Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has officially made her return to the public scene after a long absence linked to chemotherapy. This Thursday, she appeared alongside her husband, Prince William, during a very symbolic visit to Southport, in the northwest of England, a place marked by a tragic attack that cost the lives of three little girls last July.
This trip represented their first public outing since the end of the princess’s treatment, thus marking a key moment in the resumption of her royal commitments. The royal couple visited to “show their support for the local population”, according to a press release from Kensington Palace.
Meeting with families
During their visit, the princely couple first met the families of the three victims in a private setting, far from the cameras, as well as the dance teacher who was present during the attack. The two then spoke with rescue workers, including firefighters, police officers and paramedics, who shared their experiences during this tragedy and discussed the repercussions on their mental health.
According to the palace, Prince William, particularly sensitive to these subjects due to his past as a helicopter-ambulance pilot, was very attentive to the stories of the rescuers. He expressed his support for them by calling them “heroes” and encouraging them to “take care” of themselves.
“Can’t wait to get back to work”
For her part, the Princess of Wales, dressed in a long brown coat, warmly thanked the teams present by hugging them. “They are grateful for all the support you have given,” she told them, speaking of the victims’ families, according to the Press Association agency.
This appearance by Kate Middleton comes after several months of media absence. In September, she publicly announced via a video posted on social media that she had completed chemotherapy. She also expressed her desire to gradually resume her royal activities, saying that she was “looking forward to returning to work and undertaking public activities in the coming months when (she) can”.