Kate Middleton in first public appearance since announcing she is cancer-free
Princess Catherine has popped up at a public event for the first time since announcing that her treatment for cancer was over.
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Princess Catherine attended an event at London’s Royal Albert Hall overnight, her first official engagement since announcing that she had completed her cancer treatment in early September.
Kate, 42, and her husband Prince William were at the concert hall for the Royal British Festival of Remembrance, an annual event designed to “express gratitude to serving personnel, veterans and their families”.
The event featured personal testimonies and musical performances. Another service on Sunday, local time, will be held at the Cenotaph, a hallowed war memorial in Whitehall.
The remembrance events are among the most important on the royal calendar each year. King Charles also attended the one at Royal Albert Hall, where he received as standing ovation.
Kate always makes an appearance at the event – she hasn’t missed one since she married William back in 2011 – and she usually wears black in a sign of respect for British military veterans and fallen soldiers.
It was no different, this time. She wore an all-black ensemble, headlined by a classy blazer and matching dress down to her knees, plus heels. Or was the blazer the same garment as the dress? Dunno. Don’t mark me too hard, I’m not a fashion correspondent.
In any case she did also wear a poppy pinned to her lapel, which is a near-ubiquitous symbol for prominent Brits throughout each November.
William wore a blue suit, if you care (you don’t). The interest in royal fashion is very much focused on the family’s female members.
Apart from William, Kate and Charles, other attendees included Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, along with Princess Anne and her husband Timothy.
Queen Camilla was not present, due to her ongoing chest infection, which compelled her to cancel of her past week’s scheduled events.
‘What a relief’
Kate announced, in early September, that she had completed her chemotherapy.
“I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she wrote on social media, adding that the previous nine months had been “incredibly tough” for her family, particularly her children.
She and William are raising Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
“Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown,” the Princess of Wales said.
She said that “doing what I can to stay cancer free” was now her focus.
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she stressed.
“I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
Kate announced in March that she was undergoing a course of “preventive chemotherapy” for an undisclosed form of cancer.
The announcement came just weeks after it was disclosed that her father-in-law, the King, had also been diagnosed with cancer.
Charles, 75, was given the green light to resume public duties in April after his doctors said they were “very encouraged” by his progress. He subsequently went through with a previously planned international trip, which included several days in Australia.
“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey: I remain with you, side-by-side, hand-in-hand. Out of darkness, can come light, so let that light shine bright,” Kate said in her announcement that her treatment was complete.
Originally published as Kate Middleton in first public appearance since announcing she is cancer-free
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