Royal fans were last night delighted to see the Princess of Wales as she made a surprise appearance alongside Prince William with a star-studded message to Team GB.
In a rare sighting of Kate, who is having cancer treatment, the royal couple enlisted a string of stars for their uplifting video.
The princess has made few public appearances since starting her chemotherapy treatment and stepping back from royal duties in January.
Kate announced she was receiving cancer treatment in March and has since been seen in public only at Trooping the Colour and the Wimbledon men’s singles final.
So fans were thrilled to see her address the Olympics, beaming alongside husband William and they congratulated British athletes. Social media was quickly flooded with excited messages praising the couple – with many quite taken by William’s ‘rugged’ appearance.
Prince William stood by her side in the Instagram video and sported an unusually rugged look, with an unshaven appearance
A beaming Princess of Wales has sent a heartfelt message to British Olympians ahead of the end of the Paris Olympics , which will be formally closed tonight
Royal fan’s’ attentions were firmly on the Princess of Wales, whose public appearance in the video was one of only a handful this year – with the most recent being at the Wimbledon men’s final (pictured)
Kate, who is continuing to undergo preventative chemotherapy, was positively glowing in her latest appearance in a special video shot for Team GB
Royal fans on social media gushed over the Princess of Wales
Another added: ‘You (Kate and Will) both look amazing!!! Love the scruff Will and Catherine you look stunning!’
One user simply said it was ‘great to see Catherine and William again.’
In the short clip, Prince William stood by her side in the Instagram video and sported an unusually rugged look, with an unshaven appearance.
Kate said: ‘From all of us watching at home congratulations to Team GB.’
The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB top, then briefly added: ‘Well done to Team GB you’ve been an inspiration to us all.’
In an accompanying social media post on their account, the royal couple said: ‘Well done @teamgb, what an incredible journey!
‘Every athlete showed immense dedication, heart and passion. You made us all so proud!
‘Here’s to celebrating every triumph @paris2024 and looking forward to more from @paralympicsgb_official later in the summer’.
Rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been presenting for American broadcaster NBC at the Olympics, also features in the star-studded video
Former American sprinter Michael Johnson, who has been presenting for the BBC at the Olympics, wryly said Team GB had done a ‘good job – though not quite as good as the US’ as former Heptathlon champion turned broadcaster Jessica Ennis-Hill said, ‘Well done Team GB’
In a post on social media, the royal couple spoke about the ‘incredible journey’ of Team GB
In the viral video, which has already received more than 150,000 likes, former England captain and football icon David Beckham also gave a message of support.
He said: ‘Hey Team GB, we are so proud of you, congratulations.’
Broadcaster Gabby Logan said: ‘You have been amazing. Thank you so much for everything. These memories will last a very long time.’
Retired American sprinter and broadcaster Michael Johnson wryly said: ‘Great job Team GB, you did a great job, not quite as good as us in the US, but well done.’
Former Welsh athlete Colin Jackson beamed with delight as he told the Olympians: ‘You smashed it.’
Broadcaster Emma Willis said it had been ‘sensational to watch you over the last couple of weeks.’
Swimmer Rebecca Adlington had huge praise for Team GB. She said: ‘Your performances have been absolutely fantastic.’
Former jockey and presenter Clare Balding said: ‘I know how much you have lifted the nation and I just want to say thank you for that.’
American rapper Snoop Dogg, who has been a popular presence at the Olympics this year as a special guest presenter for US broadcaster NBC, rounded off the video.
With his usual trademark smile and informal personality, he said: ‘Thank you Great Britain. On behalf of Snoop Dogg, the Prince and his lovely wife,’ before clasping his hands together and bowing his head.
Kate and William’s beaming video came shortly after a heartfelt statement from King Charles III, in which he called all Olympians ‘an inspiration’.
The monarch congratulated their ‘outstanding successes’ and singled out their ‘raw talent, true grit and hard toil’ in the message, which came just hours before the final moments of the Olympic Games in the French capital.
A glittering closing ceremony will take place in the Stade de France at 9pm (8pm BST).
Former England captain and football icon David Beckham congratulated Team GB as broadcaster Gabby Logan said they had created ‘memories that will last a lifetime’
The King has called all Olympians ‘an inspiration’ and congratulated their ‘outstanding successes’ in a heartfelt message sent to mark the closing of the Paris Olympics
The monarch’s message was sent just hours after Emily Campbell celebrated a bronze medal in the women’s 81kg+ weightlifting event on the last day of the competition
Amber Anning, Victoria Ohuruogu, Nicole Yeargin and Laviai Nielsen of Team Great Britain celebrate Bronze in the Women’s 4 x 400m final on Saturday
In his full statement he said: ‘My wife joins me in sending our warmest congratulations to the competitors and their support teams from Team GB and across the whole Commonwealth, for their many outstanding successes at the Olympic Games in Paris.
‘Your achievements, across so many disciplines, were forged from that invaluable combination of raw talent, true grit and hard toil over many years, burnished these past weeks by sportsmanship and team spirit in the finest tradition of the Games.
‘To those who missed out on the greatest prizes, you have most certainly not fallen short in the pride that you, too, have generated for your nations.
‘As we thank France for hosting such a wonderful tournament and look to the Paralympics ahead, I can only say that you have all been an inspiration.’
Great Britain ended the Paris Olympics with 65 medals – the same amount won at London 2012 and the nation’s second-best ever tally on foreign soil.
They came third behind the United States (126) and China (91).
But Team GB won eight fewer gold medals than in Tokyo three years ago and were 13 down on the 27 collected at Rio 2016.
A final return of 14 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze saw Britain slip to seventh spot in the medal table – its lowest place since finishing 10th at Athens 2004 – and third-best European nation behind hosts France and the Netherlands.
Traditional Olympic sports such as athletics, cycling and swimming returned medals, while rowing banished its Tokyo nightmare to win three golds in a strong regatta.
But newer sports such as skateboarding, taekwondo and trampolining also had success, while Team GB won its first-ever medals in sport climbing.
There is no time for Team GB to rest however – it has already begun planning for the Los Angeles 2028 Games by securing Stanford University as its exclusive preparation camp.
A star-studded show will bring an end to the two-week sporting spectacle on Sunday night.
Hollywood action man Tom Cruise is expected to bring a dramatic finale to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which has been hailed a roaring success despite torrential rain and chaotic start.
The switch across the Atlantic will feature live performances by pop superstar Billie Eilish , LA rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg
Hollywood action man Tom Cruise is expected to bring a dramatic finale to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
The Mission Impossible star is set to abseil into the Stade de France stadium to pick up the five-ring Olympic flag and transfer it to Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Games.
The switch across the Atlantic will feature live performances by pop superstar Billie Eilish, LA rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers and Snoop Dogg.
The regular appearance of the legendary rapper has been hailed by Olympic chiefs for helping introduce the Games to a record audience of half the world’s population.
The Mission Impossible star is set to abseil into the Stade de France stadium to pick up the five-ring Olympic flag and transfer it to Los Angeles
Heavy security around the closing ceremony stadium Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
Billie Eillish is set to perform in LA when the torch is handed over
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