She’s officially back!
The royal glamour quotient was in full force as Princess Catherine appeared in London for her first state visit since completing cancer treatment.
The 42-year-old joined Prince William and King Charles in welcoming the Emir of Qatar and his wife as part of their two-day state visit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday morning.
Catherine has made only a handful of public appearances since she was diagnosed with cancer in March and her appearance underscores the importance of the gas-rich gulf state, which invests billions in the UK and has the world’s third-largest reserves of natural gas, despite being smaller in size than Tasmania.
The royal couples then travelled to Horse Guards Parade in central London, where King Charles formally welcomed the Emir and Sheikha Jawaher to the UK as part of a visit that will include a trip to Westminster Abbey, a banquet at Buckingham Palace and a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
In a possible nod to the Qatari flag, the Princess rugged up in head-to-toe burgundy, from her matching hat, boots and coat dress by Alexander McQueen to her gloves and handbag, and accessorised with a pair of pearl-drop earrings and diamond clasp necklace, which both belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.
Unfortunately Queen Camilla had to pull out of Tuesday’s chilly outdoor events on medical advice and told guests at a palace lunch that she had suffered from a lingering chest infection that was a form of pneumonia, the Press Association reported.
Although the Queen no longer has pneumonia, she was suffering from post-viral fatigue and this was just the latest health challenge that has troubled the royal family this year.
However, Christmas is barely a month away and Prince and Princess of Wales plan to take it easy with a low key family celebration at Sandringham Estate.
The royal couple are reportedly tailoring the festivities around their three young children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – as Catherine prepares for her first Christmas since her battle with cancer began.
King Charles’ former butler, Grant Harrold, offered insight into William and Catherine’s festive plans, noting that the family aim to create a more positive atmosphere after a tough year.
“Last Christmas she was probably aware that something wasn’t quite right, so I imagine it was quite a tough Christmas,” he told the New York Post.
“(This year is going to be) more positive, based on what we’ve been told.
“It will be like any other Christmas, focused on the young family. They’re very family-orientated, like the late Queen, so that will be their focus.”
Harrold also revealed the royal couple and their children will likely arrive at Sandringham the day before Christmas Eve to begin the festive celebrations.
with AP.