How the Princess of Wales is making a slow return to the spotlight

How the Princess of Wales is making a slow return to the spotlight – from her first Early Years meeting in nine months to visiting Crathie Kirk church in Scotland

As one of the most senior members of the Royal Family, the Princess of Wales will typically complete over 100 engagements in a normal year.

But 2024 has proven to be anything but normal for The Firm – and Kate’s recent appearances indicate that she slowly wants to ease herself back into work following her cancer treatment.

Over the weekend, the royal, 42, was pictured arriving at Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral with Prince William.

The Mail later revealed the couple enjoyed a child-free getaway to the Royal Family’s estate in Scotland while Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis remained in Berkshire.

This brief appearance came less than a week after the Princess of Wales hosted her first work meeting in over nine months, which marked the start of her slow and measured return to public duties.

Pictured: the Princess of Wales was driven to Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral by Prince William yesterday

Pictured: the Princess of Wales was driven to Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral by Prince William yesterday
Pictured: the Princess of Wales made one of her only solo engagements this year when she attended the Wimbledon men’s singles final in July 2024

Last Tuesday, the royal held a meeting at Windsor Castle with those involved in her ‘Early Years’ project, which delves into the crucial role the first few years of a person’s life plays in the adults they become.

The Princess officially launched the Centre for Early Childhood in 2021 – but has been researching the subject for the past 10 years and has vowed to highlight importance of the issues for the rest of her working life.

Kate was joined by members of her household team as well as representatives from her Centre for Early Childhood at Kensington Palace.

It was formally recorded in the Court Circular, the official record of royal engagements, which read: ‘The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor.’

It was the first meeting noted in the Court Circular since the Princess held a round table of her Royal Foundation on December 6 last year.

Earlier this month, the future Queen bravely revealed she has completed chemotherapy and is now ‘focused on staying cancer-free’ as she released a touching new video of William and their three children.

In the family video, the Princess told viewers that her cancer experience has taught her to appreciate the ‘simple yet important things in life […] of simply loving and being loved’.

The royal then went on to briefly outline her plan to return to royal duties – acknowledging that she does not want to rush back into things.

Earlier this month, the Princess of Wales announced that she had completed chemotherapy by releasing this touching family video

Earlier this month, the Princess of Wales announced that she had completed chemotherapy by releasing this touching family video
Kate shares intimate glimpse into her family life in moving video

She continued: ‘Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

‘I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.

Before this, Kate made a fleeting appearance in an Instagram video to congratulate Team GB on their Olympics effort, which was posted on their official page.

In the short clip, Kate said: ‘From all of us watching at home congratulations to Team GB.’

The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB top, then briefly added: ‘Well done to Team GB you’ve been an inspiration to us all.’

Just weeks after King Charles announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer, his daughter-in-law revealed in an emotional message in March that she was also receiving treatment for the disease.

Since then, the mother-of-three has only been seen in public a handful of times – including Trooping the Colour and the Wimbledon’s men’s singles final.

A beaming Princess of Wales has sent a heartfelt message to British Olympians ahead of the end of the Paris Olympics , which will be formally closed last month

A beaming Princess of Wales has sent a heartfelt message to British Olympians ahead of the end of the Paris Olympics , which will be formally closed last month
Kate and Wills congratulate Team GB

The royal then went on to briefly outline her plan to return to royal duties – acknowledging that she does not want to rush back into things
Before appearing at Trooping the Colour in June, the royal released a statement saying that she hoped to attend the occasional engagement over the summer but urged the public to bear with her as, like many cancer patients, she has ‘good and bad days’.

After spending much of the year coming to terms with the diagnosis and receiving ongoing chemotherapy, Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to the delighted crowds – making a triumphant comeback to public life in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Thankfully, their hope proved to be right and in her role as patron of the All England Club, which hosts the annual tournament, the royal handed Alcaraz the champion’s trophy after the Wimbledon men’s final.

After leaving the court following the trophy ceremony, the princess and Alcaraz had a conversation in a room inside the tournament’s main stadium. ‘You played so well,’ Kate told him. ‘Enjoy the win.’

Earlier, Kate went from the stands down to the playing surface to present the trophies, and shook hands with some of the ball kids who worked at the tournament.

Although future public engagements have yet to be announced, the Princess does reportedly hope to attend Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.

However, she will not accompany her husband to his Earthshot Prize awards in Cape Town in November.