King Charles has shared his reaction to the news that his beloved daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales will join him at his official birthday parade tomorrow.
Kate, 42, will join her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in a carriage for the traditional procession to Trooping the Colour and later they will gather with other royals on Buckingham Palace 's balcony for the fly-past. It will mark her first public appearance since she revealed to the world several months ago that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatment.
It also comes as a new photograph of the royal, taken earlier this week in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, shows Kate in a smart casual outfit standing in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a body of water.
In a statement, she said : "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." And in a reaction, a spokesperson for the King said: "His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrow's events, and is very much looking forward to all elements of the day".
In Kate's personal message released tonight, she revealed her treatment is still ongoing and will be for several months. She also shared how she's begun to do some work from home and hopes to join in with a few royal engagements over the summer, but admitted she is "not out of the woods yet". Kate also revealed how she is learning to be patient with uncertainty and "taking each day as it comes".
Meghan Markle 'to unleash her own memoirs' as Prince Harry's drops next weekIt is understood that while Kate's appearance tomorrow will be significant, it should not be seen as a full-time return to royal duties. No time frame has been put on her return but meetings she has taken so far include briefings with her Kensington Palace team and the Royal Foundation and the Centre for Early Childhood.
Prince William is said to have been pleased to see Kate starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her and will continue to focus on supporting her and his children while doing his own public duties.
Kate's cancer treatment comes as King Charles has also been receiving treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer, that was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.
Charles initially postponed public-facing duties but resumed at the end of April, speaking of his 'shock' at being diagnosed with cancer as he met patients on a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London. His appearance at a D-Day event in Portsmouth last week was his first public speech and most high-profile appearance since his cancer diagnosis.
As part of the adaptations made to his routine at Trooping tomorrow, instead of riding on horseback to inspect the troops, he will travel in an Ascot Landau carriage with Queen Camilla. Palace sources said the alteration to normal proceedings is in keeping with guidance by the palace that the King's working comeback would be "carefully reviewed" for each engagement.