Kate Middleton marks return to royal spotlight

Princess Kate and Prince William attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9. Photo / Getty Images
The Princess joined husband Prince William and King Charles for the annual Royal British Legion event at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Princess of Wales has joined the royal family at the Royal Albert Hall to honour Britain’s Armed Forces, in her first major event since finishing her chemotherapy.
The Princess, who is making a gradual return to the public eye after serious illness this year, joined her husband the Prince of Wales and the King for the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on Saturday evening.
Wearing a black dress with a clutch bag, high heels, pearl earrings, her distinctive engagement ring and a poppy brooch, the Princess smiled as she entered the Kensington venue with Prince William just before 7pm on Saturday evening.
Queen Camilla was absent as she was recuperating from a chest infection at home.
The Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance is an evening event at the Royal Albert Hall where the Armed Forces, those who lost their lives in service, and their families are celebrated and commemorated.
This year, it marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, with a further focus on Kosovo 25 years after the deployment of Nato’s peacekeeping force, and Afghanistan a decade after the end of Operation Herrick.
The King and his family sat in the royal box to watch performances, music and readings in a concert broadcast from 9pm on BBC One.
Performers included Sir Tom Jones, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, Samantha Barks and Alexandra Burke.
The Princess of Wales will also attend the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, London on Sunday and will watch the ceremony from a balcony overlooking the monument.
The King, who is undergoing his own cancer treatment, and the Prince of Wales will lay wreaths.
The Queen is expected to be absent again in line with doctors’ advice.
Buckingham Palace said missing the ceremonies was a source of “great disappointment” for the Queen, whose father served in the 12th Lancers and won two military crosses during World War II before being taken prisoner.
A palace spokesman said: “Following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s remembrance events.”
“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 is understood there is no cause for alarm and no downturn in the Queen’s condition. As well as heeding doctors’ advice to avoid setting back her recovery, she is said to be mindful of the risk of passing a seasonal infection on to others.
The service at the Cenotaph is one of the most important fixtures of the royal calendar.
Kensington Palace sources signalled the Princess of Wales’s intention to attend remembrance events when she made her September 9 video announcing she had finished her chemotherapy.
It was confirmed on Friday she would be well enough to go.
It marks the next significant step in the Princess’ measured return to public royal duties, following appearances at Trooping the Colour, Wimbledon and during a visit to bereaved families in Stockport in October.
Prince William this week spoke of the toll both his father and wife’s illnesses have taken on the family, saying 2024 had been “brutal” and “probably … the hardest year in my life”.
The Queen is continuing to rest at Ray Mill, her Wiltshire home, and plans to return to London early next week if royal doctors give her the go-ahead.
She has several engagements in her diary, including a Booker Prize event at Clarence House on Tuesday, a palace reception celebrating the TV and film industry and a night out with the King at the star-studded global premiere of Gladiator II on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the King will celebrate his 76th birthday.