'Battling Cancer' British Crown Princess Attends Father-in-Law King Charles' Birthday Party After 6 Months

Royal Family Attends Charles III's Official Birthday Event
Royal Family: "Crown Princess Not Fully Returned to Duties"

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales who is battling cancer, appeared on June 15 (local time) at the official birthday event of King Charles III of the United Kingdom. This marked her first public appearance at an external event in nearly half a year since attending Christmas service on December 25 last year, and the first since her illness was made public.

On this day, the Princess of Wales appeared wearing a white dress with a navy belt and a wide-brimmed hat. She traveled by carriage with her three children: Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (9), and Prince Louis (6). The Princess smiled brightly at the crowd from the carriage, waved her hand, and spoke to her children while pointing at the parade.

Crown Princess Kate Middleton and Prince Louis
Photo by AP Yonhap News

British daily The Guardian and others reported that the Trooping the Colour ceremony celebrating the King's birthday was held at Buckingham Palace, nearby Horse Guards Parade, The Mall, and other locations, involving 1,400 soldiers, 250 military musicians, and over 200 horses. At the event, 75-year-old King Charles III entered riding a carriage in uniform with Queen Camilla, stood to review the marching guards, and later rode again in a carriage to parade with the guards along The Mall.

This was King Charles III's second Trooping the Colour ceremony since his accession. Charles, who disclosed his cancer diagnosis in February, refrained from public duties for a while but has been engaging in limited activities since late April. The Princess of Wales had not appeared since undergoing abdominal surgery in January, sparking rumors of serious illness. The royal family announced her cancer battle in a video released in March. The day before the Trooping the Colour, the Princess issued a statement announcing her plan to attend the event, expressing, "I am making significant progress. Anyone undergoing chemotherapy knows there are good days and bad days." However, royal officials clarified that her attendance did not signify a full return to duties.

The Trooping the Colour ceremony has been held for over 260 years to celebrate the monarch's birthday. The British royal family marks the official birthday in June, regardless of the monarch's actual birth date, to take advantage of better weather. King Charles III's actual birthday is in November. Prince Harry, the second son who lives independently in the United States with his wife Meghan Markle, did not attend this year's event, continuing his absence from last year.

Prince William and his family waving at King Charles III's birthday event
[Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Prince Louis, the third child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who stole the show last year with his innocent and playful demeanor, attracted attention again by dancing to military music and yawning while standing on the balcony. Prince Louis danced by bobbing his shoulders to the sound of bagpipes during the Horse Guards Parade. His older sister, Princess Charlotte (9), tried to stop him from dancing, but he did not stop. Prince Louis played with the blind cords and yawned during the viewing, and inside the room with the royal family, he was seen struggling unsuccessfully to lift a heavy window upwards.

Unlike his older brother Prince George (10) and sister Princess Charlotte, who show mature behavior at royal events, Prince Louis captivates royal fans with his cute and mischievous antics. At last year’s King’s birthday event in June, he covered his nose with a grimace as if bothered by the smell of horse manure and mimicked riding a motorcycle with a cheeky expression. Earlier in May of the same year, at his grandfather’s coronation, he yawned several times and was startled, shouting when fighter jets and helicopters performed a flypast making loud noises. Prince Louis became the royal family's 'scene-stealer' since the 2022 Platinum Jubilee celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 70th year on the throne, where he stuck out his tongue, picked his nose, and covered his ears with innocent behavior.