Crowds cheered as Kate Middleton traveled in a carriage to Trooping the Color Saturday—the ceremonial parade to celebrate King Charles’ birthday—with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis alongside her in the Glass State Coach. King Charles and Queen Camilla traveled in another carriage to the ceremony.
Kate is watching the ceremony with Prince George, Charlotte, and Louis, who—in his customary scene-stealing was—was seen dancing.
It marks a feelgood and triumphant return to the public eye, although Kate made clear in a statement Friday she was not “out of the woods” yet with her cancer treatment. Both she and Charles have been receiving treatment for cancer in recent months.
Kate was wearing a dress by Jenny Packham, hat by Philip Treacy, and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch—she is Colonel of the regiment.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Trooping the Colour parade to honor Britain’s King Charles on his official birthday in London, Britain, June 15, 2024.
Hollie Adams/Reuters
At the ceremony, from his carriage, King Charles gave the royal salute in his first Trooping the Colour since his cancer diagnosis. He will inspect the troops in Whitehall from a carriage, rather than riding on horseback. Queen Camilla was with him wearing a pale green silk crepe dress and coat from Anna Valentine and hat by Philip Treacy, along with her Grenadier Guards military brooch.
Earlier, at 10 a.m. local time, the Princess of Wales was photographed arriving at Buckingham Palace with Prince William and their children. Today marks the first time Kate has been seen at an official royal event since Christmas 2023; she announced her cancer diagnosis in March after having had abdominal surgery in January.
Kate will be seen both at the ceremony in Whitehall, and then the moment all royal-watchers are waiting for—the appearance of Kate alongside her family and the rest of the royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony, set to happen at 1 p.m. local time.
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis attend the Trooping the Colour parade which honours King Charles on his official birthday in London, Britain, June 15, 2024.
Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “As a reminder, while we understand this is a significant moment today, it should not be seen as a return to a full schedule of public engagements.”
The London Times reported that Kate’s appearance is understood to be “intended to be a nuanced message of cautious optimism. It is a good sign that the treatment is progressing and the princess’s health is returning, but a reminder that there is uncertainty about how long it will be before she is back to full duties.”
Kate, 42, released a deeply personal statement Friday saying that she would appear at the event—which marks King Charles’ birthday—and giving an update on her ongoing cancer battle.