Prince William’s pregnant wife Catherine will attend an awards ceremony for stars of the sporting world on Sunday in her first public engagement since being hospitalised about two weeks ago for severe morning sickness.
Kate, 30, will present the main award and a lifetime achievement honour at the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards ceremony in London, a statement from St James’ Palace said.
The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to hospital on December 3, a development which prompted the palace to announce that she was in the very early stages of pregnancy.
She left the London hospital after three nights and has not been seen in public since.
Stars from the London Olympics dominate the award shortlist, and Kate is understood to be keen to attend to continue her involvement in the summer Games, during which she, her husband and brother-in-law Prince Harry were official ambassadors.
“She will not stay for the whole thing but she really wanted to be there,” a royal source told AFP.
Cyclist Bradley Wiggins is the bookmakers’ odds-on favourite to win the main award following his historic victory in the Tour de France and a gold medal in the Olympic time-trial.
The baby is the first for the royal couple, who married in a lavish ceremony in April 2011, and will be heir to Queen Elizabeth II’s throne after William’s father Prince Charles and William himself.
The news about the royal baby was dulled, however, by the apparent suicide of a nurse working at Kate’s hospital after she took a hoax call from two Australian radio presenters that led to details of the duchess’s condition being made public.
Kate to attend first public engagement since illness
