KATE'S RADIANT FUTURE

The princess' inner light is shining brighter than ever as she builds on her comeback following cancer

- NICI DE WET

ACROSS the UK winter has come down hard, a polar blast dubbed the “beast from the east” sending temperatures plummeting and dumping snow across the country.

But when the Princess of Wales stepped out of a black car on a freezing night, it was as if a ray of sunshine had fallen from the stormy heavens. There she was at her dazzling best, flashing her megawatt smile, hair in bouncy waves, svelte frame in a gorgeous green velvet gown by German luxury brand Talbot Runhof.

The jewellery was on point too: Greville diamond chandelier earrings - once a favourite of the late queen - sparkling in her lobes, the Queen Mary choker bracelet reserved for ultra-special outings glinting at her wrist.

The occasion was the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, one of the highlights on the royal entertainment calendar - and the first time Kate had attended since 2023.

This time last year she was in the throes of fighting cancer, a battle that has made her limit her public appearances - and make the ones she does attend all the more special.

"Our queen is back," a fan remarked afterwards.

And no one could've been happier about it than her husband, who kissed his wife's hand in a poignant private moment before they got out of the car.

And then it was on to greeting a lineup of special guests waiting in the foyer of the hall - although one encounter in particular grabbed headlines.

Waiting beside actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry was pop singer Jessie J, who has been on her own journey with cancer and had a mastectomy in June.

When it came to her turn to greet Kate, Jessie - one of the performers on the night - eschewed the traditional handshake and went in for a hug.