UK
Princess of Wales joins other senior royals at Festival of Remembrance – marking significant step in return to public duties
The Princess of Wales has joined other senior royals at the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance.
Both wearing poppies, Kate and the Prince of Wales were seen talking to one another before taking their seats at the Royal Albert Hall.
They were later pictured applauding on the balcony during the service that included a performance by Sir Tom Jones.
The event marks a significant step in Kate’s gradual return to public duties following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
King Charles and Princess Anne were also among the royals in attendance.
King Charles and Princess Anne applauded during the event.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer also attended the event. Pic: Reuters
As the King entered the London venue to royal fanfare by state trumpeters, the crowd stood and applauded
It comes as Queen Camilla will miss the Remembrance events this weekend as she recovers from a chest infection.
Kate is attending both the event on Saturday and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.
These will be her first consecutive events since her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also in attendance, along with other senior politicians.
On Sunday, members of the Royal Family and senior politicians will lay wreaths during the national service that marks the Armistice of the First World War and all other conflicts involving British and Commonwealth forces.
The Royal British Legion’s veteran parade will see 10,000 veterans march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.
The Royal Family (top centre) and senior politicians (top right) attended the event. Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
The Queen, 77, will miss both events as she recovers from an illness, Buckingham Palace said this week.
“While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week,” it said in a statement.
It comes after a year that has seen the Royal Family hit by a number of health issues – one William described as “brutal”.
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The King, 75, is still undergoing cancer treatment but has resumed public duties and Kate, 42, has finished preventative chemotherapy following her own diagnosis.
It is understood there is no cause for concern for the Queen nor any downturn in her condition.
Her husband and daughter-in-law have appeared to be limiting their contact with others to protect their health.