Catherine, Princess of Wales, said on Friday that she planned to take part in a parade on Saturday for King Charles III’s birthday, a tentative return to the public stage after confirming in March that she was being treated for cancer.
The news, which Catherine released in an intensely personal six-paragraph statement, reflected both the progress she has made since she was first admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery last January, and the long road to recovery that has still facing.
“I’m making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy knows, there are good days and bad days,” Kathryn wrote.
“On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to let your body rest,” said the princess. “But on good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of the good feeling.”
Catherine, 42, said she hoped to take part in some other public engagements over the summer. But the princess, who has not appeared in public since last Christmas, stressed that her appearance at the parade on Saturday – her first for several months – did not represent an official return to public life.
“I’m not out of the woods yet,” he wrote. “I’m learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body and allowing myself to take that much needed time to heal.”
But even this cautious return to normalcy will be a major source of relief for the British royal family, which has struggled in recent months as both Catherine and Charles, her father-in-law, have faced serious health problems.
Charles and Catherine are among the most visible members of the family. Their illnesses and sudden absence took a toll on the family, which was still coming to terms with the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Charles, who was hospitalized for prostate treatment in January, began his return to public duties in April. Last week, he participated in ceremonies to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. He has appeared healthy in recent appearances, although Buckingham Palace has released few details about his treatment or prognosis.
Charles celebrated his 75th birthday in November. However, the official birthday celebration, known as Trooping the Color, will take place on Saturday as 1,400 officers of the Household Division march before the king on a route that takes them from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back to the palace.
Catherine said she will take part in the parade, along with her husband, Prince William, and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Palace officials said she will travel in a state carriage with her children and is expected to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the rest of the family. Rumors of her involvement had circulated in the British media.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said Charles “is delighted that the Princess can attend tomorrow’s events and is very much looking forward to all the details of the day”.
Kensington Palace, where Catherine and William have their offices, has not disclosed the type of cancer she has or her prognosis. The palace has asked for her privacy while she undergoes treatment. After an initial flurry of rumors about her condition and whereabouts, she has been largely left alone by the British tabloids.
Palace officials said Catherine had begun working from home and said she would make decisions about future public events in consultation with her doctors.
In her statement, Catherine said her treatment would continue for “a few more months”. She spoke of the joy of being involved with her children about their schools and has been involved in some charity work.
“On the days when I’m feeling pretty good, it’s a joy to catch up on school life, spend personal time on things that give me energy and positivity, and start doing some work from home,” she wrote.
“I have been overwhelmed by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the past two months,” added Catherine. “It has really made a difference to William and me and helped us both through some of the most difficult times.”
