Kate Middleton made her first public appearance since Christmas at the Trooping the Colour event on June 15, despite her recent cancer diagnosis. This was a significant outing for the Princess of Wales, who joined the royal family at King Charles’ birthday parade.
She arrived at Buckingham Palace by car with her family and participated in the procession through London in a horse-drawn carriage with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The family rode in the historic Glass Coach, which has a long history of being used for royal weddings.
Kate was elegantly dressed in a white Jenny Packham dress, complemented by the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch and a Philip Treacy hat. The Princess of Wales has been a regular at the Trooping the Colour since her marriage to Prince William in 2011, except for the years 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her participation this year came after her recent health update, where she disclosed her cancer diagnosis and ongoing chemotherapy treatment following abdominal surgery in January.
In a heartfelt message released on June 14, Kate expressed her anticipation of attending the King’s Birthday Parade and participating in some public engagements over the summer, though she acknowledged that her recovery was still ongoing.
Her appearance at Trooping the Colour marked her first royal engagement since the family’s Christmas church visit in December. During that month, she had been active, hosting a Christmas carol concert and attending the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.
Since announcing her cancer diagnosis, Kate has kept a low public profile, focusing on her recovery. She has been seen occasionally with her family and running errands alone. In her recent message, she mentioned starting to work from home and hoped to join more public engagements in the summer, though her return to full royal duties would depend on her health and medical advice.
Although she missed the Colonel’s Review on June 8, a final rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, Kate remains the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards. She expressed her regret for not being able to take the salute at the rehearsal and conveyed her best wishes to the regiment in a letter.
Lieutenant General James Bucknall took the salute at the practice event. Kate signed her letter as “Colonel Catherine,” reiterating her commitment to her honorary role despite her current health challenges.
