PHOTOS: Kate Middleton attends the Trooping the Colour parade — her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis

PHOTOS: Kate Middleton attends the Trooping the Colour parade — her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis
  • Kate Middleton attended the 2024 Trooping the Colour parade in London on Saturday.

  • It's the first time she's been officially seen in public since revealing her cancer diagnosis.

  • The event honors King Charles III's birthday and includes a military parade.

Kate Middleton returned to the public eye on Saturday when she attended the 2024 Trooping the Colour parade in London.

The event, which takes place at the Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace and marks King Charles III's official birthday, was the Princess of Wales' first official appearance this year.

Her last appearance was on December 25, 2023, when she attended the traditional Christmas Day walk to a Church service in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Buckingham Palace previously confirmed to the BBC that King Charles would also attend his official birthday celebration amid his treatment for cancer, though he will ride in a carriage instead of on horseback.

Kate was first photographed being driven to Buckingham Palace with the rest of her family.

The Princess of Wales, seen in a car with Prince William, Prince, and Prince George, arriving at Buckingham Palace before the King's Birthday Parade in London on June 15, 2024.
The Princess of Wales, seen in a car with Prince William, Prince, and Prince George, arriving at Buckingham Palace before the King's Birthday Parade in London on June 15, 2024.Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

The princess was driven to Buckingham Palace 30 minutes before the parade began, alongside her husband, Prince William, and children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

She looked in good spirits ahead of the parade.

Catherine, Princess of Wales during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 in London, England
Catherine, Princess of Wales during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024 in London, England.Samir Hussein/Wire Image/Getty Images

Kate's appearance at the annual royal event comes nearly four months after she announced that she has cancer and had been undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

She shared the news in a video released to the public on March 22. Calls from the public for Kensington Palace to address the princess's health came to a head following the discovery that a photo of the Wales family, released on Mother's Day in the UK, had been digitally altered.

In a press release shared with Business Insider after her cancer diagnosis was made public, Kensington Palace said that she would be returning to work "when she is cleared to do so by her medical team."

The princess opted for a monochrome look for the event.

The royal seen arriving to the Horse Guards Parade for the King's Birthday Parade in London on June 15, 2024.
The royal seen arriving to the Horse Guards Parade for the King's Birthday Parade in London on June 15, 2024.Justin Tallios/AFP via Getty Images

The mother-of-three wore a black and white Jenny Packham dress adorned with a large bow at the neckline, per Town & Country. She accessorized the look with a white wide-brim hat, white heels, and pearl cluster earrings.

The outfit was completed with an Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, signifying her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, which she took over from Prince William in 2022.

Kate and her children sheltered from the rain and watched the parade from the Major General's office.

Princess of Wales, shelters from the rain with an umbrella as she walks with her children Britain's Prince George of Wales (C), Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales (R) and Britain's Prince Louis of Wales back to the Glass State Coach at Horse Guards Parade during the King's Birthday Parade "Trooping the Colour" in London on June 15, 2024.
Kate seen using an umbrella as she and her children returned to the Glass State Coach after the King's Birthday Parade.Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images

Kate, along with her children George, Charlotte, and Louis watched the parade from inside the Major General's office, according to Hello Magazine.

Meanwhile, Prince Willaim joined his uncle, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his aunt, Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, on horseback for the ceremony.

William wore the Full Ceremonial Guard Order of the Welsh Guards, as he is colonel of the regiment, the magazine reported.

Kate later joined the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Prince William and Princess Kate, seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children and the King.
Prince William and Princess Kate, seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children and the King.Henry Nicholls/AFP via Getty Images

The family gathered on the palace balcony to watch the Trooping the Colour flypast.

Kate stood between her husband and her father-in-law, the King, as her three children stood in front.

Kate announced that she would be attending the event the day before.

Kate Middleton standing next to a tree in Windsor.
The new portrait of Kate Middleton was taken in June at her home in Windsor.Matt Porteous

She announced on Instagram and X that she was making "good progress" with her chemotherapy treatment and was looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade.

The post, accompanied by a new photograph of Kate taken at her home in Windsor earlier this week, read: "I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times."

She added that she has been experiencing "good days and bad days."

She wrote that,"On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."

Kate added that her treatment is ongoing but that she is starting to do "a little work from home" and that she hopes to attend more public engagements over the summer.

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty," she added. "Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

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