Did Kate Middleton subtly weigh in on the ongoing debate about when summer truly ends? The Duchess of Cambridge, who had seemingly taken a “summer break” following her dazzling appearance at Wimbledon in July, re-emerged in the public eye on Sunday. Accompanied by her husband, Prince William, their eldest son, Prince George, and her father-in-law, King Charles III, Princess Kate attended a church service in Scotland. This marked her first public outing with the family since her participation in the Trooping the Colour event in June.
As noted by the Telegraph, King Charles and Queen Camilla traditionally spend their summers in the scenic Scottish Highlands, with Balmoral Castle holding a special place as one of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s most cherished residences. This year, the Wales family planned to join them, marking Kate Middleton’s longest stay away from their Adelaide Cottage home since January, when a planned surgery led to the diagnosis of an undisclosed form of cancer. She has been undergoing treatment for the illness ever since.
Princess Kate was seen earlier this morning en route to Crathie Kirk, the parish church near Balmoral that serves as the royal family’s place of worship while in Scotland. She was dressed in a sophisticated camel coat and a feathered hat, sitting in the passenger seat of a Land Rover with Prince William at the wheel. Their son, Prince George, was seated in the back. Photos from the scene show Queen Camilla and King Charles—dressed in a traditional kilt—arriving in a separate vehicle. Both exited from the back seat, with Charles having also been treated for cancer this year.
Joining the family were King Charles’s brother, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Also present was Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth.
Unlike the highly orchestrated public events such as Wimbledon or Trooping the Colour, this church visit was a more private affair, free from posed photographs or formal greetings. Yet, this is precisely what makes Middleton’s presence so noteworthy. In June, she shared, “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.”
“On those bad days, you feel weak, tired, and you have to give in to your body’s need for rest. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.” Her participation in this quiet, family-focused event suggests that she is continuing to make progress in her recovery, and that her health is indeed improving.
