On a bench, in sunshine: how Kate dropped her bombshell

There was no carpet of roses outside Windsor Castle last Saturday, no bunches of daffodils blocking the entrance to Kensington Palace - just an occasional bouquet.

- James Tapper, Kevin Rawlinson

The royal family wanted things to be business as usual after the Princess of Wales revealed her cancer diagnosis the day before, and the public has been keen to oblige.

Tourists watched the changing of the guard at Windsor, while visitors in London trooped into Kensington Palace to see the regalia of past monarchs. Little more than a year after the death of the Queen, King Charles is focusing on his own cancer struggle.

The Prince of Wales is caring for his wife and their three children, and there is no sign of an end to William's estrangement from Prince Harry.

Among the more junior royals, Sarah, Duchess of York, is also dealing with cancer, while the public is reminded of Prince Andrew's past behaviour by two new films. The king's optimism about reinventing the royals as a modernised monarchy could be soured by a string of anni horribiles.

The royal household will be heartened by the well-wishers at the royal residences. At Kensington Palace, Terry Jackson, who had come to visit from his home on the Fylde coast in Lancashire with his granddaughter Ellie, said it was shame Kate had felt the need to release the statement.