Princess Kate's parents were photographed at Royal Ascot in their first public appearance since their daughter returned to the public eye during her cancer treatment.
Carole, 69, and Michael Middleton, 74, were seen on the second day of the horse racing event at Royal Ascot, which Prince William was also expected to attend.
It comes following a difficult start to 2024 for the family, with Kate having major abdominal surgery in January, followed by a cancer diagnosis and the start of chemotherapy in late-February.
Kate made a high-profile comeback on June 15 when she attended Trooping the Colour, King Charles III's birthday parade, riding in a carriage with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis before appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside William.
Kate has not gone back to work full time yet and was careful to say in a statement on Friday that, "I am not out of the woods yet."
Needless to say, her return will have been good news for the family as a whole and Carole and Michael Middleton appeared happy and relaxed as they enjoyed their day at the races.
Kate's mother at one stage got caught up in frenzied social media speculation after TMZ published a picture which they reported showed her in a car alongside Kate in Windsor.
The image caused a viral storm that only further stoked conspiracy theories, with some suggesting it was not actually Kate in the car, but her sister Pippa Matthews, and others claiming a second vehicle had been edited out of the frame.
However, that whole bizarre episode of Kate's life is now behind her after she has appeared in public and thereby removed the vacuum of information that fueled the conspiracies.
The summer may well involve more public appearances for the princess, though she has warned she will have to keep a close eye on her energy levels as her chemotherapy continues.
Wimbledon is one event she may consider going to in her capacity as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club during the first two weeks of July.
In her statement on Friday, Kate said: "My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. 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."
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more
