Prince William attends "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" premiere without Kate

Britain's Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge arrives at the UK premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at The Odeon Leicester Square, London on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. At right is Tessa Street, the manager of the cinema. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP) / Joel Ryan

Prince William stepped out solo for the U.K. premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" on Wednesday, as his pregnant wife, Kate, continues to rest.

The Duchess of Cambridge had been scheduled to attend the premiere with her husband, but cancelled the appearance due to acute morning sickness.

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Prince William without Kate at "Hobbit" U.K. premiere

Upon his arrival at the Odeon in London's Leicester Square, the 30-year-old prince was met by the cinema's manager Tessa Street, who asked after Kate.

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Prince William and Kate

"I passed on my best wishes to Kate and he said, 'She would have loved to have been here if she could,'" Street said, according to the Daily Mail.

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"The Hobbit" premieres in New York

Stars including Ian McKellen and Cate Blanchett walked the green carpet at the event, which raised money for the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.

McKellan, who plays the wizard Gandalf in the adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, told reporters that it "feels proper" to celebrate the film in London, given that a large part of the cast is British and Tolkien was an English writer.

Blanchett, who plays elf queen Galadriel, said it was great to see so many fans turn out considering the cold weather was "enough to drive anyone away."

[cleric77]

It's his boy's night out.

[emmiefaison]

I know who ever is writing such dumb article is not marriage of if married they have some one that don't love them like prince charles did't love his first wife or like some of the mens in the middle east that treat their wives like cattle of they have not ever been sick in their life I can understand if a man would write some of those dumb statement but if a woman wrote some of these statement and they understand when you go through the things a pregnant woman go through some don't go through hard but there are some that do. I probally no who is behind this it is that demonic old woman that try and have been trying to hurt Catherine every since she married Prince William and before that she was brothering Prince William and Prince Harry.

[tmonta67]

<long, low whistle>