Kate Middleton joins royal family on palace balcony in first public appearance since cancer diagnosis

The Mall, London
CNN
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The Duchess of Cambridge joined other royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to mark the King’s official birthday, making her first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis.

The Princess of Wales, her husband William, and their children George, Charlotte, and Louis gathered on a balcony with King Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to watch the RAF flyover. They waved and smiled at the cheering crowd.

The princess, also known as Kate, traveled with her children in an official carriage from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade for the ceremony known as Trooping the Colour. She was wearing an Irish Guards brooch, symbolising her role as an honorary colonel of the regiment.

Later, the family was seen watching the ceremony from a viewing platform while Kate’s husband, Prince William, rode on horseback.

It was Kate’s first public appearance since Christmas Day, just weeks before her cancer diagnosis.

King Charles III and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, also left Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage and slowly made their way down the Mall, drawing cheers from the packed-out crowd. The King took part in the ceremony in a carriage rather than a horse, as he was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year.

People of all ages gathered along the Mall for the event. Some spectators wore Union Jack bucket hats or caps, others waved flags, and some sang the national anthem.

Kate gave an update on her health on Friday, saying her recovery is “progressing well,” but expects her treatment to continue for several more months, adding that she’s “not out of the woods yet.”

The March of 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.

The event is one of the highlights of the royal calendar and has been a tradition for more than 260 years of marking the official birthday of the British monarch, although Prince Charles’ actual birthday is in November.

British kings and queens have had dual birthday celebrations since the 18th century, holding both a public celebration of their official birthdays and a more private event on their actual birthdays.

The tradition is thought to have been started by party-loving King George II in 1748. Like Charles III, George was born in November, a time of year when the weather in Britain is often less than ideal.

As proof of this, the weather worsened as the event drew to a close, with heavy rain and gusty winds hitting the crowds waiting for the king to return to the palace, and some spectators struggling to keep their umbrellas in place.

Kate’s arrival created a buzz among onlookers who chatted and warmed their hands over flasks of tea. “We are so excited,” Reine Geldenhoj, 41, told CNN.

“We want to go up on the balcony and see her beautiful face again. We have missed seeing her in public so we are mainly here for her,” she added.

This year’s ceremony was changed because Charles, 75, continues to undergo treatment for an unknown cancer.

Doctors have been encouraged by his recovery and have cleared him to resume official duties in April, but all activities he undertakes are being reviewed and adjusted as necessary.

At Saturday’s event, he rode in an Ascot carriage alongside Camilla Parker and reviewed the troops.

Three British Army horses that galloped in London in April have returned to duty and took part in this weekend’s birthday parade. The Army says the remaining two are “enjoying their summer holidays in the Chilterns” and are due to return to duty shortly.

This is a developing story and will be updated.