King ‘delighted’ by Kate’s resolution to attend Trooping the Colour

King Charles is ‘delighted’ by the Princess of Wales‘ brave decision to attend the Trooping the Colour as she continues to battle cancer.

Kate, 42, who revealed back in March that she was undergoing ‘preventative chemotherapy’ for an undisclosed form of the disease, released a candid statement today saying she is making ‘good progress’ in her treatment.

The Princess will not be returning to public duties full time, but said she does now feel well enough to undertake a small number of public engagements in the coming months, including attending the King’s official birthday parade tomorrow.

The King is ‘delighted’ that his daughter-in-law will be joining the royal family at tomorrow’s events and is ‘much looking forward to all elements of the day’, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson has said. 

It is understood that Kate spoke to the King in advance about her attendance at tomorrow’s festivities.

Kate will be joined by her three children – Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, nine; and  six-year-old Prince Louis – in a carriage for the traditional procession to Trooping the Colour.

The Waleses will later gather with other royals on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the fly-past. 

The Princess is and remains the Colonel of the Irish Guards but under the circumstances, Lieutenant General James Bucknall is taking the salute on her behalf.

No10 and The Cabinet Office have been informed of The Princess’ decision to attend Trooping, and they have informed the opposition parties.

Asked how the princess was feeling, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘As she has said she is making good progress and is looking forward to joining the family tomorrow.

‘As she said in her message, and as anyone receiving chemotherapy will know, she has good days and bad days.’

Kensington Palace said it will be not commenting further on her treatment and how long it is expected to last.

The Princess penned a moving personal message today thanking the public for their support over her cancer diagnosis.

She revealed her treatment is ongoing and will be for several months to come. But Kate said she is experiencing ‘good days and bad days’ as she undergoes chemotherapy.

She has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes ‘to join a few public engagements over the summer’ she shared, but stressed: ‘I am not out of the woods yet’.

She said in her statement: ‘I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting.

‘But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

‘My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.’

She added: ‘I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.

‘I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.’

To mark the news Kensington Palace have also released a stunning new portrait of the princess taken at Windsor Castle this week by Matt Porteous showing her looking well and in a reflective mood. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also said it is ‘wonderful news’ that the Princess of Wales is to join the royal family at Trooping the Colour.

During a press conference at the G7 in Italy, he said: ‘It’s obviously wonderful, wonderful news. The whole country will be behind the Princess of Wales for her recovery.

‘I saw her statement earlier, I thought it was brave, I thought it was honest and I’m sure it will bring an enormous amount of comfort to so many other people who are grappling with similar health challenges, so I think she deserves enormous praise for what she said and it will be great to see her there tomorrow.’

It is thought that the Princess chose to dip back into the public spotlight for her first public appearance at Trooping because family is so important to her and she wanted to be there to support husband and children.

Sources have stressed that she should be continue to be allowed to live a ‘normal private life’, particularly while she recovers.

Her return to work is considered one of the first steps to regaining her strength.

The Mail exclusively revealed last month that the princess had been swamped with the thousands and thousands of cards, letters and gifts, many of them from people sharing their own personal stories.

She has taken the time to read as many as possible personally and has been ‘really touched’.