At the 2024 Paris Olympics, many royal families from around the world cheered on their respective countries' athletes. While Princess Anne (and her trendy bucket hat) led the way for Great Britain, Prince William and Kate Middleton did not appear in person at the most recent Olympics.

On Thursday, October 3, at an event at the newly reopened Birtley Community Pool in Tyne and Wear, England, the Prince of Wales told the British Olympic and Paralympic swimmers the real reason he could not attend the Games.

“Hello!” reports that athlete Tom Dean, while chatting with the royal family and fellow swimmers Adam Peaty, Maisie Summer-Newton, and Louise Fiddes, asked William if he could have attended the Olympics.

“No, I very much wanted to come, but I read an interview with someone about COVID and decided I didn't want to risk bringing COVID home because my wife was obviously undergoing chemotherapy,” the Prince replied.

He added, “Adam very kindly reminded me that it was still a thing!” he added, noting that Petey had COVID and had to be quarantined after winning the silver medal in Paris.

The Princess of Wales announced on September 9 that she had recently completed chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, so it is understandable that William was hesitant to travel abroad while his immune system was compromised.

Although he was unable to travel to Paris, William told the swimmers that his family “watched the whole thing” on television, adding that he was “glued to it every day.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales released a special video (with Snoop Dogg) congratulating the British team after the summer Games.

As a follow-up to William's Thursday outing, he emphasized the importance of swimming as a life skill and announced a new partnership with the Prince and Princess of Wales' Royal Foundation and Bartley Community Pool. This initiative will enable more than 16,000 people to participate in swimming activities each month.

And while the Prince and Princess had to miss this summer's Games, there is always the 2026 Winter Olympics.