Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, made a highly anticipated return to public life at Trooping the Colour on June 14, marking her first major appearance since announcing in January that she is in remission following a battle with cancer. She joined King Charles III-who is also undergoing cancer treatment-and the royal family to celebrate the monarch's official birthday.
The annual military parade, formally known as the King's Birthday Parade, was the third of King Charles's reign and took place exactly five months after Kate's public statement on her health. In March 2024, the Princess revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer following abdominal surgery. At the time, she said she was undergoing treatment and would step away from royal duties to focus on recovery.
"It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal," the Princess of Wales said in a statement released in January. "I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support."
Kate, 43, appeared alongside her daughter, Princess Charlotte, 10, in coordinated aqua outfits that drew admiration across royal-watchers and fashion circles. The Princess wore a Catherine Walker coatdress, a Juliette Botterill hat, and pearl drop earrings that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth. Charlotte, in a paler aqua dress with braids, matched the moment with subtle elegance.
"She is the MVP of the royal family, and no one knew when she was going to come back," said Amanda Foreman, royal historian, in comments to People. Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, added, "Fast-forward, and what a difference a year makes. She's even more beloved in the nation's hearts than she was."
Royal biographer Robert Jobson told People, "She is doing things slowly and when she is ready. She isn't being governed by it being a good picture opportunity. They aren't worried about visibility-they are just going to do it, and that will be visible rather than the other way around. The health and the proper recovery is what is important."
"Being a senior member of the royal family and doing these ceremonial events is obviously important to her," said biographer Sally Bedell Smith. "She is clearly a vital piece of the royal family, really important both symbolically and in reality as a future queen."
Kate's return also continues a tradition-she has attended every Trooping the Colour since marrying Prince William in 2011. Her presence in 2024's parade was limited, but her appearance this year signaled a stronger public comeback. At last year's event, Bedell Smith noted, "It would have been difficult to tell that either the King or the princess had been ill and undergoing some pretty rugged treatment."
The Princess of Wales has gradually resumed royal duties since her remission. Earlier in 2025, she became co-patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust with Prince William and took part in engagements such as VE Day commemorations and commissioning naval vessels in Scotland. She's also begun overseeing some of Prince George's early public engagements.
As Kate's public schedule cautiously increases, those close to the family say her focus remains on recovery and family. Her priority will "always be her family," Jobson said, noting that both Prince William and Princess Kate are "acutely aware" of the time they have with their children before future royal responsibilities expand.
According to a source quoted in People, "You can't go through something like that and come out the other side unchanged. She is a different person now."
