It's Official: Kate Middleton Will Attend Trooping the Colour in Her First Public Appearance in 6 Months

The Princess of Wales is expected to ride in a horse-drawn carriage and appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony as part of King Charles' birthday parade

Kate Middleton will attend Trooping the Colour on June 15, marking her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis and her first official outing since Christmas.

On June 14, the Princess of Wales, 42, confirmed in a personal letter that she will join the royal family for King Charles' birthday celebration in London this weekend.

"I'm looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet," Kate wrote.

Kate is expected to ride in a horse-drawn carriage for the procession down The Mall with her children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — and watch the parade from the Major General's Office. Kate will then appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with King Charles, Prince William and more as the family gathers to watch the Royal Air Force's flypast over the city.

Kate's letter also revealed new details about her cancer treatment.

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," she said. "On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."

"My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months," she continued. "On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home. I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet. I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal. Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me."

The message also came with a new photo of Kate taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor, where she lives with Prince William and their three children. The snap shows the princess outdoors and dressed down in jeans as she folds her arms and gazes towards the sky.

Princess Kate has remained out of the public eye since revealing on March 22 that she was undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer following her January abdominal surgery. Her attendance at Trooping the Colour will mark the first time she stepped out for a royal event since December when she took part in the family's traditional Christmas Day church outing.

Kate has attended Trooping the Colour every year since marrying Prince William in 2011, except for 2020 and 2021 when the event was scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related: See Prince William's Response When Veteran Asks If Kate Middleton Is 'Getting Any Better' amid Cancer Treatment

On May 30, the palace announced that Princess Kate would not attend the Colonel's Review on June 8, the final rehearsal that took place one week before Trooping the Colour. She is the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, who are leading the charge in this year's birthday celebration for the monarch (only one flag can be trooped at a time, so the five regiments of the Foot Guards rotate annually). Lieutenant General James Bucknall, a former Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, took the salute at the practice event in the royal’s place.

The Princess of Wales sent a personal letter to the Irish Guards sharing her "apologies” for missing the event.

"I wanted to write and let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel's Review and Trooping of the Colour," she said. "I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate."

Kate continued, "Being your colonel remains a great honor, and I am very sorry that I'm unable to take the salute at this year's Colonel's Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved."

The Princess of Wales signed her name as "Colonel Catherine.”

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Kate was recently spotted out with her family as well as running errands solo, sources told PEOPLE, and Prince William said last month that his wife is "doing well." However, palace sources said she is not expected to return to her royal work until she has been given the all-clear to do so by her medical team.

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