Kate Middleton to make rare appearance in major update after 'rollercoaster' cancer battle
The Princess of Wales recently opened up about her cancer battle and is now set to greet French President Emmanual Macron and his wife Brigitte.
The Princess of Wales, Kate, is preparing for a significant role in the upcoming French state visit to the UK next week. Recently, she shared her journey through a 'rollercoaster' recovery from cancer treatment and its transformative effect on her life.
The princess will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte upon their arrival at RAF Northolt, alongside Prince William. The Royal couple will also accompany the King and Queen, as well as the French leader and his wife, for a carriage ride through Windsor on Tuesday.
It remains unconfirmed by Kensington Palace whether the princess will attend the state banquet in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall later that evening.
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Kate, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and announced her remission earlier this year, last graced a grand Royal dinner 20 months ago in November 2023, honoring the South Korean president.
Mr. Macron's two-day state visit, beginning Tuesday, marks the first hosted at Windsor Castle instead of Buckingham Palace in over a decade.
Adding a personal touch to the visit, the King and Queen will show the Macrons Fabuleu de Maucour, a 10 year old grey gelding gifted by Mr. Macron to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 to commemorate her Platinum Jubilee.
The horse, formerly part of the largely ceremonial French Republican Guard, was trained to carry the standard-bearer.
The Macrons will also have the opportunity to admire a sophisticated Charabanc carriage from the Royal Mews, a gift to Queen Victoria from King Louis-Philippe of France in 1844. They will also privately honor the late Queen by laying flowers at her tomb in St George's Chapel.
As Ranger of Windsor Great Park, Charles will extend an invitation to the president to tour the Windsor Castle Gardens, which include areas dedicated to nature restoration, biodiversity, and the expansive Great Park.
State visits, which leverage the soft power of the royals to bolster diplomatic relations abroad, will be relocated from Buckingham Palace to Windsor for the next few years due to ongoing refurbishment work at the London Royal residence that is beginning to impact the state rooms.
These arrangements are likely to set the precedent for US President Donald Trump's high-profile state visit in September, although much will hinge on security considerations for the US leader, who narrowly escaped an assassination attempt last year.
William and Kate are scheduled to meet Mr. and Mrs. Macron at RAF Northolt on Tuesday morning on behalf of the King before accompanying them to Windsor.
Charles and Camilla will officially welcome their guests on a Royal Dais erected on Datchet Road in the center of Windsor town, with the castle serving as a picturesque backdrop and gun salutes echoing from nearby Home Park.
The King, the Queen, the Waleses, and Mr. and Mrs. Macron will then partake in a carriage procession through the Berkshire town and along a section of the Long Walk leading to the castle.
A ceremonial welcome is set to take place in the castle's quadrangle, with Camilla, William, Kate, and Mrs. Macron observing as King Charles III and President Macron review the Guard of Honor.
Following this, a luncheon will be held in the State Dining Room. Post-lunch, the Macrons, along with the King, Queen, and other Royal family members, will explore a special exhibition featuring French-related items from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room.
The Macrons are also scheduled to visit London on Tuesday afternoon, where they will pay their respects at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, tour the Palace of Westminster, and meet opposition leaders at Lancaster House. Both the King and President Macron are expected to deliver speeches at a banquet on Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday, the Macrons will join Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria for lunch at Downing Street, ahead of a UK-France summit at Number 10 on Thursday.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who paid a state visit to France in September 2023, share a warm relationship with the Macrons, who will be staying at the castle during their visit.
Despite undergoing treatment for cancer, the King has maintained a busy schedule, recently completing a series of engagements in Scotland for Royal Week.
During a visit to the RHS's Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday, Kate discussed her recovery struggles. She had participated in the Qatari state visit last December, joining the Emir at Horse Guards Parade with William, attending the ceremonial welcome, lunch, and the Picture Gallery exhibition.
