Kate Middleton’s public appearance at Trooping the Colour is the most positive news for the royal family this year, following challenging months, including cancer treatments for her and King Charles. Accompanying her family on the Buckingham Palace balcony brought Kate appraisal by experts for her appearance and outfit, despite some opinions on the color choice. She looked healthy and happy, with a body language expert noting she seemed to have a different agenda than just being the center of attention.
Ever since she disclosed her cancer diagnosis with the public, many wondered when she would be able to return to her royal duties.
According to the Palace, her appearance at the meaningful event that celebrated King Charles’ official birthday doesn’t mean Kate is able to be involved in royal engagements as she is still receiving treatment and needs to rest.
In a post she shared on Instagram a day prior to Trooping the Colour, the princess explained that she has 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,” she wrote among the rest.
“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,” Kate added.
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. Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me,” she concluded her post.
During her first public appearance in months, Kate also fulfilled her role as a mother. She directed her children on how to behave, and it appeared that they all performed admirably.
“The King had a good muster of the Royal Family, minus, of course, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew. But he won’t mind, it was his day. But the star of the show was the Princess of Wales,” royal expert Michael Cole told GB News.
“Such dignity, such elegance, such stoicism and steadfastness, bearing the burden that she’s bearing, bringing up her children so brilliantly,” he continued. “Being a princess, being a wife, being a public figure, and the most popular member of the Royal Family.”
Speaking of the decision to be part of the King’s celebration, Cole said that although doctors would have been “paramount” in her decision, Kate is still the one who has the final say.
“The doctors would have been paramount in this decision. She would have taken very, very careful advice of the physicians to see whether she could do it,” Cole told GB News.
“I thought at best it would be that she would make an appearance on the balcony. The fact is she’s been sitting there for the whole thing, which is nearly two hours, and she looks great. And I’m quite sure the crowds will think it well worth their while, despite the many who have had a glimpse of her.
“They’ve been as upfront as they possibly want to be, and they’ve made it sure that everybody else who’s suffering similarly is included.”
Trooping the Colour is a beloved tradition which was started back in 1748 by King George II. As this day celebrated the head of the monarchy, Kate made sure she wasn’t the center of attention, letting King Charles be the most important person on the day which marked and celebrated his official birthday.
Body language expert Judi James spoke to The Sun and explained, “In a tradition created by her husband’s granny, Kate’s body language here showed the world what being a royal is all about: elegant, calm, and stoic with not one smallest jot of self-pity or drama.”
James added: “Kate’s non-verbal messages seem to signal a smiling determination to reassure the public and her own children and to get on with the job. She made it clear in her written message that this is a step towards a return, not the start of it but even from the glimpses of her in the carriage her upright back and her signature smile showed a desire to show resilience and poise.”
When it comes to the choice of outfit, James believes Kate chose exactly that because she didn’t want to draw too much attention to herself.
“There was a hint of discretion or maybe a desire to not upstage in the way Kate’s hat brim was tilted to partially hide her face in the carriage but there were some turning to smile and some smiling conversations with her three children,” she said.
“Her wave to the crown involved closed rather than spread fingers and it was a quick, subtle movement of acknowledgement, again suggesting a desire to avoid stealing the attention on the celebration of the King’s birthday.”