KATE BACK AT WORK TO PREPARE FOR XMAS CONCERT

THE Princess of Wales showed her determination to return to work after her cancer ordeal as she planned for her Christmas carol concert yesterday.

- Emily Ferguson

In the most positive indication yet that Kate, 42, is returning to good health, she held her second official meeting of the year just a week after her first was made public.

Royal commentators called the meeting "a very good sign she is battling back to full fitness". After spending the weekend in Balmoral, Kate returned to Windsor and is understood to have discussed plans for her annual festive concert at Westminster Abbey.

The Princess revealed this month she had finished chemotherapy and hoped to undertake "a few more public engagements in the coming months". This was followed by her first official meeting at Windsor Castle on Tuesday last week on her early years project.

Both meetings were noted in the court circular the official record of past royal engagements and yesterday's entry read: "The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this morning held a Meeting at Windsor Castle."

No photos have been shared by Kensington Palace aides but it is understood Kate was joined by members of her team and representatives from the Royal Foundation to discuss plans for the 2024 carol service. It will be the fourth year she has hosted the event, which ITV will screen on Christmas Eve.