Why Kate Middleton’s Trooping the Colour Outing Doesn’t Signal a Return to Royal Duties amid Cancer Treatment

Here’s what the Princess of Wales said about her “hope to join a few public engagements over the summer”.

Kate Middleton made a highly anticipated appearance over the weekend at Trooping the Colour, but she has not resumed royal duties amid her cancer treatment.

The Princess of Wales, 42, made her first public appearance in six months at King Charles’ birthday parade in London on June 15, where she traveled by carriage with her kids — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — and shared a look of love on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince William.

While it was Princess Kate’s first royal appearance since she announced her cancer diagnosis in March and her first public outing with the royal family since Christmas, she is not officially back to work.

On June 14, the day before Trooping the Colour, the Princess of Wales shared a personal letter giving the first update on her health since she revealed that she is undergoing chemotherapy.

Kate Middleton and Prince Louis at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. 

“I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” she said in part. “I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal.”

No decisions have been made about what future engagements Princess Kate might make in the coming weeks. Any upcoming outings will be based on when she feels able and with the guidance and support of her medical team.

The Princess of Wales said in the message that she is “making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days, you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

Princess Kate described her treatment as “ongoing” and said it will be for “a few more months.”

From left: Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. 

Behind the scenes, the Princess of Wales has started to work from home and hold meetings with her teams in Windsor, where she resides with Prince William and their children, when she feels able.

“On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” Kate said.

In May, it emerged that she was briefed on the report from The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood, keeping up with the team she established last year to elevate her campaign around the importance of the early years.

In the letter on June 14, the Princess of Wales said she was “blown away” by the well-wishes she received after sharing the news about her health in March and voiced her thanks for the support.

“Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me,” she concluded. The message came with a new photo of her posing outdoors in Windsor, snapped by Matt Porteous.

Kate Middleton arrives at Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. 

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said that King Charles was “delighted” that his daughter-in-law would be at Trooping the Colour, and Princess Kate spoke to her father-in-law about attending the military parade.

“Family is really important to the Princess of Wales and she wanted to be there to support her family,” a royal source said about Princess Kate’s Trooping the Colour move.

From left: Prince George, Prince Louis, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton, King Charles and Queen Camilla at Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024.