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See the best photos from Kate Middleton’s emotional return to public service

Umito November 12, 2024

Following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year, Kate Middleton‘s gradual return to public life continued in a significant way on 9 and 10 November, when she participated in her first consecutive royal appearances during the year 2024. On 9 November, she joined the members of the royal family. , including a very protective Prince Williamfor the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall; the next morning, November 10, she stood next to Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh on the balcony of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a husband, King Charles and others laid wreaths at the Cenotaph war memorial in London.

While it’s not a full return to public royal work, it’s a step forward for the Princess of Wales, 42, exactly two months after announcing on September 9 that she had chemotherapy completed.

“My priority now is to do what I can to avoid cancer. Even though I have completed chemotherapy, my road to recovery and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” said she declared in a moving video message alongside Prince William, 42, and their children Prince George11, Princess Charlotte9, and Prince Louis6. “I do, however, look forward to returning to work and undertaking some additional public engagements in the coming months, when I am able.”

Two of these occasions took place for Remembrance events – here are the best photos from this poignant weekend.

Kate has never missed a Remembrance Sunday in her 13 years as a royal

Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London, on November 10, 2024.

TOBY MELVILLE/PISCINE/AFP via Getty

The Princess of Wales clearly appreciates the importance of Remembrance Sunday, a solemn ceremony takes place on the second Sunday of every November in the UK: she’s never missed a single year since marrying into the royal family in 2011. And 2024 was no exception, as Kate stood alongside Sophie , Duchess of Edinburgh, while King Charles paid his respects at the service. personnel of the British and Commonwealth armed forces who died in war or conflict.

“She is clearly a vital part of the royal family, very important both symbolically and in reality as a future queen,” said royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith. told people. “It was good for people to see her. You can’t say she’s back… but she’s coming back,”

Sophie places a protective and nurturing hand on Kate’s back

Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, stand from the balcony during the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England.

Chris Jackson/Getty

The royal family, from William at the Festival of Remembrance to Sophie at Remembrance Sunday, have been particularly tactile with Kate this weekend, including Sophie putting a caring arm on Kate on November 10.

Of William the night before at the Royal Albert Hall, Bedell Smith told PEOPLE: “He was putting his arm around her and being very protective. It ties into what he said about this year.” brutal”. I guess you can only imagine. that he had witnessed a pretty difficult situation for her, throughout this year.

“He’s not known for expressing his emotions in that way. It was caring and protective in a very understandable way. There was a reason behind it, she was going to a big event where she was going to be on display,” Bedell Smith said. adds. “There was an element of comfort in the way he carried himself.”

A minute of silence for those who lost their lives in war

Catherine, Princess of Wales, during the Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on November 10, 2024 in London, England.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Princess Kate — wearing a black coat dress with a velvet bow by Catherine Walker & Co., a favorite designer of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana – stood solemnly as the Westminster bell tolled at 11 a.m., signaling the start of a two-minute silence.

“Being a senior member of the royal family and participating in these ceremonies is obviously important to her,” Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE.

Kate appeared emotional at the Festival of Remembrance alongside William

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (2nd left), his wife Victoria Starmer, (left) Catherine, Princess of Wales (2nd right) and Prince William, Prince of Wales (right) attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9, 2024 in London, England.

Chris J. Ratcliffe – WPA/Getty Pool

After a difficult 2024, there is no doubt that Kate felt all the emotions on November 9, at the Festival of Remembrance, an annual event hosted by the Royal British Legion which honors the service and sacrifices of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

At the event, Princess Kate brought back her sapphire and diamond engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana after being away for most of 2024; she too honored her late mother-in-law wearing her Collingwood pearl earrings and another piece already in her jewelry box: her Nura pearl necklace from the British brand Monica Vinader.

Wear a red poppy pin at the Festival of Remembrance

Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9, 2024 in London, England.

Chris J. Ratcliffe – WPA/Getty Pool

Kate also carried a symbolic red poppy pin with her. Fleet Air Arm Pin. The Princess of Wales was announced as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm in 2023 and wore the golden winged pin with its poppy on Remembrance Sunday.

Every November, members of the royal family exercise red poppy pins in honor of Memorial Day, November 11, also known as Armistice Day and popularly known as Veterans Day in the United States. Since 1921, the poppy has been used to commemorate servicemen who died in combat, and the red flower is closely associated. with British and Commonwealth countries for Remembrance on November 11.

On Sunday, Kate wore three poppy pins affixed to her dress. While many royals only wore one, Kate’s choice to wear three had a deeper meaning: They honor her great-grandmother’s three brothers, all of whom died during the First World War, according to The daily mail.

Meaningful jewelry tributes abounded during Remembrance weekend

Catherine, Princess of Wales (right), arrives to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on November 9, 2024, as part of Remembrance Day commemorating the end of the First World War.

CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/POOL/AFP via Getty

Kate’s meaningful jewelry tributes didn’t stop there. On November 10, the Princess of Wales paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth wearing a pair of her Bahrain Pearl Drop Earringsa wedding gift given to the then Princess Elizabeth when she married Prince Philip in 1947. Kate also wore the ensemble to the late monarch’s funeral in September 2022.

In a nod to her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment, Kate also wore the Queen’s Dragoon Guards silver brooch on Sunday.

Looking ahead, Kate is next set to host her annual Christmas Carol Concert, which takes place every December at Westminster Abbey, as she continues to return to public life.