Princess Kate Middleton joined her husband Prince William and King Charles III at the annual Remembrance Sunday service in London on Sunday, November 10. This was one of her first major appearances since completing cancer treatment.
The Princess of Wales and members of the royal family gathered at the Cenotaph to remember military servicemen and women who died during the world wars and other conflicts. Kate was seen watching the service from the balcony of the Foreign Office with Prince Edward‘s wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
The twosome watched as Charles, William and Princess Anne laid wreaths at the foot of the Cenotaph and Charles, 75, led a national two-minute silence at 11 a.m. local time.
Buckingham Palace announced Friday, November 8, that Kate, 42, would attend two Remembrance events this weekend as she continues to return to her royal duties after battling an undisclosed form of cancer. Kate also attended the annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, November 9.
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The events mark Kate’s first major ceremonial duties since announcing in September that she had finished chemotherapy. The princess has never missed the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph since she wed William in 2011.
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” Kate said in a video statement in September. “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
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According to Kate, the health scare was “complex, scary and unpredictable” for her family. (Kate and William, 42, share sons Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, 6, and daughter Princess Charlotte, 9.)
“With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything,” Kate added. “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”
Sunday’s Remembrance service had one notable absence: Queen Camilla, who is recovering from a chest infection.
“While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week,” a Saturday, November 9, statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed.
It was initially hoped that Camilla, 77, would be able to make this weekend’s events.
“Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed in a statement to the BBC on Tuesday, November 5. “With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.”
