As one of the most senior members of the Royal Family, the Princess of Wales typically completes more than 100 engagements in a normal year.
But 2024 has proven to be anything but normal for The Firm, and Kate’s recent appearances indicate she’s slowly looking to get back to work following her cancer treatment.
Over the weekend, the 42-year-old royal was pictured arriving at Crathie Kirk church near Balmoral with Prince William.
The Mail later revealed that 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.
The brief appearance came less than a week after the Princess of Wales hosted her first working meeting in more than nine months, marking the start of her slow and measured return to public duties.
Pictured: The Princess of Wales was driven by Prince William to Crathie Kirk near Balmoral yesterday.
Pictured: The Princess of Wales undertook one of her only solo engagements this year when she attended the Wimbledon men’s singles final in July 2024.
On Tuesday, the royals held a meeting at Windsor Castle with those involved in their ‘Early Years’ project, which delves into the crucial role that the first years of a person’s life play in the adult they become.
The Princess officially opened the Early Childhood Centre in 2021, but has been researching the topic for the past 10 years and is committed to highlighting the importance of the issues for the rest of her working life.
Kate was joined by members of her family team, as well as representatives from her Early Childhood Centre 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 of the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor this afternoon.’
It was the first meeting mentioned in the Court Circular since the Princess held a round table discussion of her Royal Foundation on 6 December last year.
Earlier this month, the future Queen bravely revealed she had completed chemotherapy and is now “focused on staying cancer-free” by releasing a touching new video of William and their three children.
In the family video, the Princess told viewers that her experience with cancer has taught her to appreciate the “simple but important things in life (…) of simply loving and being loved.”
The monarch then went on to briefly outline her plan to return to royal duties, acknowledging that she does not want to rush into things again.
Earlier this month, the Princess of Wales announced she had completed chemotherapy by posting this touching family video.
Pictured: The Princess of Wales is seen taking part in the Trooping the Colour procession in London in June 2024.
Pictured: The Princess of Wales at the Royal Foundation Early Years Centre launch event in January 2023
She continued: ‘Although I have completed chemotherapy, my road to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.
‘However, I look forward to returning to work and taking on some more public engagements in the coming months when I am able.
Prior to this, Kate made a fleeting appearance in an Instagram video to congratulate Team GB on their Olympic efforts, which was posted on her 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 shirt, added briefly: “Well done Team GB, you have been an inspiration to us all.”
Just weeks after King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer, his daughter-in-law revealed in an emotional message in March that he was also receiving treatment for the disease.
Since then, the mother of three has only been seen in public a couple of times, including at Trooping the Colour and the Wimbledon men’s singles final.
A beaming Princess of Wales sent a heartfelt message to British Olympians ahead of the end of the Paris Olympics, which formally closed last month.
The royal then went on to briefly outline her plan for returning to her royal duties, acknowledging that she doesn’t want to rush back into things.
Before appearing at Trooping the Colour in June, the royal issued a statement saying she hoped to attend the occasional event over the summer but urged the public to be patient with her as, like many cancer patients, she has “good days and bad days”.
After spending much of the year coming to terms with her diagnosis and undergoing constant chemotherapy, Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to delighted crowds, making a triumphant return to public life in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Ahead of the Wimbledon men’s singles final in July, officials had remained “hopeful” that Kate might feel well enough to present the trophies.
Fortunately, her hopes proved true and, in her role as patron of the All England Club, which hosts the annual tournament, the royal presented Alcaraz with 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 very well,” Kate told her. “Enjoy the victory.”
Earlier, Kate moved from the stands onto the pitch to present the trophies and shook hands with some of the ball boys who worked at the tournament.
Although no future public engagements have yet been announced, the Princess is reported to be hoping to attend Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.
However, she will not be accompanying her husband to the Earthshot Awards in Cape Town in November.