A year of health problems characterised 2024 for Princess Kate, as she stepped back from public view to undergo abdominal surgery in January, leading to the announcement in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
So far this year, the princess has made only two official public appearances, both of which took place over the summer.
In June, Kate attended Trooping the Colour festivities to mark King Charles III’s official birthday in London. The event was her first public engagement of the year and her first since she was diagnosed with cancer.
The second appearance took place in July, where, as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Kate attended the Wimbledon men’s singles final with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister, Pippa Matthews.
Will Warr/The Prince and Princess of Wales
Ahead of her appearance in June, Kate gave an update on her chemotherapy treatment, saying that while it would last several months, she was not yet “out of the woods.” She hoped to start working more from home in addition to her appearances, she said.
On September 9, Kate posted a second, more in-depth update, happily explaining that she had completed treatment and was now focused on staying “cancer-free.”
Fans eager to see more of Kate as she begins to make further progress in her recovery have been told she is “looking forward to returning to work and undertaking a few other public engagements in the coming months.”
While any small appearances or engagements are likely to be announced at short notice, to allow Kate to determine how she feels at the time, there are two large-scale royal celebrations coming up that fans will likely see the princess take part in next.
Remembrance Sunday
Every November, members of the British Royal Family come together with members of the government and the armed forces to commemorate and honour the men and women who have lost their lives serving their country on active duty.
Remembrance Sunday takes place on the second Sunday of every November in Britain, close to Armistice Day (11 November), the day fighting in the First World War ended.
In London, the day is commemorated with a special ceremony at the national war memorial in Whitehall, known as the Cenotaph. Charles, Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward each lay a wreath of poppies at the Cenotaph during a religious service, alongside senior government and military officials.
Queen Camilla, Kate and other female and non-military members of the royal family watch the events from the balconies of nearby government buildings.
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Kate attended these events for several years during her marriage, and it is one of the major ceremonial events in the royal calendar.
Kate is reportedly set to attend this year’s ceremonies.
Christmas carols
Another major royal event coming up this year is the annual Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey every December.
Kate founded the service in 2021 to bring people together and recognise those who have contributed to national life during the COVID pandemic.
The ceremony included musical performances and celebrity readings and was filmed and broadcast on Christmas Eve in Britain.
Several members of the extended royal family have attended the ceremony over the past three years. In 2022, the event was dedicated to the memory of Queen Elizabeth II and was attended by Charles and Camilla.
The event is set to take place this year, with Kate retaining her role as the spearhead of the theme and direction.
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James Crawford-Smith is Newsweekroyal journalist, based in London. You can Find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on NewsweekThe Royals Facebook page.
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