Princess Kate made her first public appearance since being treated for cancer on Saturday morning, appearing in a carriage with her children in the royal procession leaving Buckingham Palace to mark King Charles III’s birthday.
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.
“Good progress”
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.
“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,” she wrote again, thanking the public for their support.
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.
Charles III in carriage
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.
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.
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