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Prince William cancels his BAFTAs appearance in the wake of Prince Philip's death

Photo credit: Phil Walter - Getty Images
Photo credit: Phil Walter - Getty Images

Prince William is taking a step back from some public commitments as he mourns the death of his grandfather, Prince Philip.

The Duke of Cambridge was scheduled to make two appearances during this weekend's telecasts of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTAs, but has pulled out of the show.

"In light of the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing, the Duke of Cambridge will no longer be part of BAFTA programming this weekend," the BAFTAs explained in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. "Our thoughts are with the royal family, to whom we offer our deepest sympathy at this time."

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

The 2021 BAFTA ceremony will be broadcast over two nights to accommodate virtual appearances from guests in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines. Prince William was scheduled to make two appearances over the course of the weekend; hosting a virtual conversation with costume designer Jenny Beavan and hair and make-up designer Sharon Martin, and then a speech on Sunday celebrating the resilience of the British film and television industries amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been fixtures of the BAFTAs red carpet for several years and Prince William has personal ties to the show and to the BAFTA organisation, of which he's served as president since 2010. According to Vanity Fair, William took over the position from Sir Richard Attenborough in 2010 and the position is one that was previously held by Prince Philip, as well.

The royal family will honour Philip in a small, private service in Windsor later this month, on April 17.

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