More Kate Middleton Appearances Aren’t Coming Soon Despite Looking ‘Very Much Like Her Old Self’ Near Balmoral, Expert Says
Kate Middleton quietly made a public appearance over the weekend, but an expert says that doesn’t mean more from the Princess of Wales, 42, soon. Sure, she looked “very much like her old self,” however, her “priority” remains the same: her health.
Kate Middleton went to church with other British royals near Balmoral on Sept. 22
On Sept. 22, 2024, cameras spotted Kate on her way to a Sunday service at Crathie Kirk, a church not far from the British royal family’s Balmoral estate in Scotland (via NBC News).
The appearance marked Kate’s first since she announced in a video earlier in the month she’d finished chemotherapy treatment and intended to resume some of her public duties. (Kate previously announced she’d been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in March.)
In the photos, Kate could be seen smiling and sitting in the passenger seat of a car. Meanwhile, her husband, Prince William, 42, sat behind the wheel. Theirs was one of multiple vehicles in a “convoy” transporting other royals to church. Among them were King Charles III, 75, who was also diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Queen Camilla, 77, was also there, among others.
The sighting of Kate heading to church came after she hit another post-cancer treatment milestone: her first official engagement. According to the Royal Circular published in the Times of London, Kate “held an Early Years meeting at Windsor Castle” on Sept. 17, 2024. (She, the Prince of Wales, and their three children live nearby at Adelaide Cottage.)
‘Seeing much more’ of Kate at public appearances isn’t expected as she prioritizes her health
The sighting of Kate on her way to church with fellow British royals shouldn’t have fans gearing up for official appearances just yet, according to Katie Nicholl, a royal author and expert.
Although Kate looked “very much like her old self” in the car with William by her side, Nicholl told NBC News, her health still remains the “priority.” As such, the author suspects Kate won’t make a flurry of public appearances soon.
“I think when it comes to important things, she will be there,” Nicholl said. “But her priority, as she has said, is her health[and] is staying cancer-free and not carrying out a packed schedule of events.”
Kate said in her Sept. 9, 2024, video that the “path to healing and full recovery is long.”
Kate is tapped to make public appearances in November and December
So, when can the world expect to get a glimpse of Kate at a big royal family occasion? Kensington Palace hasn’t confirmed any dates at the time of writing. However, some royal commentators are looking to November and December when two major events are on the Windsors’ calendar.
Kate’s reportedly hoping to attend the royal family’s annual Remembrance Day service in November and her Christmas concert in December.
“I know for a fact she’s planning to attend at least two. But there’s hope that certainly there will be more than two,” Cameron Walker, a GB News royal correspondent, said on “The Royal Record” podcast.
“Those two examples are the Cenotaph Remembrance Sunday service…in November; she very much hopes to go to that. And she has started, I understand, planning her annual carol concert at Westminster Abbey for the Christmas period in December.”
Noting those appearances are unconfirmed, Walker added any events for Kate’s childhood development initiative would also be “pretty high on her priority list.” For now, Kate’s most recent big public appearance remains at Wimbledon in July 2024.
