Princess Kate made her first public appearance since being treated for cancer on Saturday, on the occasion of King Charles III’s official birthday.
The princess appeared very smiling, on the Buckingham balcony, and in a carriage during the royal procession.
Dressed in a long white coat and wearing a hat hiding part of her face, the wife of Crown Prince William, 42, had not been seen in public since last Christmas, but announced Friday her participation in this event thanks to “good progress” in his treatment.
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.
In a 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 undergoing chemotherapy knows, there are good days and bad days,” wrote Kate, 42, accompanying her message with a photo taken this week in Windsor at her services. She specified that her treatment must continue “for several more months”.
The king resumed his public engagements at the end of April
“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, knowing that I am not out of the woods yet,” she wrote again, thanking the public for their support.
The king, also suffering from cancer and undergoing treatment, also participated in the military parade in his honor. 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.
Parade under close surveillance
The military parade was held under heavy police surveillance, while the anti-monarchy movement Republic had planned 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 itself “The Royalists” shouted “God save the King”, British flag in hand.
