Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton effortlessly shrugged off Prince Harry's claims in his memoir. (Photo: Northern Ireland Office, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped)

Princess Kate Middleton made a striking appearance at the annual Trooping the Colour event on Saturday, June 15, following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The Princess of Wales was spotted leaving Buckingham Palace in a carriage with her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, ahead of King Charles III's official birthday procession through London.

Scores of royal fans lined the route in central London, eager to catch a glimpse of the beloved royal, who has been undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. Kate, 42, smiled and waved to the amassed crowd from a carriage behind King Charles and Queen Camilla, before disembarking with her children to watch the official parade from the Horse Guards Parade in St. James's Park.

The princess looked resplendent in a white dress designed by Jenny Packham and a hat by Philip Treacy, completing her ensemble with the Irish Guards' official regimental brooch, a nod to her position as Colonel of the Irish Guards.

In a statement released on Friday, June 14, Kate confirmed her attendance at the event, while candidly acknowledging the challenges she has faced during her ongoing chemotherapy treatment. "I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," she said. "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."

 

The princess's appearance at Trooping the Colour marks her first public engagement since taking a step back from her official duties in January following abdominal surgery. In March, she revealed her cancer diagnosis and extended her hiatus to focus on her treatment and recovery.

In a prerecorded video message at the time, Kate confessed that the news came as a "huge shock" to her and her family, including her husband, Prince William, and their three children. "William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family," she explained. "As you can imagine, this has taken time."

The princess emphasized the importance of time away from the spotlight to focus on her recovery, both physically and emotionally. "I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirits," she said. "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."

Prior to her appearance at Trooping the Colour, Kate had apologized for missing a rehearsal for the event and sent her "very best wishes" and "good luck" to the Irish Guards via their X profile on June 8. The regiment responded with their own message of support, sharing their "best wishes" as her recovery continues.

Royal expert Christopher Andersen had previously predicted that Kate might not attend Trooping the Colour this year, suggesting that her absence could send a message that her condition was more serious than initially thought. However, he also noted that a brief appearance could help quell the "wild speculation" surrounding her health.