The Princess of Wales and King Charles III were reunited on the Buckingham Palace balcony today for the first time since they both began cancer treatment.
Kate joined members of the Royal Family to watch a spectacular flypast by the RAF as she made a triumphant return to public life at Trooping the Colour.
And in a sweet gesture from the monarch, Kate stood next to Charles – a change from last year’s arrangement when her husband Prince William was next to him.
The flypast began as senior royals came out on to the balcony – with Charles and Camilla followed by Kate and William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis. Kate then leant over to speak to Charles, who laughed at something she said.
They were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with the family smiling and waving to crowds before standing proudly as the national anthem was played.
Kate’s appearance had been in doubt after she missed the final Trooping rehearsal last weekend, with confirmation that she would attend only given at 6pm yesterday.
But with the King also suffering from cancer, today’s spectacle of military pomp and pageantry became a symbolic statement by the monarchy after much uncertainty.
Scotland Yard had a ‘substantial’ policing operation in place, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound.
Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers were deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of those watching, with tens of thousands gathered.
William and Kate with their children next to Charles and Camilla at Buckingham Palace today
(From left) Prince George, Prince William, Prince Louis, Kate, Princess Charlotte, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Sophie, Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor and Princess Anne today
William and Kate smile at each other on the Buckingham Palace balcony in London today
Prince William and Kate attend Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in London today
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace
Prince Louis, the Princess of Wales and Charlotte on the Buckingham Palace balcony
King Charles, Queen Camilla and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony
Crowds watch the Red Arrows fly over The Mall at the end of Trooping The Colour today
Prince William and Kate smile at each other on the balcony, alongside their three children
The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour this afternoon
Members of the Royal Family look up at the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony
Members of the Royal Family wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony in London today
The royals watch the Red Arrows fly over The Mall at the end of Trooping the Colour today
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony
Prince William, Kate and their three children wave at crowds during Trooping the Colour
Members of the Royal Family stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony in London today
Prince William and Kate attend Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in London
Members of the Royal Family wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony in London today
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony
Prince Louis wipes his eye while standing on the Buckingham Palace balcony in London
Members of the Royal Family stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony in London today
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony today
Members of the Royal Family wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony in London today
Royal Family members smile on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London today
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony today
King Charles and Queen Camilla speak to each other on the Buckingham Palace balcony
Prince William speaks to Prince Louis during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony this afternoon
Members of the Royal Family watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony today
Royal Family members smile on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London today
Prince William speaks to Prince Louis during the Buckingham Palace flypast in London today
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony this afternoon
Earlier, the 42-year-old Princess of Wales beamed and waved as she and her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were cheered by crowds on The Mall in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Kate was surrounded by other members of the family – with her husband Prince William , Colonel of the Welsh Guards, on horseback, along with Princess Anne , Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and Prince Edward , Colonel of the Scots Guards.
After spending much of the year coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy, Kate looked relaxed as she travelled along one of London’s most famous thoroughfares with her family in the glass state coach.
The family were first seen arriving at Buckingham Palace in a car at 10am, with George sitting between Kate and William, and Charlotte and Louis opposite.
King Charles III also rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, a departure from last year because of his illness, and he inspected the officers and guardsmen on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall from the coach rather than from a horse.
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today
Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour in London today
Kate with George and Charlotte this afternoon, in front of Sophie and Lady Louise Windsor
Soldiers on the Mall during Trooping the Colour on the way to Buckingham Palace today
The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today
Audience members watch the Trooping the Colour parade in London today
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour in London today
Soldiers at the Trooping the Colour parade at Horse Guards Parade in London today
Kate arrives with Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Horse Guards Parade today
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace dafter Trooping the Colour in London
Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Trooping the Colour on The Mall in London today
Prince William, Prince Edward and Princess Anne on horseback at Trooping the Colour today
Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis watch Trooping the Colour today
The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today
Royal fans wait in heavy rain on the Mall for the return of the royal procession today
Kate with Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte in the rain this afternoon
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty during Trooping the Colour today
Prince Louis tries to open a window while watching Trooping the Colour this afternoon
The Princess of Wales gets out of the royal carriage at Horse Guards Parade today
Soldiers on the Mall during Trooping the Colour on the way to Buckingham Palace today
Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for Trooping the Colour in London this morning
Kate was greeted by a sea of faces as the royal party turned from The Mall into Horse Guards Parade, with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence together in a carriage, while the Duchess of Edinburgh travelled in a coach with her daughter Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and the Duke of Kent.
The royal party were in the midst of a sovereign’s mounted escort, formed by troops from the Household Cavalry’s Life Guards and Blues and Royals.
In the rear rank was Tennyson, one of the five horses injured when they ran through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise.
In a change from last year, Kate did not join senior family members on a dais, but watched the spectacle from the Duke of Wellington’s former office with her children.
Kate stood beside her children as the regiments, in red ceremonial dress, continued to parade. She could be seen whispering in the ear of Charlotte as the band played.
Prince Louis at Trooping The Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London today
The Princess of Wales speaks with Prince Louis as they watch Trooping the Colour today
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today
The Princess of Wales leaves Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London today
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London today
Kate arrives at Horse Guards Parade today as Trooping the Colour takes place
King Charles III during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade today
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate at Trooping The Colour today
Soldiers at the Trooping the Colour parade at Horse Guards Parade in London today
Royal fans wait in heavy rain on The Mall for the return of the royal procession today
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend Trooping the Colour in London today
Members of the Coldstream Guards band take part in Trooping the Colour today
Prince Louis looks on during Trooping the Colour in London this morning
The Princess of Wales, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte travel along The Mall today
The Trooping the Colour parade today which celebrates the official birthday of the monarch
