By In a heartening development, Kate, the Princess of Wales, has announced her intention to make a public return this weekend, despite her ongoing cancer treatment. The 42-year-old princess revealed in a written message on Friday that she will attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on Saturday, marking her first official public appearance since disclosing her diagnosis earlier this year.
The annual military ceremony, which celebrates the official birthday of King Charles III, will also see the monarch in attendance following his cancer diagnosis. In her message, Kate expressed her eagerness to attend the event with her family and her hope to participate in a few public engagements over the summer, acknowledging that she is “not out of the woods yet.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson conveyed His Majesty’s delight at the Princess’s ability to attend the events and his anticipation for all aspects of the day. Kate and Prince William’s children, George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5, who have largely been out of the public eye in recent months, will join their mother at the ceremony. They will arrive with her in a carriage down the Mall before watching alongside her on Horse Guards Parade and making a royal balcony appearance.
In her Friday message, Kate also provided an update on her cancer treatment, stating that she is making good progress but that her treatment will continue for a few more months. She candidly shared the ups and downs of her chemotherapy journey, noting that on bad days, she feels weak and tired, requiring rest, while on good days, she aims to make the most of feeling well.
The Princess expressed her joy in engaging with school life, spending personal time on activities that energize and uplift her, and even starting to do a little work from home when able. She also conveyed her gratitude for the overwhelming support and encouragement she and Prince William have received over the past couple of months, which she said has helped them through some of the harder times.
Kate emphasized that she is learning to be patient, especially with uncertainty, taking each day as it comes, listening to her body, and allowing herself the necessary time to heal. She thanked everyone for their continued understanding and extended her appreciation to those who have bravely shared their own stories with her.
While this appearance marks a significant moment, it does not signal a return to a full schedule of public engagements for the Princess. The palace provided no further details about future public events she might attend.
King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, has also been undergoing treatment. Both he and Kate have declined to specify the type of cancer they have or provide details about their prognoses. The 75-year-old monarch has attended several engagements since resuming public duties last month, including D-Day memorial services in France.
The Trooping the Colour ceremony, a traditional display of military pomp and pageantry, will see King Charles carry out the review of the guardsmen and officers from a carriage alongside Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback. The event, which has been an annual tradition since 1760, serves as the British military’s annual tribute to the monarch and marks their official birthday, despite Charles’ actual birthday being November 14.
Credit: NBC
