AFP News
The UK’s Princess of Wales makes her first public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer
Catherine, Princess of Wales, made a tentative return to public life on Saturday for the first time since she was diagnosed with cancer, attending a military parade in central London to mark the official birthday of Britain’s King Charles III. Kate, as she is widely known, rode in a carriage alongside her three children at the start of the annual celebration before disembarking to watch the proceedings from a viewing platform. It comes almost three months after the future queen revealed she was undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The 42-year-old princess had not been seen at a public engagement since a Christmas Day service last year. In a statement Friday night, Kate said she was “making good progress” with her treatment, which will last several more months. , but she “wasn’t out of the woods yet.” “I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join in on some public engagements over the summer,” the princess said. Kate’s announcement that she has cancer came just weeks after it was revealed that her father-in-law, King Charles III, had also been diagnosed with the disease. Neither of them have revealed what type of cancer they have. British head of state Charles, 75, was given the green light to resume public duties in April after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by his progress. His first engagement was to meet staff and patients at a London cancer treatment centre. Earlier this month, he attended memorial events in northern France. for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.- ‘Our future queen’ -However, unlike previous years, when he inspected troops on horseback in Trooping the Color, Carlos participated this year from a carriage, in full military clothing, alongside Queen Camilla. The eldest son and heir William, 41, was on horseback, also in military uniform. Kate, wearing a white dress and hat, had been seen arriving by car at Buckingham Palace with William and his children before the parade, which formally began at 11:00 am (1000 GMT). Spectators in the shopping center leading to Buckingham Palace to witness the annual ceremonial event welcomed Kate’s tentative return to public appearances. “I was very happy to hear the news last night,” Angela Perry, a teacher in her 50s from Reading, central England, told AFP. “She is our future queen. “It’s very important,” he added, calling Kate’s re-emergence “reassuring.” Royal officials will be keen to manage expectations about Kate’s gradual return to the public spotlight, and have maintained That her appearances will depend on her treatment and recovery. Kate explained in her statement that she had “good days and bad days” and that she was “taking each day as it comes” After traveling with Prince George, 10-year-old Princess Charlotte. , nine, and Prince Louis, six, in a state carriage. To watch the parade from a building, the family planned to return to Buckingham Palace for a balcony appearance.- Protests -Trooping the Color marks the official birthday of the British sovereign and is a meticulously choreographed military tradition dating back more than two centuries. It begins at Buckingham Palace and continues along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where Charles will receive a royal salute before inspecting the soldiers. Charles was actually born in November, but the second birthday tradition dates back to King George II in 1748, who wanted to have a celebration. with better weather, since his birthday was in October. The ceremony has its origins in preparations for war, where all the flags (or colors) of the regiment were displayed to the soldiers for recognition in the confusion of battle. This year’s event will include three of the five military horses that ran through the streets of central London in April after being spooked by the noise of building construction. London’s Metropolitan Police said it would mount a “significant” security operation and had been in contact with anti-monarchists. group Republic, which started protests at the event. The force said it had banned “amplified sound” in and around the parade route for public safety reasons and to avoid disruption to participating mounted regiments. The Republic activists, who crowded into a section of The Mall alongside royalists, held banners with slogans including “not my king” and “down with the crown.”bur-jj/ach
