The Princess of Wales will make a high profile return to public life on Saturday, as she takes her place alongside Prince William and their children on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The royal will be seen in public for the first time at the King’s birthday event since she announced that she is in recovery from cancer, and being there for her children was no doubt a key factor in her decision.
Kate, 42, will be on hand to ensure George, 10, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, enjoy the family day out to celebrate their grandfather’s birthday – and her presence means they won’t have to travel in the carriage procession without one of their parents.
Prince William will be taking part in the parade on horseback, meaning the three children would have had to travel in a carriage with the Duchess of Edinburgh of the Queen in a procession from Buckingham Palace towards Horse Guards if Kate didn’t go.
Their mother’s presence will also be reassuring for the youngsters as they watch the fly-past from the Buckingham Palace balcony – where Prince Louis famously covered his ears to block out the noise in 2022.
The Princess of Wales will attend Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, she revealed in a letter to the public on Friday; the event is the first public royal engagement Kate, 42, has attended since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March
Last year, Louis was particularly expressive on the Buckingham Palace balcony, pulling faces and playing up to the camera
While the day is centred around marking the official birthday of the British Sovereign and the display of military precision, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children usually steal the show with their playful antics.
Last year, he was particularly expressive on the Buckingham Palace balcony, pulling faces and playing up to the camera.
Despite more than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, 400 musicians and a flyover of 70 aircraft, Louis was the star of the historic day.
Fans were delighted to see his signature ‘window wiper wave’ during the appearance, where he was spotted doing a small dance, as well as a military-style salute.
Later on the balcony, Louis was seen saluting as he waved at crowds to celebrate the Trooping the Colour parade.
One of the main highlights of the previous Trooping the Colour is when Louis was in a carriage with his siblings and visibly held his nose and scrunched up his face as a reaction to a strong smell of horse manure
Last year, Trooping the Colour was full of smiles, laughter and gentle chaos as the younger royals pulled funny faces on the balcony
Prince Louis stole the show as he gave a cheeky salute to the adoring crowds cheering his grandad King Charles’s official birthday
The adorable royal was also seen throwing his fists in the air and pouting as his mother Kate looked at him with pride and amusement.
One of the main highlights of the flypast above Buckingham Palace saw 18 Typhoon fighter jets spelling out the King’s monogram ‘CR’ – short for Charles Rex.
As the planes zoomed overhead Kate encouraged Prince George to wave to the crowds as she smoothed down Prince Louis’ hair and urged him to face the crowd.
It’s also thought that Princess Charlotte was ‘getting impatient’ during a conversation with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, according to the Mirror.
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman suggested she was asking how long the event would last, according to the outlet.
So it’s no surprise that Kate was keen to attend and guide her children through the high profile event.
Ahead of her appearance, Kate penned a moving personal message thanking the public for their support over her cancer diagnosis and revealing she is looking forward to attending the traditional ceremonial day.
Kate is likely to ride in a carriage with her three children George, 10, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, while Prince William attends the event, as is tradition, on horseback (Pictured from left: Prince George riding with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte back in 2022)
Back in March, the Princess disclosed she was undergoing ‘preventative chemotherapy’ for an undisclosed form of the disease says her treatment is on going and will be for several months to come.
While she will not be returning to public duties full-time, she revealed that she does now feel well enough, however, to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months.
The first will be at the King’s official birthday parade tomorrow where she will ride in a carriage with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis before appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside the rest of the Royal Family.
To mark the news Kensington Palace have also released a stunning new portrait of the princess taken at Windsor this week by Matt Porteous showing her looking well and in a reflective mood.
The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured in 2023, alongside the King, with Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte
Prince Louis, pictured in 2023 alongside his older brother, has become known for his animated displays during the annual traditional royal ceremony
A serene photo of the the Princess of Wales was released alongside the announcement, which revealed that the royal is continuing to make good progress but says ‘there are good days and bad days’
In her message the Princess says she has been ‘blown away’ by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months.
‘It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times,’ she wrote.
Movingly she reveals she is making ‘good progress’, but adds: As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.’
She added: ‘My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.
‘I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.
‘I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.
Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.’
The Princess first announced that she had cancer on March 22.
In a hugely moving video statement, recorded at Windsor, she revealed that she had been diagnosed following serious abdominal surgery in January and was al ready undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy.
In a deeply personal, unprecedented and emotional video message filmed just two days earlier, Catherine revealed the news had come as a ‘huge shock’ and that she and William ‘have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.
‘It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok,’ she said.
Kate hasn’t been seen in public since she announced she was being treated for cancer in March this year; in her letter the royal thanked the public for their ‘continued understanding’
‘As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.’
Kensington Palace said at the time that it would not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and asked people not to speculate.
At the time of her abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace said that it was non-cancerous. They confirmed again in March that is the case and that no tests had confirmed the presence of cancer. However post-operative tests subsequently found that cancer ‘had been present’.
A week ago, the royal apologised for missing out on a key rehearsal for the event, writing a letter to the Irish Guards, saying: ‘I hope I am able to represent you all very soon’.
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