The Princess of Wales has quietly carried out her first royal engagement this week, just days after pulling out of Royal Ascot last week. The Princess made a joint appearance with Prince William on Wednesday in Windsor, according to the Court Circular.

The royal couple received American philanthropist Melinda French Gates at Windsor Castle. Ms French Gates, the former wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, is a founder herself as she owns Pivotal Ventures, a company aiming to promote women’s power and influence.

She is also the co-founder and former co-chair of the Gates Foundation.

William and Kate held the secret meeting, which took place with no photographs released, in their role as patrons of their Royal Foundation.

The heir to the throne also held an Investiture at Windsor Castle earlier in the morning.

It comes just a few days after royal fans were left disappointed following Kate’s decision to skip Royal Ascot at the last minute.

Despite being announced as one of the royal attendees on Wednesday in a now corrected list, Kate was said to have been disappointed not to join husband William and the King and Queen at the famous sporting and social event in Berkshire.

Sources stressed that the last-minute change was no cause for alarm and that the decision was taken to help the royal find the right balance in her return to public engagements following her cancer diagnosis last year.

The future Queen was diagnosed with a type of cancer last year and underwent treatment for it.

Last January, she announced that she was in remission and that she was looking forward to easing herself back into royal life.

Kate’s last appearance was at the Order of the Garter Day service in Windsor earlier this month.