🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The Prince of Wales has been praised online after footage of his red carpet appearance at the British Academy Film Awards, better known as the BAFTAs, on Sunday has gone viral on social media site, TikTok.
William attended the ceremony at London's Royal Festival Hall solo, as the Princess of Wales continues her recuperation from planned abdominal surgery in January.
Following the announcement that Kate had undergone the surgery and would require an extended period away from public engagements to recover, William canceled a string of appearances to support her and the couple's three children: Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5.
The prince's BAFTA appearance comes as he prepares to return to his schedule of public duties, and following a major announcement of his plans to build social housing for the homeless on the historic Duchy of Cornwall estate he took charge of following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
As president of the British Film and Television Arts organization, William cut a stylish figure for his red carpet walk, appearing in a blue velvet jacket and black tie. He was photographed pausing to speak with members of the public who had camped out to watch the star-studded arrivals that included nominees Emma Stone, Margot Robbie and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
Uploaded to TikTok by the gala.fr TikTok account, footage of William at the event has won praise from fans online, going viral with views exceeding 800,000 in less than 24 hours.
Edited together with the hit 2016 song "Unstoppable" by Sia, the clip shows William underscored by the lyrics: "I win every single game. I'm so powerful I don't need batteries to play."
The video has received in excess of 48,000 likes and over 900 comments, many of which have spoken positively about the royal awards attendee.
"He has confidence of a King," wrote one user.
"That's how the future King walks with confidence even though he has a lot on his shoulders he does his duty so proud," posted another with a further comment reading. "He's so like his mum [Princess Diana] I think she would be so proud of him."
A number of other users also noted Kate's absence from the event, one that she has attended semi-regularly since her marriage, with notable exceptions during her pregnancies and the COVID pandemic.
Kate's surgery took place on January 16 and she was released from The London Clinic on January 29. She is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter.
At the BAFTA ceremony, William referenced his wife in a conversation caught on camera with another attendee.
"'I am sorry Catherine's not here, she does love the BAFTAs," he said going on to add that: "All the [movies] I watch, she watches with me."
He also noted that this year he had watched the "fewest" nominated movies than he had done previously, because he's had "other things" on his mind.
In addition to Kate recuperating from her surgery, the prince's father, King Charles III, is currently undergoing treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
About the writer
James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family ... Read more