Princess Kate's Moment in the Spotlight

THE ROYAL MOM MADE A POWERFUL RETURN AT TROOPING THE COLOUR, RADIATING STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE ALONGSIDE HER FAMILY AS SHE CONTINUES TO UNDERGO CHEMOTHERAPY

- SIMON PERRY

Princess Kate had been out of the public eye for six months-an unprecedented absence for a modern royal-so when her carriage came into view on June 15 at Trooping the Colour, King Charles's official birthday parade, all attention was focused on the royal mom. Stepping out with her children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, Kate appeared both fragile and resilient as she continues chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. "She looked vibrant and mounted and dismounted the carriage without losing a step," says royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith. On the Buckingham Palace balcony, the Princess of Wales, 42, exchanged loving glances with her husband, Prince William, who turns 42 on June 21, and proudly reveled in her three children as the family of five struck a unified look in their coordinated ensembles. Her deepening bond with her father-in-law, King Charles, 75, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, was evident as they leaned in and chatted.

"She couldn't have picked a better moment to reappear in public," says Bedell Smith. "She didn't seem to stop smiling. She looked so happy to be there. It was spellbinding to watch her."

Just one day before her surprise appearance the palace did not confirm her attendance until June 14-the future Queen provided a heartfelt update on her health. In a personally written 239-word message, accompanied by a serene portrait taken under a tree near her Windsor home (see sidebar), Kate reassured the public that she is "making good progress" despite the challenges of chemotherapy. She candidly shared the ups and downs of her journey and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she has received. Yet, she cautioned, she is not "out of the woods."