Kate Middleton's return was a 'big day for her' after 'difficult' two months, royal expert says

The jubilant cheers of "We've got our Princess back" echoed on Saturday, serving as testament to the public's joy.

While she's not back full-time and is still on the road to complete recovery, Catherine looked radiant, leading her small brood just behind the King and Queen.

For the young Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, this provided another milestone in what must be a perplexing period. They are adjusting to life under the public eye, but having their mother there to guide them through the formalities of such a significant event, helped to restore a sense of normality.

Trooping was an ideal occasion for Catherine to show up a revival of the grand ceremonial tradition Britain is famous for merges with a family gathering to honour the monarch. Even though the day officially belongs to the King, it's undeniable that Charles was pleased to allow his cherished daughter-in-law a share of the limelight.

Catherine demonstrated her dedication, not only to the monarchy but also to her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards. Despite her inability to attend their Trooping rehearsal, she sent a powerful message stating her hopes to represent them "very soon", reports the Mirror.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales on the balcony during Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace on June 15, 2024 in London, England.

This was the first hint that she might be well enough to make her presence felt at the ceremony itself.

The Princess surprised us all with her candid statement about her journey. Instead of a brief announcement that she would join the parade, she detailed how challenging the past few months have been for her.

She identified with others undergoing chemotherapy, discussing the good days and the bad ones when you feel weak and exhausted.

It's now known that she has managed to participate in school life when she feels well, and has even undertaken a limited amount of work from home. However, like others diagnosed with cancer, she recognises that the treatment comes with the uncertainty of not knowing how you will feel from one day to the next.

And, with honesty, she admits she is not "out of the woods" yet.

Her words will strike a chord with the hundreds of thousands of people in the UK battling cancer, many of whom have been sharing their stories with Catherine. Amidst all this, we mustn't forget that the King is still navigating his own cancer treatment.

Choosing to ride in a carriage instead of on horseback his concession to the disease and perhaps his age showed that for once, he was "doing as he was told". This is something his long-suffering wife Camilla has said she has been struggling with.

As the King and Queen followed by Catherine and her family stepped onto the Buckingham Palace balcony, the crowds roared in approval.

The Royals are bouncing back after a tumultuous start to the year. The King has been resolutely in the public eye during his treatment and is now undertaking a significant number of engagements.

The Princess is also demonstrating "making good progress" and may be able to participate in more events soon. Like her, we must remain patient as she recuperates and regains her strength.

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.