Princess Catherine QUEEN IN WAITING!

AFTER AN INCREDIBLY TOUGH YEAR, KATE EMERGES AS A POWERFUL FORCE WITHIN THE PALACE

- Kylie Walters

Dazzling in a crimson Givenchy gown and the Lover's Knot tiara, the Princess of Wales was the centre of attention at a state banquet at Windsor Castle on July 8. The formal dinner held to welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, on their three-day visit marked a significant milestone in Kate's recovery. It was the first time she had been seen in a tiara since November 2023, just weeks before her abdominal surgery and subsequent cancer diagnosis - a sign she has stepped back onto the international stage.

Throughout the evening, the princess, 43, charmed the guest of honour, with the president, 47, pulling out Kate's chair and giving her a cheeky wink during the toasts.

"It is so pleasing to see her back out in the public and looking so fabulous, given the health challenges that she has faced," communication and body language expert Dr Louise Mahler tells WHO. “Her smile to Macron, her eye contact while clinking glasses and her gentle touch of the hand - she has the ability, experience and charm to carry off almost any situation. Kate is a woman who is more than ready to take on the role of being the Queen.”

Hours earlier, it had been Kate and Prince William, 43, who were sent to greet the special visitors as they landed in the UK for the first state visit of an EU leader since Brexit, accompanying the couple on a carriage ride through the streets of Windsor before arriving at the castle.

Being chosen to take the lead during such a momentous occasion points to the couple’s growing power within the palace as they prepare to take on the greatest roles of their lives: becoming King and Queen.