Catherine, Princess of Wales, made a tentative return to public life on Saturday, attending the Trooping the Colour military parade in central London, her first since being diagnosed with cancer.
Kate, as she is generally known, has not made a public appearance since a Christmas Day service in December of last year, and she confirmed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy.
The 42-year-old princess stated in a statement on Friday that she was “making good progress” in her therapy but was “not out of the woods yet.”
The future queen stated that the procedure will last for several months.
“I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer,” Kate said.
The princess arrived at Buckingham Palace by automobile on Saturday morning, accompanied by her husband William and children, ahead of the parade.Kate announced her cancer diagnosis mere weeks after her father-in-law, King Charles III, was also ill. Neither has mentioned which form of cancer they have. British President Charles, 75, was cleared to resume public responsibilities in April after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by his recovery.
His first engagement was to visit with workers and patients at a London cancer treatment center.
Earlier this month, he visited commemorative activities in northern France marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
‘Our future queen’
However, unlike previous years when he inspected troops on horseback at Trooping the Colour, Charles will do so this year from a carriage.
His elder son and heir William, 41, will be on horseback.
Spectators on The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace to witness the annual celebration of the king’s official birthday welcomed Kate’s tentative return to public appearances.
“I was so pleased to hear the news last night,” Angela Perry, a teacher in her 50s from Reading in central England, told AFP.
“She’s our future queen. She’s so important,” she added, calling Kate’s reemergence “reassuring”.
Royal officials will be anxious to moderate expectations regarding Kate’s gradual return to the public eye, and have stated that her appearances would be contingent on her treatment and recuperation.
Kate stated in her statement that she had “good days and bad days” and was “taking each day as it comes”.
She is set to travel along The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade in a royal carriage with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
They’ll observe the procession from a building before heading back to the palace for a balcony appearance.
Protests
Trooping the Colour commemorates the British monarch’s official birthday and is a meticulously orchestrated military ceremony that dates back over two centuries.
It begins at Buckingham Palace and proceeds down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where Charles will receive a royal salute before inspecting troops.
Charles was born in November, but the second birthday tradition originated with King George II in 1748, who wished to celebrate in nicer weather since his own birthday was in October.
The ceremonial originated in the preparations for war, when all regimental flags — or colors — were exhibited to soldiers so that they might recognize them in the pandemonium of combat.
This year’s event will feature three of the five military horses that ran through the streets of central London in April after being startled by the sound of construction work.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it will conduct a “significant” security operation and had been in contact with the anti-monarchy organization Republic, which started the protests at the event.
The police stated it had banned “amplified sound” in and around the parade route for public safety reasons and to avoid disrupting the mounted regiments that were participating.
Republic supporters congregated on a part of The Mall with royalists, holding signs with phrases such as “not my king” and “down with the crown”.