Three months after announcing her cancer diagnosis, Kate Middleton has returned to public life. On Saturday, the Princess of Wales waved to onlookers from the balcony of Buckingham Palace in honor of the annual Trooping the Colour parade — her first official appearance since last Christmas, per the New York Times. The Princess, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, was flanked by her husband Prince William, as well as King Charles, who is also receiving treatment for an unspecified type of cancer. Together, the Royal family presented a unified front, with Middleton, smiling, front and center in all white.
Kate Middleton in live action, Prince Louis balcony diva, we’re so back
— T (@teewatterss) June 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/dTPoC3KzdO
After missing a rehearsal for the parade last week — an appearance she would’ve made under normal circumstances — fans of the Royals worried the Princess wouldn’t be well enough to attend the June ceremonies. It certainly didn’t help that just one month prior, a palace official told the BBC Middleton would not return to work until her medical team had signed off. But on Friday, Middleton confirmed on social media that she planned to be on hand for the King’s “Birthday Parade” and military flyover. Sure enough, crowds at the palace were treated to a rare peek at the Princess, decked out in Jenny Packham with a Phillip Treacy hat and her three children (Princess Charlotte and Princes George and Louis) at her side. That she was placed directly next to the King was likely a “gesture of solidarity and support,” according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, and a tender one at that. Regardless of what’s really going on behind the scenes, the palace did a thorough job, as usual, of painting an image of calm and serenity.
While Middleton’s presence at the parade seems to be a great sign, the public has only received vague updates on the actual status of her health. In her Friday Instagram post, Kate assured her followers that she was “making good progress” in chemotherapy, complete with a roller coaster of “good days and bad days.” On Sunday, she posted an ode to Prince William and the brood in honor of Father’s Day, though the Princess herself was absent from the photo apparently taken in 2024. And while she knows she’s “not out of the woods yet,” the 42-year-old has stated that she “hope[s] to join a few public engagements over the summer.”
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