Kate Middleton gives cancer treatment update and confirms public appearance – live

The former prime minister, 73, was made a Companion of Honour, which is given to those who have made notable contributions in the fields of government, the arts, science, or medicine.

Reacting to the news, he said: “I feel slightly embarrassed, as the opportunity to serve is an honour in itself and my preference has always been to recognise all those brilliant, unsung, local heroes who quietly and selflessly give their time to contribute to the vitality of our communities.

“I want to thank those who put my name forward and thank too my family and all who have worked with me during the last 50 years in public life to whom I owe everything.”

King Charles has expressed his happiness over news Kate Middleton will return to public duties at the Trooping the Colour parade.

The 75-year-old monarch is “delighted” that the Princess of Wales will be joining the royal family, said a Buckingham House spokesperson.

Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, has only just recently returned to public duty himself following treatment.

Kensington Palace has confirmed that Prince William will travel to Frankfurt, Germany next week to see England take on Denmark at the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match at Frankfurt Arena.

The Prince met with the team at St George’s Park, Staffordshire earlier this week to wish them good luck ahead of the tournament.

Following rumours that Kate was receiving treatment at a facility in Huston, Texas, the Palace denied that this was the case to the Huston Chronicle.

She announced her cancer diagnosis via a poignant video in March, where she revealed that she would remain out of the public eye for the foreseeable future as she undergoes “preventative chemotherapy.”

This comes following a statement from Kate updating the public on her cancer treatment and confirming her attendance.

ITV News’s royal editor Chris Ship wrote on Twitter (X): “Kate will attend the King’s birthday parade in a carriage with her 3 children. And be on the palace balcony with Prince William, King and Queen.”

The picture, shared on the official Kensington Palace Twitter (X) account, was taken this year by photographer Matt Porteous and features Kate looking up in an outdoor setting.

It reads: “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

“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.

“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.

“Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.”

Tomorrow will mark Kate’s first public appearance since Christmas Day last year.

Following the news that the Princess of Wales is “considering” an appearance at Trooping the Colour, a source close to Kate has claimed she won’t appear to avoid upstaging the king.

Should the Princess appear, it will be her first time in the public eye since Christmas last year. She stepped back from her role in January because of ongoing health concerns.

The source told the Daily Beast: “Kate’s appearance will steal King Charles’s show. She won’t take [the] risk to anger her father-in-law.

“It would be wonderful, of course,” they added, “but more than slightly bizarre given that she bowed out of the Colonel’s Review.”

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) revealed that they spent £59,662.70 on the 2021 event on transport, fuel, horse food and temporary accommodations.

However, the total was much higher as this is not every cost incurred by the parade, which marks the King’s official birthday.

A much more significant £28 million was set aside to cover the event and the then-Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations, which included four days of public events. An additional eight million was spent on security for the event by the Metropolitan Police.

Statista reports that the Sovereign Grant for this financial year is £86.3 million – the same amount allocated in 2022 and 2023.

According to reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are no longer working royals, were not invited to the King’s official birthday parade.

This was also reportedly the case last year, despite it being Charles’s first Trooping the Colour as King.

Royal expert Tessa Dunlop told the Mirror of last year’s event: “Prince Harry is not coming to the King’s inaugural Trooping of the Colour, when for the first time since 1986 Britain’s monarch will be mounted taking the salute.

“Whether Harry was invited or not (probably not why would you invite someone who was not going to attend?) is a moot point. Harry is no longer a working royal.

“Trooping the Colour is a job for our working royals. The key word there is ‘job’. Saturday will see them dressed up and on parade, doing what they do best, providing the military, which depends on its hierarchical structures, with a symbolic figurehead.”