The Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton was notably absent from a high-society wedding over the weekend. Kate was due to join her husband Prince William at the Devon nuptials, but she was forced to cancel at the last-minute, leaving William to attend with her younger sister Pippa Middleton.
On Saturday Kate was expected at the wedding of estate agent Bear Maclean to Daisy Dickson at the All Saints Church in Thurlestone, South Devon.
The 33-year-old royal was a late no-show, to the extent that her name still appeared on the seating plan.
Kate was due to attend a high-society wedding in Devon on Saturday
"The names William and Catherine Wales were written on the plan, which appeared on an antique-looking mirror," a source told the Daily Mail. "They were due to sit at the top table. Kate had been expected to attend."
William, 33, was reportedly joined by his sister-in-law Pippa, who stepped in for the Duchess.
"No one knows why," said the source. "Everyone was talking about it over breakfast the next morning. "They stayed on the next day and night, too, attending lunch in the marquee together. The plan was for everyone to go and do a river estuary swim afterwards."
The groom, Bear, is an old friend of William and attended the prince's royal wedding to Kate back in April 2011. Bear studied at Harrow boarding school while William was at Eton. A qualified chartered surveyor, the groom lives in west London where he manages property in the local area and around the UK.
Her younger sister Pippa Middleton, pictured previously, stepped in for her
While the reason for Kate's absence is not known, the Duchess may well have decided to stay at home to take care of her two young children. Kate became a mum for the second time in May, when she welcomed newborn Princess Charlotte, and also has her hands full looking after her "cheeky" first-born Prince George.
Last month William, who has just started his new job as an air ambulance pilot, praised his wife, saying: "Catherine has been doing an amazing job as a mother and I'm very proud of her.
"It has been fantastic and [Charlotte] is a little joy of heaven. But at the same time it is more responsibility, looking after two little ones, especially when George is around. He's a little monkey."