Catherine, Princess of Wales joined other British royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the King’s official birthday, capping her first public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer.
The Princess of Wales, her husband William, their children George, Charlotte and Louis, along with King Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cambridge, gathered to watch the Royal Air Force flyby. They waved and smiled at the spectators, who responded with cheers.
The Princess, also known as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was driven in a state carriage with her children from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade to attend the ceremony known as Trooping the Colour. She was seen wearing a brooch of the Irish Guards, signifying her role as an honorary colonel.
Kate’s husband Prince William was then seen riding on horseback as the family watched the proceedings from a vantage point.
It was Kate’s first public appearance since Christmas, just weeks before her cancer diagnosis.
Kensington Palace announced at the time that the Duchess had stepped back from royal duties in January after undergoing surgery for a non-cancerous abdominal condition. Amid speculation about her own health, she revealed in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer after surgery and was undergoing treatment.
King Charles III. The couple and Queen Camilla were also carried from Buckingham Palace in a carriage, which slowly rode up the Mall to the cheers of a packed house. The King attended this year in a carriage rather than a horse, due to his own cancer diagnosis. People of all ages gathered along the Mall for the event. Some wore Union Jack-style bucket hats and fascinators, others waved flags, and some sang the national anthem.
Kate Middleton gave an update on her health on Friday, saying her recovery is “progressing well.” But she said treatment will likely take several more months and she is “not out of the woods yet.”
Trooping the Colour is a grand military spectacle in which 1,400 officers and soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses march through the streets of London from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, with crowds lining the route.
One of the highlights of the British royal calendar, this event is a 260-year-old tradition celebrating the official birthday of British rulers. But Charles’ actual birthday is in November.
Since the 18th century, British kings and queens have celebrated twice as many festivals, holding both public celebrations on their official birthdays and more private events on their actual dates.
The tradition is said to have started in 1748 by party-loving King George II, just like Charles III. George was born in November, but the weather in Britain is often less than ideal.
As evidenced by this, the weather worsened towards the end of the event. Crowds waiting for the king to return to the palace were hit by heavy rain and gusty winds. Some spectators struggled to keep their umbrellas up.
David Betteridge, about Kate’s appearance on his balcony: “I stayed dry for most of the time, but then just after the ceremony, by the time the parade finished, I got quite wet. It was raining very hard.”
Anna Yang, 30, who was holidaying in Britain from China, said she witnessed the flyby from a nearby hotel. “It was great.” “It’s the first time I’ve seen planes from different countries flying in the sky, even in my own country,”. “It was incredible.”
But royalists were there too, some of whom shouted, “Shame,” and “Not my king!”
This year’s event was adjusted as Charles, 75, explained his treatment of an unspecified type of illness. The cancer continues.
Doctors are encouraged by his progress and are on track to return to public duties in April, but every deployment he makes will be reviewed and adjusted if necessary.
At Saturday’s event, he paraded the troops in an Ascot carriage alongside Queen Camilla.
Three British Army horses that were run over in London in April have returned to duty and took part in this weekend’s birthday parade. The Army said the remaining two were “enjoying a summer holiday in the Chilterns” and would return to duty in due course.