Kate Middleton Steps Out for First Major Appearance Alongside Royal Family Since Completing Chemo

Mar. 15, 2025

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales arrives to attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 9, 2024.Photo:CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

Kate Middletonis stepping out for her first major ceremonial royal event after completingchemotherapy treatmentfor cancer.

Upon their arrival, William put a protective arm on Kate’s back several times as they were greeted at the entrance of Royal Albert Hall. The princess’s latest appearance is significant, as it marks her first major event with the royal family after she announced that she completed chemotherapy.

In an interview on Nov. 7, as he wrapped Earthshot Week in South Africa,William opened up about his “brutal” past yearamid both Kate andKing Charles' cancer diagnoses, saying: “It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”

“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal," he continued.

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales arrives to attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 9, 2024.CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

Kate honored Remembrance Day with the traditional poppy pin, pairing it with a tailored black dress and side-parted waves for a classic look. Notably, she wore her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, once belonging to Princess Diana—a piece she hasn’t been seen wearing in recent months, as she’d beenfavoring a new ring stackin her public appearances.

Prince William and Kate Middleton attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 9, 2024.CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

Kate Middleton and Prince William attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 9, 2024.CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

“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,” it added.

Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles and Princess Anne attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 9, 2024.CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

PEOPLE understands that there is no cause for concern for Camilla, who is spending the weekend at Ray Mill Wiltshire. The royal didn’t want to pass on any lingering infection to others and was worried that attending the events would set back her recovery.

King Charles and Princess Anne attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 9, 2024.CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

Princess Kate has attended the Festival of Remembrance every year since 2015, excluding 2020, when the service was scaled down amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sept. 9, the Princess of Wales shared that she completed chemotherapy, six months after she said in March that she wasundergoing treatment for cancer. In that announcement, Princess Kate described it as a “relief” to have completed chemo and mentioned that she looked forward to “being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”

King Charles arriving to attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.Press Association via AP Images

Press Association via AP Images

Though the princess has beenholding meetings with her teamand joined Prince William tovisit Southport, where three children were killed in a mass stabbing on July 29, she has not fully returned to work and no date has been set around that expectation.

It emerged on Sept. 9 that the Princess of Wales hoped to join her family at The Cenotaph war memorial in London on Remembrance Sunday, Nov. 10.

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The solemn ceremony is held on the second Sunday of every November in the U.K., where the sovereign leads the tributes to service personnel from the British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who have died in war or conflict.

source: people.com