Six months after her last public appearance, Princess Kate, currently being treated for cancer, made her comeback on Saturday morning in London, on the occasion of the military parade celebrating the birthday of King Charles III.
AFP
Dressed in a long white coat and wearing a hat, the Princess of Wales, 42, appeared smiling and greeting the public who came en masse, from the carriage taking her with her three children – George, Charlotte and Louis – from the palace from Buckingham to Horse Guards Parade where the ceremony takes place.
She then got off the carriage to follow the rest of the ceremony called “Trooping the Color” from an official building. She must later accompany the royal family to the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the traditional greeting.
KEYSTONE
While it has been six months – since her last appearance shortly before Christmas – that she withdrew from any public commitment to undergo preventive chemotherapy, the Princess of Wales announced Friday evening in a message published on social networks that she would attend this festive event because of the “good progress” of her treatment.
“It’s incredible to see her”
“It’s incredible to see her at such an important event,” enthused Sarah Morley to AFP, a 45-year-old Australian tourist, present near the Mall, after Kate’s visit. “She is very natural, like Diana, she is good” for the monarchy, insists her mother, Julie Smith, born in England.
The news of his health and his participation was greeted with joy and relief among the British present Saturday morning near Buckingham Palace to attend this military parade which officially celebrates the sovereign’s birthday, even if Charles III will celebrate his 76 years on November 14.
“I was so happy to hear the news last night,” said Angela Perry, a 50-year-old teacher from Reading in west London. “She’s our future queen, she’s so important,” she insists.
“There are good days and bad days”
In her message Friday evening, Prince William’s wife gave news of his health for the first time since announcing his illness in a video at the end of March.
“I’m making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy knows, there are good days and bad days,” Kate, 42, wrote in the post, alongside a photo taken this week in Windsor according to its services. She specified that her treatment must continue “for several more months”.
“I am looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to be able to take part in some public engagements this summer, although I know I am not out of the woods yet,” he said. she wrote again, thanking the public for their support.
The king also present
The king, also suffering from cancer and undergoing treatment, also participated in the military parade in his honor.
He traveled down the Mall, the long avenue from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, in a carriage accompanied by Queen Camilla, receiving the salute of the troops.
IMAGO/i Images
Last year, he led the procession on horseback, like his son Prince William, his sister and brother Princess Anne and Prince Edward, all three of whom maintained the tradition this year.
The sovereign resumed his public engagements at the end of April, after his doctors said they were “sufficiently satisfied with the progress made so far”.
He notably went to France at the beginning of June with Queen Camilla for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the landing in Normandy. And the royal couple is due to receive Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako for a state visit at the end of June.
The military parade is being held under heavy police surveillance, while the anti-monarchy movement Republic plans to demonstrate.
Early Saturday, activists were already present along the Mall, shouting the slogan “Not my King”, waving yellow flags, the color of this movement, while another group calling themselves “The Royalists” shouted “God save the King”, British flag in hand.
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