At Trooping the Colour, Princess Catherine made a graceful return to public life, riding in a carriage with her children and waving to the delighted crowds.

Dressed in a white Jenny Packham gown with a black bow and a matching hat, her appearance was seen as a stylish tribute. Royal expert Michael Cole likened her look to Audrey Hepburn’s scene in My Fair Lady, saying, “Courage is grace under pressure… and I think we saw that with Kate.” He acknowledged the difficulty she must face undergoing chemotherapy under global scrutiny, calling it “an ordeal.”

The traditional balcony moment was more subdued this year, with fewer senior royals present. Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice were absent, as were Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Royal commentator Tom Quinn revealed that the idea of inviting the Sussexes was briefly considered but quickly dismissed due to concerns that “they cast a dark shadow over everything.”

Harry reportedly did not acknowledge King Charles’s birthday or Father’s Day online, and it remains unclear if he reached out privately.

Just hours before the royal event, Meghan’s friend Nacho Figueras posted about a new raspberry jam from Meghan’s brand, American Riviera Orchard. The timing was met with backlash, with critics calling it “shocking” and “narcissistic.”