UK royals unite on palace balcony, with Kate back at her first public event since cancer diagnosis

15/06/2024

Prince William, and Kate Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children Prince George, left, Prince Louis, front centre, and Princess Charlotte wave to the crowds after the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

LONDON (AP) — Britain put on a display of birthday pageantry Saturday for King Charles III, a military parade that marked the Princess of Wales ’ first appearance at a public event since her cancer diagnosis early this year.

From left, Britain's Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and King Charles III on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the flypast following the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (James Manning/PA via AP)

The annual event was also a show of stability by the monarchy after a testing few months in which both the king and Kate, wife of heir to the throne Prince William, have been sidelined by cancer treatment.

From left, Britain's Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the flypast following the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (James Manning/PA via AP)

In a symbolic display of unity, Charles, Queen Camilla, William, Kate and their children were joined by other members of the royal family on a Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the King’s Birthday Parade. The family waved to the gathered crowd as they watched a flyby of military aircraft to cap ceremonies marking the monarch’s official birthday.

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales travels along The Mall to the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Britain is putting on a display of birthday pageantry for King Charles III, a military parade that is the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year. (James Manning/PA via AP)

It was Kate's first appearance at a public event since December. She disclosed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis arrive for the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Britain is putting on a display of birthday pageantry for King Charles III, a military parade that is the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” Kate said in a statement released Friday, adding that she faces “a few more months” of treatment.

Members of the military ride along The Mall during the return of the royal procession to Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Color, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Kate said she is “not out of the woods yet” and officials stress that Saturday’s engagement doesn't herald a full return to public life.

Britain's Prince William, left, Prince Edward and Princess Anne during the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Huge crowds turn out each June to watch the birthday parade, also known as Trooping the Color, which begins with a procession involving horses, musicians and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace.

Soldiers from the Irish Guards march along the Mall as they take part in the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The 42-year-old princess traveled in a horse-drawn carriage from the palace down the grand avenue known as the Mall with her children George, 10, Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Louis. Bystanders cheered as they caught a glimpse of Kate, dressed in a white dress by designer Jenny Packham and wide-brimmed Philip Treacy hat.

She watched the ceremony with the children from the window of a building overlooking Horse Guards Parade, a ceremonial parade ground in central London. Louis yawned broadly at one point in proceedings, but mostly watched intently, even dancing along to the military music.

William, in military dress uniform, rode on horseback for the ceremony, in which troops parade past the king with their regimental flag, or “color.” The display of precision marching and martial music stems from the days when a regiment’s flag was an essential rallying point in the fog of battle.

Soldiers of the Irish Guards march along the Mall as they take part in the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Charles, who also is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, traveled in a carriage with Queen Camilla, rather than on horseback as he did last year. The king inspected the troops from a dais on the parade ground, saluting as elite regiments of Foot Guards marched past.

Two mounted officers from the Welsh Guards take part in the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Five regiments take it in turns to parade their color, and this year it was the turn of a company of the Irish Guards, which has Kate as its honorary colonel. The troops in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats were led onto the parade ground by their mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Seamus.

Charles, 75, disclosed his cancer in February, and has recently eased back into public duties. He attended commemorations last week for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe on June 6, 1944.

Royal fans gather in the Mall ahead of the start of the Trooping the Color ceremony as rain falls in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

In one of the many quirks of British royal convention, Saturday is not the king’s real birthday — that’s in November. Like his mother Queen Elizabeth II before him, Charles has an official birthday on the second Saturday in June. The date was chosen because the weather is generally good, though early sunshine on Saturday gave way to a blustery, rainy day in London.

Royal fans hold up cut-out pictures of Britain's King Charles III, and Kate, Princess of Wales as they gather in the Mall ahead of the start of the Trooping the Color ceremony, as rain begins to fall in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

The rain held off for most of the ceremony but began pelting down as the massed troops escorted the royal carriages back to Buckingham Palace past soggy but enthusiastic crowds.

Royal fans on the The Mall wait for the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, as King Charles III celebrates his official birthday, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)

Blue sky briefly returned as the family emerged onto the balcony to watch a flyby that included the Royal Air Force aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, trailing red, white and blue plumes of vapor.

Police look on as anti-monarchist 'Not My King' protesters wave flags next to royal fans as they wait along the Mall for the start of the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Kate, Princess of Wales, has given an update on her cancer treatment, saying she is making good progress and hopes to return to some public duties, and that she will attend the King's Birthday parade - Trooping the Color, Saturday. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Thousands of royal fans in raincoats and umbrellas cheered, as a smattering of anti-monarchist protesters chanted “Not my king.”

The Royal Standard flag flies above Buckingham Palace as police watch the gathering crowd in the Mall from the roof while preparations continue for the Trooping the Color ceremony in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Spectator Joseph Afrane, 60, said that he was happy to see Kate return — and to get a “big wave” as she passed by.

“It was fantastic when I heard it on the news yesterday," he said. “I thought, ‘God, I thank you for bringing Kate back,’ because she’s very hardworking.”

Kate, Princess of Wales waves to the crowd, with her youngest son Prince Louis of Wales alongside her as they travel along the Mall to attend the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Spectators who braved the volatile weather were treated to a display of pomp and precision involving 1,400 soldiers, 250 military musicians and more than 200 horses. The equine participants included Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish, three of the five military horses who sparked mayhem in April when they bolted and ran loose through central London, crashing into vehicles and causing chaos during the morning rush hour.

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, front, Princess Charlotte and Prince George arrive for the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Britain is putting on a display of birthday pageantry for King Charles III, a military parade that is the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

The army says the other two horses are recovering well and are also expected to return to duty.

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla travel along The Mall for the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP)

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press

Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, right, Princess Charlotte and Prince George leave Horse Guards Parade after the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Britain is putting on a display of birthday pageantry for King Charles III, a military parade that is the Princess of Wales’ first public appearance since her cancer diagnosis early this year. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

Members of the Welsh Guards during the Trooping the Color ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Trooping the Color is the King's Birthday Parade and one of the nation's most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)