Did Kate Middleton just weigh in on the debate on when summer actually ends? The royal, who went on “summer break” after her show-stopping appearance at Wimbledon in July, stepped back into view Sunday. Along with husband Prince William, eldest son Prince George, and father-in-law King Charles III, Princess Kate attended a church service in Scotland today, her first day out with the family since her Trooping the Colour turn in June.
King Charles and Queen Camilla traditionally spend their summers in the Scottish Highlands, the Telegraph notes, as Balmoral Castle was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite homes. This year, the Waleses made plans to join them, marking Kate Middleton’s longest trip away from the family’s Adelaide Cottage home since a planned surgery in January led to the diagnosis of an undisclosed cancer. She’s been in treatment for the disease since.
The Princess was spotted this morning as she headed to Crathie Kirk, the Balmoral-adjacent parish church known as the royal family’s place of worship when they’re in town. Clad in a camel coat and feathered hat, she was seated in a Land Rover passenger seat, with William at the wheel. Their son, George, sat in back. According to photos taken at the scene, Camilla and a kilt-clad Charles—who was also treated for cancer this year—arrived at church in a second vehicle, both stepping out of the back seat.
They were joined by the king’s brother, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, also attended church with the family today.
The church outing wasn’t a choreographed public event along the lines of Wimbledon or Trooping the Colour, free of posed photos or a receiving line. But that’s what might make Middleton’s presence the most notable. “I am making good progress,” she announced in June, “but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.”
“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.” That she is doing well enough to expend some of her energy on a quiet, family event like a Sunday trip to church suggests that her progress is continuing, and the things are indeed looking up.
