Kate Middleton’s Trooping the Colour Appearance Was Tough on Her Health Amid Cancer Treatment

Royal fans were elated when Kate Middleton attended this year’s Trooping the Colour—in full Eliza Doolittle My Fair Lady regalia, no less. But while it’s always a treat to see the Princess of Wales with a smile on her face and spending time with her kids, royal expert Katie Nicholl told Entertainment Tonight that there were moments during the festivities that showed that Kate isn’t as “strong” as she was before she was diagnosed with cancer.

Nicholl started by explaining just how much planning had to be done in order to have Kate at the event. She noted that Kate has always had the ability to appear graceful and nonplussed, but that this weekend, there was an underlying “frantic” vibe.

“The princess has this sort of swan-like quality about her—she’s sort of gliding on the surface—but beneath the water, I think often she’s paddling quite frantically,” Nicholl shared. “I can only imagine that a huge amount of preparation and time and effort and energy will have gone into Saturday’s appearance.”

Speaking about a specific moment that showed a slight crack in Kate’s veneer, Nicholl noted that the princess took a well-deserved seat during the event.

“She was on her feet for a long period of time,” Nicholl continued. “There was a moment where she was watching the parade…and was offered a seat, which she gratefully accepted. That’s just a bit of an acknowledgment that she is not as strong, not as fit, as she was before she went into this treatment.”

The royal insider noted that Kate’s black-and-white outfit was the picture of perfection, saying that “if you didn’t know that she was going through cancer treatment, you would never have guessed.” And while everything appeared to go off without a hitch, she added that there was undoubtedly immense pressure for Kate and the royals, who knew that every detail of her appearance would be scrutinized.

“I think a day like Saturday, where she knows the eyes of the world are on her, there is a huge amount of scrutiny that will take its toll,” Nicholl said. “I think we can probably imagine that she probably had a long and well-deserved rest afterwards. I don’t think we can expect to see her in public for a little while. That’s going to take some recovery from.”

Nicholl finished by clapping back at any naysayers that suggested Kate stepped out against her will and that the Firm wanted her to show face to shut down rumors and conspiracies. Nicholl insists that nobody can make Kate do anything that she doesn’t want to and that the choice to appear at the Trooping the Colour was hers. Of course, her family supported the decision and the rest is history.

“There was no pressure on her from anyone. She really wanted to do this,” Nicholl explained. “She turned a corner in her treatment…When she turned that corner, I was told that Trooping was a goal for her. She was given the sign-off by her medical team. She spoke to her father-in-law about attending and to Prince William. They were fully behind her.”