Kate Middleton Returns to Commonwealth Day Service for First Time in 2 Years amid Cancer Recovery

Mar. 15, 2025

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales attends the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate Middletonis attending an important event on the royal family’s annual calendar for the first time in two years after scaling back her schedule in 2024 while undergoingtreatment for cancer.

Princess Kate was absent from last year’s church service on March 11, 2024, as she recovered from a"planned abdominal surgery"that she underwent in January of that year. It has since been revealed that she began chemotherapy treatment for cancer sometime in February.

At the time, Kensington Palace stated that Princess Kate was not expected to return to public duties “until after Easter,” which fell on March 30. However, on March 22, she appeared in a video message, sharing that she had been undergoing chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer following post-operative testing.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales and Prince William attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate then stepped away from the spotlight for most of the year to prioritize her health. She shared in September that shecompleted chemotherapyand said on Jan. 14 that she isin remission. Kate appears to be returning to royal work in full force, undertaking severalsolo engagementsandoutings with Prince Williamsince the start of the year.

“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead,” the Princess of Wales said in the January announcement about being in remission. “There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”

Her father-in-law, the King, also makes his return to the Commonwealth Day Service for the first time since 2023. The sovereign was unable to attend last March as the celebration fell just a few weeks after Buckingham Palace announced that he wasdiagnosed with cancerand commenced treatment.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales attends the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

King Charles resumed forward-facing work last April and has been busy ever since. Palace sources said before Christmas that his treatment for cancer wouldcontinue into the new year, moving in a “positive direction” and as a “managed condition.”

“His treatment has been moving in a positive direction and as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into next year,” sources said then.

Queen Camilla and King Charles attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day on March 10, 2025 in London, England.Chris Jackson/Getty

The Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration is the royal family’s first major event of the year, held at the venue where Prince William and Princess Kate wed in 2011.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary network of 56 nations, most formerly under British rule, of which King Charles is the ceremonial head. It exists to enrich the lives of its 2.7 billion citizens.

The theme of Commonwealth Day 2025 is “Together We Thrive” to celebrate the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family. It also marks the first time that Princess Kate and the King, 76, have respectively attended the Commonwealth Day Service since 2023 after missing it last year for health-related reasons.

source: people.com