Catherine Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has started 2025 with a slow ramp up of royal appearances that has delighted royal fans.
However, it has been revealed that her return to public duties will not be full-time and will not look the same as they did prior to her cancer diagnosis.
Balancing recovery with duties
Speaking to the Daily Mail, a source said that there was no ‘reset button’ that would be hit in January.
“What we will actually see is a slow continuation of the Princess balancing her recovery and her public-facing duties, as she outlined back in September [when she warned her recovery was still ongoing despite having completed her chemotherapy],” the source said.
Currently, there are no plans for Princess Catherine to join Prince William on the solo foreign visits he has planned.
However, she does plan to continue her work on her Early Years campaign, which promotes the importance of the first five years of a child’s development.
What royal events will Kate attend?
Similar to last year, Kate plans to attend the Trooping the Colour event which is one of the most important events in the royal calendar.
The event takes place in June.
She also plans to attend The Cenotaph event, which takes place on Remembrance Day, as she also did in 2024.
However, the source confirmed to the Daily Mail that her return to work is about pace.
“I think she would also prefer to confirm only when she is certain she can attend events, rather than get anyone’s hopes up and then have to pull out.”
Kate’s return to royal work
Following her diagnosis and recovery, we have seen Kate slowly increase her appearances at public-facing events.
On October 10, Kate made her official return to royal duties and took part in her first public-facing royal engagement since completing chemotherapy.
Alongside her husband, she visited the community of Southport after they were rocked by a horrific knife attack that injured 10, and killed 3.
The royal mother-of-three has had limited public appearances this year while undergoing cancer treatment. She attended Trooping the Colour, visited Wimbledon, and met a young cancer patient at Windsor Castle.
She also attended Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9, which she attended alongside her husband Prince William, King Charles III, and Princess Anne.
Only a day later, the 42-year-old attended a Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London. The annual event is held on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day and is the anniversary of the end of the First World War.
In September, the Princess of Wales confirmed that this year’s annual Christmas carol concert will take place at Westminster Abbey, for the fourth time.
The news was revealed in the Court Circular which is the official public record of the royal family’s engagements: “The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this morning held a Meeting at Windsor Castle,” an entry from September 24 read.
Only a week prior on September 17, the cancer survivor conducted a meeting related to her Early Years project, a campaign focused on ensuring all children grow up to be happy and healthy adults.
Both meetings come shortly after Catherine shared an emotional three-minute video on social media confirming her health scare was behind her.
Featuring intimate and tender moments shared between the 42-year-old, her husband Prince William, and their three children, a voiceover from Catherine was overlayed with the footage where she discussed her experience with cancer in its entirety.
“The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant, and we’ve had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
She went on to explain how her diagnosis had ultimately reshaped her outlook on life, describing her cancer journey as “complex, scary, and unpredictable,” before revealing that she now had a “new perspective on everything.”
“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”
The royal then thanked her supporters from across the world who have shared their support: “Everyone’s kindness, empathy, and compassion has been truly humbling.”
While it is currently unclear when the Princess will return to her royal duties full-time, she did reveal that would “continue to take each day as it comes.”
“Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”
“I am looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
Given this, it is likely Kate will have a gradual return to public life and her royal duties in the months to come.
The update came after the royal made two surprise appearances at both Trooping the Colour in June and at Wimbledon in July.
Kate confirmed she was in the early stages of preventative chemotherapy in March after undergoing major abdominal surgery in January.
“We hope you understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment,” the princess penned in a heartfelt statement announcing the news at the time.
“My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.”
Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, a spokesperson for King Charles and Queen Camilla described their daughter-in-law’s latest health update as “wonderful news.”
“They do of course consider the details of the announcement to be wonderful news and will continue to offer love, thoughts, and support to the princess on her continued path to full recovery.”
Earlier this year a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace told the same publication that His Majesty was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.”
