Princess Kate could have a “low pressure” return to public life, claimed a royal commentator.
Earlier this year Princess Kate revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer and took a step back from her royal duties to recover in private.
Last week, the Princess of Wales wrote that she hopes to be back in her public role representing the Irish Guards “very soon”.
Kate, 42, has not confirmed whether or not she will be making an appearance at this weekend’s Trooping the Colour.
Speculation over Princess Kate’s appearance has ran rife GettyThe Telegraph’s Royal Correspondent India McTaggart said she believes that Kate “could just do a balcony appearance” on Saturday as a way of returning.
Speaking on this week’s episode of The Royal Record podcast to Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker and Digital Royal Editor Svar Nanan-Sen, McTaggart explained: “If you’re weighing it up from a PR perspective it would represent quite a low-pressure way to show her support for the King.
India McTaggart said that Kate could have a “low pressure” return
“It could just be a balcony appearance if she wanted to. And of course, they did make clear at the very beginning when they announced that she was undergoing preventative cancer treatment that she may in the future decide to do various jobs, various engagements, and various visits without it being a return to work.
“It is possible that she goes and she does that and it’s not considered a comeback. It’s not considered a return to work because she still wants that time, understandably.”
Svar asked: “You touched on there that it’s from a PR perspective.
“Is there a risk, having not taken the royal salute at the Colonel’s review, that appearing on the balcony one week after would appear a bit of a snub to the Irish Guards?”
Kate revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year
She responded: “I see what you’re saying, but I think it’s important to make clear how different those two things are.
“Appearing on the balcony with the rest of the Royal Family and her children for a few minutes is completely different, expectation-wise and also stamina-wise, to taking the salute for the Irish Guards, because that is quite a long process.
“You’re inspecting all the soldiers, you’re standing for quite an extended time, and you are also completely the focus of that engagement.
“So I think in terms of her wanting privacy and just even just discounting whether she’s well enough, whether she wants to, but just her wanting that privacy, it’s very different, her appearing with all of them and not being the focal point to standing for over an hour, inspecting different soldiers and being alone in a military engagement, which has already probably not her most comfortable zone.
India McTaggart discussed Kate’s return on The Royal Record podcast
“It’s not like her early years engagements where she’s surrounded by children and she’s really in her happy place.”
Kate sent a letter to the regiment to apologise for not being able to take the salute and to wish them luck for the Colonel’s Review.
She spoke of her pride, adding that being Colonel “remains an honour”.
While the Princess of Wales has already confirmed she will not be attending Trooping The Colour in an official capacity, rumours have circulated over whether she could appear on the famous balcony.
