Monarchy: Royal return: Smiling Kate at birthday parade

She’s back: For the first time in almost half a year, Princess Kate has appeared in public again. With a beaming smile, in a white suit with a black and white bow and matching hat, the 42-year-old, who is being treated for cancer, appeared at the “Trooping the Colour” parade. The traditional parade of numerous soldiers in guard uniforms and bearskin hats is the official birthday parade for King Charles III, Kate’s father-in-law.

But the star of the day is not the person celebrating their anniversary, but Kate. At the traditional appearance of the royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, she was the centerpiece together with Charles. At one point she turned to her father-in-law and said something that apparently made the monarch laugh. The three children of Kate and her husband Prince William, the heir to the throne, were particularly amazed by the flight of several military aircraft over London. Even the weather played along again: after it had been very cloudy just a short time before, the sun was now shining.

“Back where she belongs”

The newspaper “Telegraph” compares the participation of Catherine Middleton, her birth name, with the comeback of a rock star: The “Catherine-sized hole” in the royal family has been filled again and Kate is “where she belongs,” the paper wrote. The 42-year-old is considered the most popular member of the royal family and, above all, a link to the younger generation.

“She is our future queen and we must support her,” a woman in the audience who had travelled from Cheshire early in the morning to attend told the German Press Agency. “She is wonderful.”

Kate’s appearance had been eagerly awaited. She had only surprisingly announced her participation yesterday. Now she was seen at an official event for the first time since Christmas. The future queen had an abdominal operation in January, and at the end of March she announced that she had cancer, without giving any further details.

Good mood among the Royals

Together with her children Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6), Kate was driven in a closed carriage the short distance from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade parade ground. All four were in good spirits and waved to onlookers, as a dpa reporter observed.

Spectators along the Mall were excited about Kate’s return. How did she look? “I think she did pretty well,” said a 34-year-old wearing a large Union Jack hat who had traveled from Belgium to the dpa. “But it’s a poker face, I think.” Because no one knows how she’s really doing? “Yes. But it’s very nice to see her here at the parade.”

In her message, Kate made it clear that she was not out of the woods yet. She was still being treated and had good days and bad days. Today seems like a good day.

No normal everyday life in sight

The return to public life is not a return to a daily routine with daily appointments, receptions or even travel. Whether and when Kate will make further “official outings” will be decided calmly and in close consultation with her doctors.

In contrast to his daughter-in-law, Charles, who is also being treated for cancer, has been attending official appointments again for several weeks and recently even travelled to France for the D-Day commemoration. Charles and his wife Queen Camilla were also driven to the parade ground in a carriage. The monarch watched the procession sitting on a covered platform. Last year he had watched the ceremony from horseback.

Critical voices against monarchy

This time, heir to the throne William and Charles’ siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward were in the saddle. Kate and her children watched the parade from a balcony. Prince Louis, who is known for his grimaces, was in a particularly good mood and danced to the marching music. After a rain shower, large puddles were visible on the sandy parade ground – and at the end of their show, soldiers and horses stood in the pouring rain. Until the sun finally came out again.

The name “Trooping the Colour” refers to the presentation of the flags of the participating regiment, also known as the “colour”. The ceremony probably originated during the reign of King Charles II (1660 – 1685). In 1748 it was decided that the parade would celebrate the King’s official birthday.

But there was not only cheering for the royals along the route. Near Buckingham Palace, members of the Republic organisation demonstrated for the abolition of the monarchy. On yellow flags they demanded “Down with the crown” and emphasised: “Not my king”.