Kate, the Princess of Wales, made a rare public appearance on Sunday as she joined her family and other senior royals for a church service at Crathie Church in Scotland. The 42-year-old royal was spotted in the passenger seat of a car driven by her husband, Prince William, with their eldest son, Prince George, in the back seat.
This outing marks one of the few public appearances Kate has made this year as she continues her recovery from treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. The Princess has been largely absent from royal duties since her diagnosis was announced in March, focusing on her health and spending time with her family. Prior to this, she was seen at Trooping the Colour and Wimbledon, her first public engagements since her diagnosis.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were also seen en route to the service, along with other senior royals, including Prince Edward, who traveled in a separate vehicle. Upon their arrival, King Charles was greeted by a guard of honor made up of pipers from the Scottish Balaklava company, a longstanding tradition for the Royal Family during their stays at Balmoral.
Crathie Kirk, a historic place of worship for the royals, has been closely associated with the family for over a century. It holds particular significance, as it was the site of a private service for the Royal Family following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and also hosted a Sunday service in 1997 after the passing of Princess Diana.
In a statement released ahead of her appearance at Trooping the Colour in June, Kate spoke candidly about her ongoing battle with cancer. “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said. “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.”
Fans are happy, yet concerned about Kate’s health:
Kate’s recovery is ongoing, and she has taken the summer to focus on her health and her family, spending personal time with Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Princess of Wales remains committed to her royal duties and is slowly beginning to re-engage with public life as her health permits.
