from this year's nominees.

"I've had a lot on my mind. It’s been a bit [hand motion] — a bit like that. But hopefully, I’ll catch up," he added, quipping that he would make his list of what to watch at the event.

One film that Prince William was able to see before this year's BAFTAs was  Oppenheimer, which seized the prizes for best film and best director.

"I’m a big fan of Christopher Nolan so I’ll be pleased if he wins ... I loved Oppenheimer," Prince William said according to The Daily Telegraph.

But the prince hasn't completed the Barbenheimer trend.

"I haven’t watched Barbie yet," he reportedly said, "but I want to."

Princess Kate often accompanies her husband to the BAFTAs, including hitting the red carpet last year as the couple made their debut as the Prince and Princess of Wales at the event.

The pair's appearance at the 2023 BAFTAs was the first time they had attended the ceremony in two years. In 2021, William pulled out of an appearance at the BAFTAs following his grandfather Prince Philip's death at the age of 99 on Apr. 9, while in 2022, it was announced that both William and Kate wouldn't attend the awards ceremony due to diary constraints.

Prince William's appearance at the BAFTAs came after he took a week off from royal duties to look after Princess Kate and their three children — Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — during the kids’ half-term vacation from school. While Kate left the hospital on Jan. 29, she is continuing her recovery at home and isn't expected to return to public royal duties until at least Easter.

Related: Prince William Will 'Step Up' amid King Charles' Cancer News Despite Kate Middleton's Recovery (Exclusive)

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Prince William’s family time followed a brief return to public duties on Feb. 7 after taking several weeks out of the public eye to focus on Princess Kate's recovery. The engagements were also the first appearances William had made since his father King Charles’ cancer diagnosis was revealed on Feb. 5.

A friend recently told PEOPLE of William, "He is coping remarkably well considering his wife had surgery and he only found out his father’s news recently.”

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