Kate glows in high-profile Wimbledon return amid cancer battle

The Princess of Wales stepped back into the spotlight amid her cancer battle, looking thrilled to be back at one of her favourite events.

IN LONDON

Kate Middleton has received a standing ovation as she arrived at Wimbledon with Princess Charlotte for the men’s singles finals, in her second public appearance since her cancer diagnosis was announced.

The Princess of Wales looked to be in good spirits, beaming as she took in the match between last year’s champion, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and seven-times Wimbledon winner, Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales reacts as she arrives in the Royal Box on Centre Court to attend the men's singles final tennis match at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships in London, on July 14, 2024. Picture: AFP.

The Princess of Wales and her daughter Princess Charlotte arrive to attend the men's singles final tennis match. Pcture: AFP.

Kate, who has been a patron of the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for the past eight years, is also presenting the trophy to the winner of this year’s final.

Prince William did not join his wife as he is currently in Berlin for the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain.

Kate – pictured here with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, during last year’s men’s final – is an avid tennis fan. Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Kate’s Wimbledon outing is only her second official appearance since last Christmas Day.

She has been undergoing treatment for cancer in recent months, after undergoing abdominal surgery in January during which the disease was first detected.

Kate revealed her diagnosis to the world in an emotional video statement in March, confirming she would remain absent from the public eye for the foreseeable future.

Then came a positive development last month, with the princess releasing a lengthy statement in which she explained that she was making “good progress” while cautioning that she was “not out of the woods yet”.

“As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said, adding that her treatment would be ongoing for a few more months.

“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.”

She reappeared alongside her family at the Trooping the Colour last month. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

While Kate indicated in the statement that she was hoping to return for select events across the British summer, no specific commitments were made – with the exception of the Trooping the Colour parade, which was held the following day.

The popular royal was greeted with a huge roar of approval from crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace for the celebration of the monarch’s birthday.

Travelling alongside her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 5, she beamed as she waved back to onlookers.

Kate appeared to breeze happily through the almost three-hour engagement, which culminated in the traditional palace balcony photo op during the fly-past – but according to royal insiders, it had “weeks of planning” and effort behind it.

The UK’s Telegraph reported at the time that while “preparations had been made in private”, Kate’s decision to take part in the event only came after she had judged whether she “had enough energy”.

Originally published as Kate glows in high-profile Wimbledon return amid cancer battle