Princess of Wales to make 1st appearance since cancer diagnosis as she makes 'good progress' with treatment | CBC News (2024)

Rhianna Schmunk · CBC News

· Posted: Jun 14, 2024 1:24 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 14

Catherine, Princessof Wales, has confirmed she will be attending Trooping the Colour in London this weekend as she makes "good progress" with her ongoing cancer treatment.

In a statement, Catherine, 42, said she is still being treated for the undisclosed type of cancer that was discovered after abdominal surgeryin January, but that she feels well enough to attend the official celebration of King Charles's birthday on Saturday.

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well," read a statement posted on Friday.

"I'm looking forward to attending the King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet."

Trooping the Colour, a military parade held in London to celebrate the monarch's official birthday, is one of the most significant annual events for the Royal Family. The paradeon Saturday will be Catherine's first public appearance since her surgery and since she revealed her cancer diagnosis this spring.

Catherine is expected tojoin her three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — during the carriage ride on Saturday while her husband, William, the Prince of Wales, will be on horseback. They will thenjoinKing Charles, Queen Camilla and other senior members of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

The palace said Catherine has started working from home when she feels she can, but her appearance on Saturday shouldn't be seen as an official return to a full schedule of public duties.

"My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home," she wrote in the message.

In a video in March, she said her condition was initially believed to be non-cancerous, but her team recommended "a preventative course" of chemotherapy aftertesting after her January surgery found "cancer had been present."

WATCH | Catherine's statement on her cancer diagnosis:

News of Catherine's cancer diagnosis came just weeks her father-in-law, Charles, told the public he was dealing with a cancer diagnosis of his own. Charles, 75, had been treated for an enlarged prostate—a procedure that was undertaken atthe same private hospital in London where his daughter-in-law had surgery.

The King has returned to public duties, though his commitments are being limited to minimize risks to his recovery.

"His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow's events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day," a spokesperson for Charles said Friday.

Kensington Palace also said William was pleased to see Kate starting to return to the work and projects that wereimportant to her.

"The prince is pleased to see the princess starting to engage with the work and projects that are important to her. He will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children, while continuing to undertake his public duties," a spokesperson said.

In a photo released with hermessage on Friday,Catherine was pictured standingunder a tree on the Windsor estate to the west of London, where the family home is located.

Catherine spent two weeks in hospital at the London Clinic after her procedure in January.Kensington Palace has declined to give further details about the type of cancer or about her treatment, other than to say the preventative chemotherapy startedin February.

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty," said Catherine. "Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

Catherine was last seen in public with her family for the annualChristmas Day church service in Sandringham.

WATCH | Londoners pleased to hear Catherinewill appear at royal event:

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|