Kate seen for first time in public since cancer diagnosis
Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance yesterday since surgery five months ago revealed the presence of cancer.
Wearing a pale outfit, she rode in a carriage with her three children before the “Trooping the Colour”, an annual military parade near Buckingham Palace in central London that marks the official birthday of King Charles.
Crowds waved and cheered as the carriage passed.
“I was so pleased to hear the news last night,” Angela Perry, a teacher, said. “She’s our future queen. She’s so important,” she added, describing Kate’s re-emergence “reassuring”.
Charles rode in a separate carriage with Queen Camilla, followed by Prince William, his heir and Kate’s husband, who was on horseback along with other senior members of the royal family.
After travelling with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis to watch the parade from a building, the family were set to return to Buckingham Palace for a balcony appearance.
Kate, 42, has undergone preventive chemotherapy since the cancer announcement, and while treatment is continuing, her improved health meant she was able to appear in public for the first time since last December.
In a rare personal written message on Friday, she said she was making good progress but was “not out of the woods”. She said she was looking forward to attending the parade and hoped to join a few public engagements over the summer.
Kate spent two weeks in hospital in January after she underwent major abdominal surgery, and two months later she revelaed in a video message that tests had revealed the presence of cancer.
In her message on Friday, Kate said she had been “blown away” by thousands of kind messages from across the globe, which had made a world of difference to her and William.
Royal officials will be keen to manage expectations about Kate’s gradual return to the public eye, and have maintained that her appearances will depend on her treatment and recovery.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” Kate’s statement said.
Her office has given no details about the type of cancer or treatment, other than to say chemotherapy had begun in February.
Her illness has coincided with that of Charles, 75, who has also been undergoing treatment for cancer. He returned to public duties in April, and has remained busy, although his diary commitments are being limited to minimise risks to his recovery.
Charles was actually born in November but the second birthday tradition dates back to King George II in 1748, who wanted to have a celebration in better weather as his was in October.