Kate Middleton will join the Royal Family at two significant Remembrance events this weekend, Buckingham Palace have confirmed today.
Kate had always intended to join the Royal Family at the Cenotaph for the National Service of Remembrance this Sunday if she felt well. Today, the Palace confirmed she will attend the ceremony, adding that we’ll see the Princess at Saturday’s Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, too.
This is positive news for royal watchers and Kate fans, who had not expected the Princess to attend the evening event.
The Festival of Remembrance is an annual event held by the British Royal Family and the Royal British Legion to honour and remember those who have served and sacrificed in the British Armed Forces. The Festival includes musical performances, military displays, and personal stories from veterans and families of service members, culminating in a poignant moment of remembrance with the poppy drop—a shower of red poppy petals symbolising lives lost in conflicts.
Kate has attended the Festival of Remembrance annually since 2015, except for 2020 when the event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year will be her 10th appearance.
The National Service of Remembrance is a solemn annual ceremony held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London, to honour British and Commonwealth military personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. It takes place on Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November), and is a central part of the UK’s Remembrance Day commemorations.
The service includes a two-minute silence at 11 a.m., wreath-laying by members of the Royal Family, senior political figures, and representatives from the armed forces, and prayers for peace and remembrance. Veterans and members of the armed forces also participate in a march past the Cenotaph. The event draws large crowds and is watched by millions on television, serving as a moment of collective respect and reflection across the nation.
This year will be Kate’s 14th consecutive appearance at the ceremony. She’s attended every year that she’s been a working royal. (In 2020, the government put on a socially distanced event.)
Kate’s two appearances this weekend reflect her steady return to royal duties after spending much of 2024 out of the spotlight. Kate’s kept a low profile this year following surgery in January, her subsequent cancer diagnosis, and treatment throughout the summer.
In September, the Palace confirmed the Princess had completed her course of preventative chemotherapy. They emphasised that she’d continue on light duties for the foreseeable future. Since, Kate’s conducted two public engagements, both in October, fitting around her children’s school holidays (she rarely conducts public duties during school holidays).
This weekend’s appearances signal a measured continuation.
Earlier this week, Royal biographer Robert Jobson gave an exclusive interview with Hello! magazine, offering insights into how Kate may approach her responsibilities in the coming months. Jobson indicated that while her schedule will remain limited, Kate is expected to adopt a “less is more” approach, ensuring each appearance has maximum impact.
It’s expected Kate will carefully select engagements, undertaking projects that mean a lot to her as she gradually resumes her role.
Jobson also said that he understands Kate is “doing well” and has even resumed visits to the gym—an encouraging sign of her progress.
Earlier this week, Prince William confirmed Kate’s doing “really well”, noting that the Princess has “been amazing” throughout the last year.
The Prince has been in South Africa for the Earthshot Prize, speaking with the press during the visit. He described 2024 as “one of the hardest years” of his life, following his wife and father’s cancer diagnoses.
Kate has remained at home with her three children this year. She’s attended the glitzy red carpet event with the Prince in the past. Prince William confirmed his wife was cheering him on from home.
As Kate makes her gradual return to public duties, Jobson has another interesting insight for us. He believes, health permitting, Kate might resume overseas travel in 2025, with carefully chosen visits designed to maximise visibility while minimising strain. Perhaps we’ll see William and Kate undertake their postponed visit to Italy? The pair were meant to visit in the spring. That would be fun for us royal watchers.
Have a great weekend, I’ll be back with Remembrance coverage on Saturday and Sunday. If you’re not already, do sign up to my email newsletter and the link will hit your inbox once I’ve clicked ‘publish’.
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