Kate Middleton is making a rare public appearance as she recovers from her cancer treatment as she and Prince William helped welcome special visitors to the U.K.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 42, kicked off a day of royal pageantry when they were tasked with being the first royals to meet the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, early on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
They then accompanied the couple to Horse Guards Parade for a ceremonial welcome, including a greeting from King Charles. Missing from that early event in the visit was Queen Camilla, who has been struggling with lingering after effects of a chest infection. Because of this, she was being spared being out in the cold on doctors’ advice. The Queen will, however, be at the lunch that follows, and will also take part in the viewing of the gifts afterwards, the palace said on the eve of the visit.
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Charles was driven from Buckingham Palace down the Mall, which was decorated, as is tradition, with the flags of both the U.K. and Qatar. When King Charles’ royal limousine pulled up at Horse Guards Parade it was heralded with the national anthem, “God Save The King.” Prince William and Princess Kate then arrived with the guests from Qatar at around 12:10 p.m. U.K. time.
Kate wore a coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and hat by Sahar Millinery, both in the burgundy color that matched the color of the Qatar flag. She also wore jewelry from the late Queen Elizabeth, specifically her Bahrain pearl drop earrings and her Japanese pearl choker necklace, which the Princess of Wales also wore to the April 2021 funeral of Prince Philip.
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Soon after she and William stepped onto the platform, she curtsied to her father-in-law Charles, 76, before she and William were taken along the greeting line. Charles then took the Amir to the center of the pavilion for the playing of the national anthems, and the Prince and Princess of Wales took their place alongside the party.
Following that greeting at Horse Guards Parade, Kate and William headed back to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession with Charles and the Qatari guests.
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The visit continued with a lunch and a viewing of treasures from the Royal Collection that are relevant to Qatar.
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On Tuesday evening, a high point of the two-day visit is set to take place with a banquet at Buckingham Palace. Kate is not attending this year due to her ongoing recuperation. Camilla, 77, meanwhile is set to pose for photos at the dinner, retire for a bit and then rejoin the dinner.
The Princess of Wales has been out of the royal spotlight for much of 2024 after announcing in March that she was undergoing treatment for cancer. In her Sept. 9 announcement that she had completed chemotherapy, Kate described it as a “relief” to have completed the treatment.
Princess Kate joined the royals for her first set of major ceremonial events after sharing that she completed chemotherapy earlier this month, stepping out for the Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall on Nov. 9 and the Cenotaph Service at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday, Nov. 10.
It is the start of a busy week for the royals. After the state visit ends, attention moves towards the holidays. On Dec. 6, Kate, along with William (and hopefully the couple’s children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6!), will host her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
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Ahead of that, the palace issued a moving and emotional letter that will be given to all the 1,600 guests at the Abbey, as well as those attending 15 other services around the U.K. In it, she spread a message of love, writing, “Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times. We all have something we can offer one another. Gentle words or a receptive ear, an arm around an exhausted shoulder, or silently being by someone’s side.”
She added, “It also gives us the opportunity to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness — so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about.”
