Kate Middleton made a triumphant return to royal duties at Trooping the Colour on Saturday, following her cancer diagnosis in March. The Princess of Wales appeared delighted as she waved to supporters on London’s streets. In a statement, she expressed her openness to attending further royal engagements later this summer.

While the royal family celebrates Kate’s and King Charles’ return, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were notably absent, reportedly not invited to the event. This may not have surprised many given past tensions.

Despite their absence, Meghan Markle managed to gain attention. Hours before Kate’s public appearance, the Duchess released a new product through her lifestyle company, sparking accusations of attempting to steal the spotlight from the Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton’s return to royal duty follows cancer treatment and abdominal surgery in January. In a heartfelt statement, she shared her gratitude for the support she received during her treatment. “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months,” Kate said. She acknowledged the challenges of chemotherapy, noting the mix of good and bad days but expressed joy in engaging with school life and work when feeling well.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s absence from Trooping the Colour reflects ongoing tensions within the royal family. The last time they were seen with the family was during Queen Elizabeth II’s burial in 2022. Reports suggest that King Charles has invited Archie and Lilibet to Balmoral this summer to spend time with their relatives.

Royal expert Tom Quinn mentioned that there were brief discussions about inviting Harry and Meghan to Trooping the Colour, but the idea was dismissed due to potential negative impacts.

Meghan Markle was accused of trying to steal the spotlight from Kate with a product announcement just hours before the event. Despite backlash from royal fans, a source close to Meghan stated that the timing was coincidental and not orchestrated by her.