From the moment Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales was first spotted on her way to Buckingham Palace this morning, the nation delighted in their first glimpses of her as she returned to royal duties for the first time in six months.
A Triumphant Comeback at Trooping the Colour
Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to the delighted crowd. Making a triumphant comeback to public life in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Watching the spectacle from the Duke of Wellington’s former office with her children, her day then culminated with a joyous reunion with her father-in-law King Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
A Welcome Sight After a Long Absence
It was a huge relief for an anxious nation who had waited so long to see Kate after her last royal engagement at Christmas. Millions are concerned about her well-being as she continues chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The Princess joined what is a family occasion on the national stage and kept a watchful eye on her children, but appeared to enjoy most of her first day in the spotlight following her diagnosis in February.
The Journey to Buckingham Palace
Kate and her husband Prince William were first seen leaving Kensington Palace just before 10 am with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to be driven towards central London. As they arrived at Buckingham Palace, Kate appeared pensive as she looked out of the window of their car while heavy rain fell.
Behind-the-Scenes Preparations
Behind-the-scenes video footage filmed at Buckingham Palace showed Kate Middleton playing with Charlotte’s hair as they prepared to board the carriage without William, who was on horseback with Prince Edward and Princess Anne. Then, the future Queen looked delighted and smiled as she was photographed traveling along The Mall. One of London’s most famous thoroughfares, with her family in the glass state coach.
Joyous Interaction with the Crowd
Kate was seen smiling and waving, with her children also appearing animated at times. Clearly pleased to be back on royal duties together after spending much of the year coming to terms with her diagnosis and treatment. Kate’s appearance had been in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend. But with the King also suffering from cancer, the spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after a period of uncertainty.
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Return to Buckingham Palace
Following the ceremony, the family left the building and got back into the carriage to join the royal procession back to Buckingham Palace just as heavy rain began falling in central London. George, Charlotte, and Louis stayed dry in the carriage with their mother. Charlotte was seen waving enthusiastically and smiling to the crowds as they traveled back to the palace. Kate and Louis also waved and smiled at onlookers.
A Day of Emotional Reunions
The King waved again to cheering crowds before heading inside the palace. Kate Middleton, William, and their children also waved before following the monarch from the balcony. Completing the end of a no doubt emotional but successful day for the family.
Praises for Kate’s Return
Garrison Sergeant Major Stokes, who helped plan Trooping, was among those who praised Kate today. He said: “I think it’s such a nice thing for the Princess of Wales to come and attend today. It is probably the only day we see the entire royal family together in public and I think the royal family really appreciate the day as well—it’s the closest thing we get in the United Kingdom to a national day, so all of that makes it incredibly special.”
Public Reaction
Kate Middleton and members of the royal family were cheered when they were first spotted in The Mall on their way to Trooping. Carol and Brian Haddow from Scotland were among thousands waiting to catch a glimpse of members of the monarchy. Mrs. Haddow said: “Well, like anybody going through chemotherapy, it’s a big thing for her to come out and do this. We were a wee bit back but she looked fine, happy to be involved and she was with the kids.” She added that the royal family played an important part in “bringing in tourism” to the country, saying: “It’s a great thing to have a king or queen.”
Dedicated and Down to Earth
Another spectator, Joseph Afrane, 60, said of Kate’s return: “It was fantastic when I heard it on the news yesterday. I thought, ‘God, I thank you for bringing Kate back’, because she’s very hardworking.” He added: “I mean, it shows that she’s very, very dedicated to the country, and then to the monarch and then to the other royals, you know. She’s very, very down to earth and hardworking. And then she works on behalf of her family as well as the monarch. So, it’s good. It was great news. I saw her. She waved to me. She gave me a big wave.”
A Moving Balcony Appearance
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams also hailed the return of Kate Middleton, explaining that it was “so moving at the end of the climactic balcony appearance” when Kate stood next to the King, unlike last year when William was next to his father. Mr. Fitzwilliams added: “The image will go worldwide as it symbolizes the resilience and the closeness of the royal family, which has been weakened by the King and Catherine fighting cancer. They have reached out in an unprecedentedly open way to other cancer sufferers, as we saw in the Princess’s statement released yesterday.”
Kate’s Poised Appearance
He said Kate Middleton “looked exquisite in Jenny Packham with a Philip Treacy hat” and her appearance in a carriage so she could watch the parade from a balcony on Horse Guards Parade was “very welcome.” Mr. Fitzwilliams added: “It was magnificent ceremonially, with the King using a carriage to inspect his guards. Last year he was on horseback, but he has much increased his activities despite his cancer treatment and seemed to be enjoying himself. It must however, have been stressful for both the King and Catherine to act as they did whilst the world watched. It all went off without a hitch. The King, like the late Queen Elizabeth, is the expert on the parade. I feel she would have been proud of the way they carried it off so superbly.”
Kate’s Candid Statement
It comes after Kate Middleton said in a statement yesterday she was making “good progress” with her treatment but candidly added that she has “good days and bad days” and although she has been working from home, said “I am not out of the woods yet.” Support from the public has made a deep impression on the princess. Who said she had been “blown away” by the “kind messages” that had made a “world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”
The Significance of Trooping the Colour
The military spectacle of Trooping the Colour, also known as the Birthday Parade, is a gift from the Household Division. Charles first attended in 1951, aged three. Riding in a carriage with his grandmother, the Queen Mother, and aunt, Princess Margaret. He first rode as Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 1975. ‘Trooping the Colour’ is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion. The stands overlooking the parade ground were filled with about 8,000 spouses, girlfriends, and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade. It featured more than 1,250 soldiers, and hundreds of Guardsmen lined up on the parade ground to be inspected by the King from his carriage with Camilla, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and joined by the mounted royal Colonels.
H/t Mail Online
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