David Milliken
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, beamed as she waved to crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Saturday after watching the Trooping the Army parade, her first public appearance this year while undergoing cancer treatment.
The princess, 42, was hospitalized for two weeks after undergoing major abdominal surgery in January. Two months later, she announced in a video message that test results showed she had cancer and that she was undergoing preventive chemotherapy.
She is still receiving treatment but her improved health means she is able to appear in public for the first time since December.
The princess took her three children in a covered carriage to watch Trooping the Color, the annual military parade that marks the official birthday of British monarch King Charles.
Despite pouring rain, crowds lined the streets waving and cheering as the carriage passed by, outnumbering a small group of protesters holding placards calling for an end to the monarchy.
Charles and Queen Camilla rode in separate carriages, followed by Charles’ heir, Prince William, and Kate’s husband, who rode on horseback with other senior members of the royal family.
Kate wore a white number by British fashion designer Jenny Packham, accented with white and navy ribbons, and a wide-brimmed matching piece by Irish milliner Philip Treacy Hat, watched the ceremony from a window overlooking the parade ground.
She briefed her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on aspects of the event, while Charles saluted passing troops from a covered podium on the parade ground.
The king and queen, along with William, Kate and other royals, later returned to Buckingham Palace to watch a military air display from the balcony. Kate smiled and waved.
In a rare personal written message on Friday, she said she was making good progress but was “not out of the woods yet.” She said she’s looking forward to participating in Saturday’s parade and hopes to attend some public events over the summer.
Kate’s office, Kensington Palace, declined to reveal any details about the type of cancer or treatment, saying only that preventive chemotherapy had begun in February.
‘excellent’
Before the parade, onlookers said they were looking forward to seeing the princess.
“I know it’s the King’s birthday, but all eyes will be on Kate because we haven’t seen her in a while,” said John Loughrey, who was wearing a T-shirt with a picture of Kate on it. said.
Another onlooker, Anne Gaely, holding a life-size cardboard cutout of the princess, said she was relieved to see Kate in action.
“We were all very, very worried and upset about it, but now it’s going to be joyful and euphoric and wonderful,” she said.
In a message on Friday, Kate said she was “blown away” by thousands of messages of kindness from around the world, which had made a huge difference to her and William.
“I’m making good progress, but as anyone who’s had chemotherapy knows, there are good days and bad days,” Kate said in a statement.
Her illness struck at the same time as 75-year-old Charles, who has also been undergoing cancer treatment. He returned to public service in April and has kept busy, although his day job has been limited to minimize the risks of his recovery.
(This story has been refiled to correct typo in paragraph 18)
