Royal return
End of the “great gap”: Kate reunited with royals
Prince William and Princess Kate on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their children Prince George (from left to right), Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. Photo
© Alberto Pezzali/AP/dpa
It is actually the King’s special day, but Kate steals the show from her father-in-law. “We have our princess back,” the British cheer. But real everyday life is still a long way off.
It was probably the 173 longest days in the recent history of the Royal Family. For the first time in almost half a year, Princess Kate appeared in public again. At the official birthday parade of King Charles III, her father-in-law, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William stood out not only because of her sparkling white costume.
Her cancer, for which she is receiving chemotherapy, seemed far away. Smiling and waving, the 42-year-old appeared with the core of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
“We have our princess back,” cheered royal fans. Commentators were full of praise. Kate and the king, who is also being treated for cancer, stood close together on the balcony – a clear symbol in the choreographed world of the royals.
“Side by side and smiling for the history books,” wrote Sunday Times royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam told The Sun that it was a “picture of absolute solidarity.”
“Tonic for Great Britain”
Ultimately, however, it was Kate who was in the spotlight, not her father-in-law, whose 75th birthday last November was officially celebrated with the traditional “Trooping the Colour” parade. The “Telegraph” columnist Allison Pearson even assigned Kate a role of national importance: “The Princess of Wales’s selfless performance was the tonic that Britain needed. While lesser mortals would have stayed at home, Catherine proved that the show goes on.”
Kate’s return is an important milestone for the royal family in a year that threatened to become another plague year. The fact that Kate and Charles, two of the most important royals, were absent for months and their health suddenly became the focus of speculation and conspiracy theories put a strain on the family.
The current appearance of the nuclear family – with Charles’ wife Queen Camilla and Kate and William’s three children – shows for many: The “Catherine-sized hole” in the royal family has been filled again and Kate, née Catherine Middleton, is back “where she belongs”, wrote the “Telegraph”.
But returning to the balcony does not mean a return to everyday life. Kate made that clear in her personal message, in which she surprisingly announced her participation on Friday evening. She was not out of the woods yet, she stressed. She was still being treated. Whether and when the show will really continue – i.e. whether Kate will make further “official outings” such as receptions or visits to charities – will be decided calmly and in close consultation with her doctors.
A good day for the Royals
Kate had stressed that she had good days and bad days. Saturday seemed like a good day. Together with her children Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (9) and Prince Louis (6), Kate was driven in a closed carriage the short distance from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade parade ground. All four were in good spirits and waved to onlookers, as a dpa reporter observed. Even the weather played along: the sometimes heavy rain always stopped at the right moment and the sun came out.
Spectators along the Mall were enthusiastic. How did Kate look? “I think she looked pretty good,” said a 34-year-old wearing a large Union Jack hat who had traveled from Belgium to the dpa. “But I think she’s wearing a poker face.” Because no one knows how she’s really feeling? “Yes. But it’s very nice to see her here at the parade.”
In contrast to his daughter-in-law, Charles has been attending official appointments again for several weeks and recently even traveled to France for the D-Day commemoration. On Saturday, Charles and Camilla were also driven to the parade ground in a carriage. The monarch watched the procession from a covered platform. Last year, he had watched the ceremony from horseback.
Prince Louis dances
This time, heir to the throne William and Charles’ siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward were in the saddle. Kate and her children watched the parade from a balcony. Prince Louis, who is known for his grimaces, was in a particularly good mood and danced to the marching music.
At “Trooping the Colour” numerous soldiers march in red guard uniforms and bearskin hats. The name refers to the presentation of the flags of the participating regiment, also known as “colour”. The ceremony probably originated during the reign of King Charles II (1660 – 1685). In 1748 it was decided that the parade would celebrate the king’s official birthday.
But it wasn’t just the royals who were cheering. Near Buckingham Palace, members of the Republic organisation demonstrated for the abolition of the monarchy. On yellow flags they demanded “Down with the crown” and emphasised: “Not my king”.