Kate Middleton Makes First Formal Appearance in 6 Months at Trooping the Colour 2024

In 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton vowed at the altar to look after each other—for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health.

Thirteen years later, Kate has needed her husband to be there for her more than ever, the Princess of Wales having shared in March—following months of speculation about the true state of her health—that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis.

And in a bizarre twist of fate for the systematically stoic royal family, King Charles III has also been battling an unspecified type of cancer, which until he returned to public-facing engagements in April left William as the highest-ranking public face of the entire operation.

“It’s a tough time for him,” royals correspondent Sharon Carpenter told E! News after the king disclosed his diagnosis in February, “because his wife is recovering, he’s got three children, and he has his own responsibilities as well.”

But, she noted, “the royals are very good at keeping calm and carrying on, no matter what’s going on behind closed doors.”

It’s behind closed doors where William, who’s turning 42 on June 21, has been stepping up without fanfare, taking periodic breaks from official duties since January to be home with Kate and their children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

After confirming her plan to attend only the day before, Kate and the kids made their first public appearance since Christmas on June 15 at Trooping the Colour, the monarch’s official birthday celebration historically held this time of year (though Charles was born Nov. 14, and his late mother Queen Elizabeth II on April 21).

NBC News royal correspondent Katie Nicholl called it a “wonderful surprise,” explaining, “We know that as the King and the Princess of Wales have gone through this cancer journey together, they’ve very much been supporting each other behind the scenes. Well this is the ultimate show of support.”

William’s young family also joined Charles and Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the ceremony for the first time since last year’s Trooping the Colour, which proved to be a prime opportunity to analyze the state of the royal vibes.

“You can see the difference in Kate’s smile, which becomes evidently wide, as William looks straight in her eyes whilst they exchange communication on the balcony,” mindset coach and body language expert Noor Hibbert told HELLO!. “His eyes show care for his wife and this affectionate exchange demonstrates the deep and romantic bond between the two.”

Royal photograph James Whatling, who snapped the moment, concurred. “If you look, you can look at the minutiae of it, because you’re taking 20 frames a second and so it goes from a little look,” he told the publication, “and then Kate’s smile broadens, and it’s lovely, and it’s very much a welcome back.”

Whatling added, “They’re obviously a very strong unit.”

Father’s Day also passed without controversy, Kate sharing a photo she took of William and the kids with the caption, “We love you, Papa. Happy Father’s Day…G, C & L.”

When she first shared her diagnosis following “an incredibly tough couple of months” for their family, Kate paid special tribute to her husband. “Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance,” the 42-year-old said in her unprecedentedly candid video message, recorded on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

In a detailed June 14 update, Kate shared that she was “making good progress” but still had good days and bad.

“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months,” she explained. “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.”

In the meantime, William’s been fielding well-wishes and accepting cards and bouquets on Kate’s behalf while out and about. While he’s never been one to go into detail about his family’s personal business (in sickness or in health), he’s been ever ready with a reassuring, “We’re all doing well.”

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Kate shared in her latest missive that she’s been “blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement,” adding, “It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”

The Prince of Wales has also appreciated these public displays of empathy, the future king not minding a pick-me-up, either, amid such trying times.

“The double illness has placed enormous pressure on William, both as a parent and inheritor of the family business,” royal biographer and The Crown historian Robert Lacey told the magazine. “It has brought all kinds of challenges. He [has handled] it with calmness and lack of drama.”

And, Lacey added, “From what we know of their personal lives, for William and Kate, spending time with their children is the most precious and enjoyable thing they can do.”

Kate’s parents are also among the couple’s support system, William joining Carole and Michael Middleton at Royal Ascot on June 19. Close to his in-laws since his days courting their daughter while they were students at University of St. Andrews, at one point William took Carole’s hand as she freed the heel of her shoe from the grass at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Ahead of William and Kate’s 13th wedding anniversary April 29, a lifetime since they were co-eds in Scotland, royal biographer Robert Jobson called the milestone “a testament to not only their love, but also their unity.”

“I’m sure they’ll acknowledge their journey, knowing that their strength lies in being together,” the William at 40: The Making of a Modern Monarch author told HELLO! The ups and downs they have weathered together have cemented their bond, which is now unshakeable.”