royal visit to devon today

All the Photos from Prince Charles and Camilla's Trip to Cornwall

Today, they're closing out the trip in North Devon.

July 19, 2021

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall started off their first day with a visit to Exeter Cathedral.

The Prince of Wales met with members of the Cathedral's choir.

The Cathedral was founded in 1050 and houses historic artifacts. Here, Prince Charles takes in an expressive gargoyle.

Most famously, the Exeter Book, which is said to be the oldest surviving piece of literature, is kept at the Cathedral. Here, Camilla peers over the book.

One of the reasons behind their visit is the recent launch of the Royal College of Nursing’s Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme. The Prince of Wales met with some of the cadets while at the Cathedral.

Exeter Cathedral has a visitors book, which Charles and Camilla signed before departing.

Camilla met author Michael Morpurgo, who penned War Horse –one of the novels in her most recent slate of picks for her book club !

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall met Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Trish Oliver at the Cathedral.

They were also met by quite a crowd of admirers.

Prince Charles sported a zebra-printed tie and shaded himself from the sun with some stylish frames.

MORE: The Royal Family's Favorite Sunglasses

After the Cathedral, Camilla made her way to the Weaver Green showroom at Heron Valley Orchards. She met with owners Tasha and Barney Green, and learned how the company uses recycled plastic to make home goods.

While there, she also discussed sustainability and wildlife with local students.

The orchard is known for their delicious fresh beverages. Camilla sampled an elderflower cordial.

The Duchess of Cornwall shared a smile with 15-month-old Hudson Bradley at the showroom.

Owners Tasha and Barney Green showed Camilla some of the recycled materials their company uses to make textiles.

They unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit to Heron Valley.

Meanwhile, Prince Charles met with Exeter's transportation and construction workers at St. Sidwell’s Bud Depot. He learned about the city council's Net Zero Heroes mission, which aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

The Prince's visit earned a plaque as well!

Prince Charles and Camilla reunited at the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery to celebrate the "1o+1" anniversary of the Prince’s Countryside Fund. "The charity is the only UK-wide charity that empowers family farms and rural communities to ensure their future," per the Clarence House twitter.

Additionally, the celebration marked the launch of the Fund's Confident Rural Communities Network. A tweet posted to Charles and Camilla's account read: "The new @countrysidefund ’s network will bring together over 300 rural community organisations who have benefited from the charity’s programme since its inception in 2010."

Meg is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com where she researches trends, tests products, and looks for answers to all your burning questions. She also co-writes a monthly column, Same Same But Different . Meg has previously written for Cosmopolitan and Town & Country . Her passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and sustainability. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.

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Royals explore Devon on third day of South West tour

• West Country
• Duchess of Cornwall
• Prince Charles
• Wednesday 21 July 2021 at 7:27pm

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The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall meet residents in Devon on day three of their royal tour.

The couple began the day in Bideford to crowds waiting to welcome them. They were then shown an exhibition of photographs depicting rural life in Devon in years gone by.

The Duchess later visited Children's Hospice South West which cares for children with life-threatening conditions at its base in Little Bridge House, near Barnstaple.

As patron of the charity, Camilla was eager to see how they have been coping with the pandemic in the charity's 30th anniversary year.

Eddie Farwell, co-founder and Chief Executive of Children's Hospice South West said: "She spoke to each and every one of our supporters here, making them feel very special and included and she is a wonderful patron."

The Duchess of Cornwall was invited to meet a number of families who have had help and support from the Hospice, including the Smale family, whose eldest daughter, Imogen, died five years ago.

Parents Emma and Mark Smale still visit the Hospice with their younger daughters Evie and Amelie.

Emma Smale said " It's the best place ever. Our daughter Imogen, she absolutely loved coming here. We've got so many wonderful memories here. It's literally got our heart this place."

Her husband Mark added: "We still come back because it's the only place where we can be where we are still a whole family because we created so many memories here. There's nowhere else but here that we can get that."

Camilla was asked to sign a picture, which children had been working on together at Little Bridge House, to commemorate the charity's 30th anniversary year.

Director of Care, Alli Ryder, said: "It's been very uplifting for the children, the families and the staff. It means so much to us.

"The excitement of the preparation, the opportunity to meet somebody so special and being our patron as well in our thirtieth year. It's just brought such a vibe and been so exciting."

Royal Train roars through Devon as Prince Charles visits county

Prince Charles visited Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, which holds a very dear place in his heart, as part of a trip to Devon

• 16:37, 16 DEC 2021
• Updated 12:58, 20 DEC 2021

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The Royal Train, which is used exclusively by the Royal family, has been pictured zooming through Devon this morning (December, 16) as Prince Charles visited the county.

Prince Charles visited Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, which holds a very dear place in his heart, as part of a trip to Devon.

The Prince of Wales performed an inspection of a guard from countries across the world, before meeting members of the Royal Marines band.

Read more here: Prince Charles on poignant visit to Devon today

The sighting of the Royal Train has been described as 'very rare' on Britain's Railways, after it was photographed by Thomas Mills coming out of Kennaway Tunnel and passing Coryton Cove and approaching Coryton Tunnel on the Dawlish Seawall .

DB Cargo Celebrity Royal Train Class 67s Nos 67005 Queens Messenger and 67006 Royal Sovereign Top and Tailed the Royal Train from Exeter Riverside Yard to Totnes and onto Heathfield.

The train was spotted in the county earlier this year heading towards Cornwall, when the G7 Summit was underway - bringing the world's leaders together.

Did you see the train? Let us know in the comments section.

Top and tailed by locos Royal Messenger and Royal Sovereign, the train was transporting Her Majesty the Queen to Cornwall for the global event, held in Carbis Bay , St Ives.

A video captured by James Crook shows the Royal Train passing through Ivybridge, and Matt Carey, another keen photographer, managed to get a snap of the Royal Train approaching Plymouth.

In addition to capturing the train today, Thomas Mills, who is an avid trainspotter, managed to capture a photo of the impressive train as it passed through Dawlish earlier this year.

He said he's seen the Royal Train before, but never in this part of the country, and said it was an "amazing sight."

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Thomas said: "It was an amazing sight. I've seen it before but not in this part of the country. Sometimes it does come down here but very rarely, because only the Royal Family use the train."

To keep up to date with Prince Charles' trip to Devon, visit our live blog here .

Read more here:

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The Queen will come to Plymouth today and here's everything you need to know

It follows the visit of Prince Charles to Truro and Newquay last week and is almost exactly three years after the last time the Queen was in Plymouth

• 06:30, 25 MAR 2018
• Updated 08:52, 27 MAR 2018

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Last week Prince Charles paid a visit to Cornwall and Devon but while he has now returned home the royal visits are not over for the South West.

Today The Duke of Cornwall ’s mother, The Queen, will be heading down to Plymouth.

The last time the Queen was in Plymouth was almost exactly three years ago. In March 2015 she visited the city to rededicate the HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy ’s former flagship vessel after a recent £64 million refit.

Her visit this time will also centre around the 22,000 ton boat, ‘Britain’s biggest warship’, however the event will be much more sombre. The Queen will be bidding farewell to the ship as it is decommissioned.

HMS Ocean is due to be decommissioned today, Tuesday (March 27), as it was replaced by the HMS Queen Elizabeth as the Royal Navy’s flagship. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the former warship has been sold to Brazil for £84 million.

A huge ceremony will be held in Plymouth to mark the occasion. The Queen is due to be the guest of honour at the event. She will be able to see the HMS Ocean again, of which she is a sponsor.

Here’s everything you need to know about her visit:

When will the Queen be in the South West?

Her Majesty the Queen is due to arrive on Tuesday (March 27). The timings for her visit have not yet been released.

Where will she be?

She is expected to be present as HMS Ocean sails in to Plymouth Sound for the final time. Other Navy ships will come out to meet her and guide her into dock at the naval base.

The Queen will then be able to inspect the ship and meet some of the crew who have served on board as well as their families.

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard broke the news of Her Majesty's visit on Twitter.

He wrote: "While it’s lovely to have the Queen back in Plymouth it’s a sad day for our city, Devonport and the Royal Navy as HMS Ocean is decommissioned. Not a big fan of Conservative defence cuts at a time of increasing Russian aggression."

It is not the first time the Sutton and Devonport MP has expressed his disappointment at the sale of Ocean.

He previously said that the sale of Ocean to Brazil is "another shrinking of the Royal Navy in Devonport".

Mr Pollard said losing Ocean, only four years after a £64 million refit, made the Royal Navy "less capable".

HMS Ocean underwent a refit of its weaponry, internal systems and living quarters which started at the end of 2012.

But Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said had the refit not have happened, it would have meant she would have gone six years ago, and we would have "lost four years" of operations.

He admitted it is "not terrific news" but added it is "not the doomsday scenario" described by his political rival.

What happened the last time the Queen was in Plymouth?

There was huge excitement in the city the last time The Queen visited.

When she arrived there were huge cheers from a crowd that had gathered to welcome her. She travelled down from London Euston on the Royal train to rededicate the ship after its refit.

At the time a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Queen is the sponsor of HMS Ocean meaning that she has a life-long relationship with the ship. As sponsor, she receives briefings from time to time and visits Ocean whenever she can.

“She has, in fact, boarded the ship some years ago when it was moored in Plymouth Sound. Her primary reason for the visit to the dockyard on March 20 will be to attend a rededication service.

“I would expect, on her arrival at Plymouth train station, for there to be a very brief but important welcome meeting with Plymouth dignitaries as well.”

Greeted by Lord-Lieutenant of Devon Eric Dancer she was introduced to the welcoming line of dignitaries, consisting of the Lord Mayor Michael Fox, Lady Mayoress Mrs Fox, leader of the council Tudor Evans, local MP Oliver Colvile, then-police and crime commissioner Tony Hogg and station manager Mark Chorley.

Siblings Leah and Rhys Turner, whose father Kevin Turner was to serve the Queen during lunch on HMS Ocean, presented her with flowers.

Schoolchildren from St Peter’s Church of England primary in Stonehouse waved Union Jack flags enthusiastically and cheered as the 88-year-old walked from the platform into the station concourse.

The noise grew as the hundreds gathered outside North Road station saw Her Majesty walking towards them in her deep red wool coat, made by Stewart Parvin, and a matching hat designed by Rachel Trevor-Morgan.

She paused briefly to wave to the crowd, who were set on either side of the road, before setting off in a waiting car to Devonport Dockyard.

The Queen was quickly followed by Leah and Rhys - both members of HMS Heroes - and mum Clare who were hoping to beat her to the boat.

“We were going to try and beat her there so we could see her parade on-board,” said an excited Leah, aged nine.

• Armed Forces
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Looking back… a special Royal visit to Devon County Show

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The Queen and Prince Philip attended the Devon County Show in May 1995. The Queen planted a tree and then presented trophies in the main ring. Pictures: Alan Quick

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THE Queen and Prince Philip attended the Devon County Show in May 1995.

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The Queen planted a tree and then presented trophies in the main ring.

She also visited the YFC tent and met members of the Young Farmers’ Clubs.

She also received a hamper of local produce during her visit to the Food and Drink Marquee.

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New York Today

A royal visit to the city that was once called new amsterdam.

Among other stops in New York, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands will tour an exhibit focused on 400 years of Dutch history.

By James Barron

Good morning. It’s Thursday. We’ll get details of a royal visit to New York City. We’ll also find out what Mayor Eric Adams said when asked about pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

They did not arrive in the United States the way many couples do — the husband, who has a pilot’s license, was in the cockpit of the Boeing 737 jet, serving as the co-pilot for at least part of the flight from Europe.

Still, on their outing in New York City today, the pair, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, will do what many tourists do. They will stroll along the High Line and go to a museum.

But they said the trip had a purpose — emphasizing ties between the Netherlands and the United States and strengthening economic connections. The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis showed that the Netherlands ranked third in direct investment in the United States with $617.1 billion at the end of 2022, after Japan ($712 billion) and the United Kingdom ($663.4 billion).

So the royals’ itinerary includes a midday event at the Brooklyn Navy Yard about business startups and ways to accelerate clean technology .

They will also go on a tour of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, where they will “discuss urban challenges such as climate action, affordable housing and societal resilience” with community leaders, according to the Dutch government. Their day will end with a reception at Hudson Yards in Manhattan; the king and Mayor Eric Adams are expected to speak there.

The trip is not the royals’ first visit to New York. Willem-Alexander and Máxima visited in 2009, when he was the crown prince (he ascended to the throne in 2013). Máxima had lived in New York from 1996 to 2000 when she was an investment banker.

They arrived in New York City after two days in Georgia and one in Albany. (Willem-Alexander flew the plane there, too, according to a spokeswoman for the Netherlands Embassy in Washington.) Willem-Alexander’s focus was on jobs during a session at a nanotechnology center in Albany that describes itself as the largest nonprofit semiconductor research-and-development facility in the country . Willem-Alexander was all business in his brief remarks there, saying that trade with the Netherlands accounted for 57,000 jobs in New York State.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that “New York became what it is because of the Dutch” and mentioned names like Brooklyn and the New York Knicks that have Dutch roots. She also referred to the Schuyler mansion in Albany, where Elizabeth Schuyler grew up. Of the three daughters in the household — familiar to theatergoers who’ve seen “Hamilton” — she was the one who married the man whose portrait is on the $10 bill.

Later, as the king looked on, Hochul and a Dutch trade official signed a memorandum of understanding that confirmed shared interests in advancing semiconductor research and development.

Today, after their stops in Brooklyn, Willem-Alexander and Máxima will walk through an exhibition commemorating 400 years of Dutch history in New York at the New-York Historical Society on the Upper West Side. The exhibition includes a 1626 letter that describes the “purchase” of Manhattan from Native Americans for 60 guilders, which later was said to have been $24.

The exhibition also includes a letter from three chiefs of contemporary Lenape communities whose ancestors lived in Manhattan when the Dutch arrived with hopes of establishing a Dutch republic in North America. And the exhibition displays a map of New Amsterdam, called the Castello Plan, that was painted around 1660, long before Peter Stuyvesant surrendered to the British.

So what do you say when a king and queen cross the threshold?

“I’m going to invite them to have a look at Dutch history, beginning at the very beginning,” said Louise Mirrer, the president and chief executive of the historical society .

“What’s eye-opening is to see evidence that the Dutch actually did believe they had purchased Manhattan from the Lenape,” she said. “The letter really says something about how cultures can understand each other incorrectly, or misunderstand one another. Obviously, history bore out how the misunderstanding was disadvantageous to the Lenape.”

Enjoy a sunny day in the mid-80s. The evening should be mostly clear, with temperatures in the low 70s.

ALTERNATE-SIDE PARKING

In effect until Monday (Eid al-Adha).

The latest Metro news

Curbing broker fees : A majority of the City Council supports a bill that would transfer the cost of most broker fees from renters to landlords .

Controversy at a NYCHA playground : Signs put up at Wise Towers say the playground is for residents only. There have been tense encounters with some neighbors on the wealthy, liberal Upper West Side .

Menendez trial : Philip Sellinger, New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, testified in the bribery trial of Senator Robert Menendez, his onetime close friend, fund-raiser and political ally .

Move to fight the halt of congestion pricing : The New York City comptroller, Brad Lander, and a group of stakeholders have developed a legal strategy to try to overturn Gov. Kathy Hochul’s shutdown of the Midtown toll program .

What we’re watching : Stefanos Chen, a Metro reporter for The New York Times, will discuss the current state of congestion pricing on “The New York Times Close Up With Sam Roberts,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. [ CUNY TV ].

Embezzlement charge : Prosecutors say that the head of the charity Modest Needs crowdsourced donations for the poor but spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at high-end restaurants .

Selling firearms through Telegram : Manhattan prosecutors say that a Texas man operated through a white-supremacist channel on Telegram that they discovered after the racist massacre in Buffalo two years ago.

Arts & Culture

Fake bags on display but not for sale : A new exhibition on the corner of Broadway and Canal Street that looks like a store is meant to draw attention to the prevalence of “superfake” handbags .

Celebrations for two New York icons : The Apollo Theater celebrated its 90th anniversary and a Tribeca Film Festival dinner celebrated artists and one of its co-founders, Robert De Niro .

Adams praised a reporter’s ‘summer body’

Mayor Eric Adams told a journalist who asked him about pro-Palestinian demonstrations that it looked as if he had been working out and complimented the reporter’s “summer body.”

One of the mayor’s top female advisers, sitting nearby at City Hall, shook her head in disbelief. Another deputy mayor looked down and covered her eyes.

My colleague Emma G. Fitzsimmons writes that the remark was not unusual for Adams. He often comments on people’s physical appearance or clothing. And while he speaks proudly about the number of top cabinet officials who are women, he has also made the point to note that they lead while wearing Christian Louboutin shoes, with their signature red-soled heels.

This was not the first time that Adams had singled out the reporter he said had a “summer body” — Pete Cuddihy, an intern at Fox News. At a news conference in March, when Cuddihy asked about the city’s housing crisis, the mayor said, “I like that turtleneck — people don’t wear turtlenecks anymore.”

A spokeswoman for Fox News sent a statement from Cuddihy that said: “Speaking only about my interaction on June 11 with Mayor Adams, I felt his comments towards me were friendly, and I did not feel uncomfortable.”

Adams is far from the only notable elected official who has been criticized for making comments that seem inappropriate. President Biden has made remarks about people’s physical appearance; Donald Trump often mocks people’s physical appearance and was found liable in a civil trial for sexually abusing the writer E. Jean Carroll. And the Justice Department found that Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor, subjected female employees to a “sexually hostile work environment,” made unwanted comments and gave preferential treatment to some employees based on their physical appearance.

Adams, a Democrat, was himself accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a colleague in 1993 when he was a police officer.

Fabien Levy, a deputy mayor and Adams’s chief spokesman, said the mayor “would never intentionally make someone feel uncomfortable. He’s a warm and engaging person who talks to New Yorkers the way any regular New Yorker speaks to one another.”

METROPOLITAN diary

Dear Diary:

Anyone who lived or worked in Midtown Manhattan in the 1970s and ’80s knew Gene Palma as the guy who “played” Sixth Avenue. He even had a cameo in “Taxi Driver.”

With shoe-polish blackened hair and heavy makeup, Gene would play his drum on the sidewalk. Sometimes, he would bang his sticks on newspaper vending machines, or sit on the curb and play the street itself.

In the winter, to avoid the frigid north wind that swept down the avenues, he would move onto the side streets. Once, when I saw him on 52nd Street, I asked why he moved onto the side streets every winter.

“The sound’s better,” he said.

— Jace Weaver

Illustrated by Agnes Lee. Send submissions here and read more Metropolitan Diary here .

Glad we could get together here. See you tomorrow. — J.B.

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword and Spelling Bee . You can find all our puzzles here .

Melissa Guerrero and Ed Shanahan contributed to New York Today. You can reach the team at [email protected].

Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

James Barron writes the New York Today newsletter, a morning roundup of what’s happening in the city. More about James Barron

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Sidmouth Town Beach

Devon’s royal connections.

With the coronation fast approaching, we thought now would be the perfect time to reflect on the county’s royal connections. From visiting royals to being the fighting ground of the English Civil War, there are plenty of connections throughout history to the British monarchy here.

How much of Devon’s royal history did you know?

The English Civil War

As we’ve already mentioned, huge areas of Devon were used as battle grounds during the English Civil War when the monarchy fought for control against the government. As a county, Devon largely favoured the parliamentarians and large areas of the county, particularly in places like Torrington, there were parliamentary strong holds. You can still see evidence of this in some towns and villages today.

Royal visitors

Devon has seen its fair share of royal visitors from the beginning of England’s monarchy through to the modern day. The first King of England as we know it is often considered to be William I or William the Conqueror, who invaded England from Normandy and established the first royal house. He might have entered England via Hastings in the South East of England, but he secured support in the West Country by laying siege to Exeter for 18 days. After his victory, he would begin building a number of castles and strong holds across the county, some of which can still be found today.

Another William, William of Orange, who would go on to become King William III and rule alongside his wife, Mary II, arrived in England from the Netherlands on the request of parliament to take the throne from his father in law, James II/VII. William first landed on British soil in Brixham before launching his Glorious Revolution and becoming ruler. A statue commemorating his arrival stands in Brixham Harbour to this day.

Devon was also the first experience that Katherine of Aragon had of England. She was sent to England, landing in Plymouth from her native Spain after being betrothed to Arthur Tudor, the oldest son of Henry VII. Shortly after their marriage however, Arthur died, leaving her to become the first wife of Henry VIII.

Exeter is often the destination for royal visitors, being Devon’s county town. As we have mentioned Henry VII, let’s start with him, he visited Exeter in 1497 to thank the people for their loyalty after the city was besieged by Perkin Warbeck. Warbeck claimed to be one of the missing Princes in the Tower and rightful heir to the throne, he returned to England and lay siege in Exeter but his campaign was unsuccessful. King George V visited Exeter in 1915 to tour the city’s military hospitals and later, George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth visited after an air raid to survey the damage and speak to the people.

Exeter also played host to King Edward VIII, who unveiled a war memorial and our current King, Charles III, who visited during his capacity of Prince of Wales. While there, he became patron to the Friends of Exeter Cathedral and continues to support them. If that wasn’t enough, several royals have been students at Exeter University, including Zara Tindle and Peter Philips.

It isn’t just Exeter that has welcomed royal visitors, Queen Elizabeth II met her future husband, Philip Mountbatten who would become Duke of Edinburgh, while visiting the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. So, you could say that Devon played a rather major part in royal history there! The two National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, were at one time known as Royal Forests and were used for royal hunting parties, so no doubt a royal or two has traversed the moors at some point too! Sidmouth has also been host to royal visitors, including Edward VII and the Duke of Connaught, who gave his name to the town’s Connaught Gardens.

Royal residents

Did you know, royalty have called Devon home over the years too? Sidmouth was once the home to Queen Victoria back when she was a minor royal. Though she was born in London, the infant Victoria and her parents, Prince Edward the Duke of Kent and Princess Victoria, moved to Sidmouth where they lived in a manor house that today runs as a hotel. It was while in Sidmouth that an assassination attempt was carried out on the young princess and where, when she was around a year old, her father passed away.

The nine days queen

Some historians don’t count Lady Jane Grey as being part of the British monarchy, but she was queen for nine days before Mary Tudor sentenced her to death, and she was a royal cousin, so we’re going to include her connection to Devon too.

Lady Jane Grey was descended from King Henry VIII’s youngest sister and was named as heir to the throne by her cousin Edward VI before his untimely death. However, Edward’s sister Mary had other ideas and had her imprisoned in the Tower of London and ultimately beheaded. The Greys however had a family connection to Ottery St Mary in East Devon, her grandparents owned Knightstone Manor, which passed into her family’s ownership on their death. Maybe if she’d lived, Lady Jane could have gracefully bowed out of public life by retiring here?

Further back...

Before William I, England was split into different kingdoms, all of which had their own rulers. Devon fell within the Kingdom of Dumnonia, which also covered parts of Cornwall and Somerset and was led by several kings, including King Geraint of Dumnonia. Local historians have written a number of books about this time period where you can find out more about Saxon-era Devon, including local writer Lucy Holland, who released a fiction book, Sister Song, about the time period based in Sidmouth.

Live like a royal

Have you ever noticed that a number of Devon’s hotels have the word Royal in their name? This signifies that a royal has in fact visited that establishment, so next time you come to Devon, why not live like a royal by staying in a royally named hotel?

Visit towns with royal connections

Great Torrington

Ottery St Mary

Visit Devon

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Kate Middleton reveals whether she'll attend Trooping the Colour for Charles' birthday

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has become a fixture at Britain's annual Trooping the Colour event, whether it's waving to adoring crowds or wrangling her son Prince Louis as he makes funny faces for all to see.

But, since announcing she was undergoing treatment for an unspecified type of cancer , it was uncertain if the former Kate Middleton would be at the annual event after being out of the public eye for much of this year.

However, the Princess of Wales made it clear in a personal message released on June 14 through Kensington Palace that she will be in attendance with her family on June 15 as they enjoy the birthday celebration for King Charles III.

After writing that she's been "blown away" by all the support she's received from the public, she also gave an update on her treatment.

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," she wrote. "On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.

"My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months," she continued. "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."

She then confirmed she will join the royal family at Trooping the Colour in London.

"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," she wrote.

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty," she continued. "Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

Following her message, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson issued a statement on June 14 which read, "His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day."

Kensington Palace did not provide any further details about future appearances by the Princess of Wales following Saturday's event.

She had previously missed the Colonel's Review on June 8, which is essentially a rehearsal for the main celebration on June 15. Kate, who has a formal role in the Colonel’s Review due to her honorary title of colonel of the Irish Guards, wrote a heartfelt letter sharing her regrets for not being able to attend the event, which was shared on X on June 8 by the Irish Guards.

“I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate,” she wrote. “Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel’s Review.”

King Charles III, who is also being treated for cancer , will be in attendance on June 15 with Queen Camilla.

While an appearance by Charles and Camilla has been confirmed, the attendance of all the other royal family members has not been announced by Buckingham Palace. The king made an appearance at the Colonel's Review, where he presented the Irish Guards with a new flag they will use to lead the parade through London on June 15.

Before Kate's June 14 message, the royal family had not released an official update on her condition since May 22, when a Kensington Palace aid told NBC News that she’s not yet returning to her royal duties.

The princess was not present when her husband, Prince William, visited with World War II veterans in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, a day before the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

"She is getting better,” William told a veteran about his wife at the event. "She would’ve loved to be here today."

Kate revealed in a video in March that she was in the early stages of preventative chemotherapy for an unspecified form of cancer.

The mother of three said in the video that her diagnosis came as a “huge shock,” and that she and her husband were hoping to “manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”

The main Trooping the Colour event on June 15 is also known as the King’s Birthday Parade. It will feature more than 1,400 British officers and soldiers, 200 horses and more than 400 musicians, according to the royal family .

Members of the royal family take part in a military procession in carriages and on horseback on a route from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade in Whitehall as the public cheers and waves flags.

The culmination of the event usually offers a look at William, Kate and their three children : Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

The royal family gathers on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a flyover by the Royal Air Force to signal the end of Trooping the Colour. Prince Louis was the star of last year's balcony gathering as he mugged for the cameras.

Scott Stump is a trending reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY (which you should subscribe to here! ) that brings the day's news, health tips, parenting stories, recipes and a daily delight right to your inbox. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing features and news for pop culture, parents, politics, health, style, food and pretty much everything else. 

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King Charles III portrait vandalized with 'Wallace and Gromit' image by animal rights activists

LONDON — The first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation was defaced by animal rights activists at a public gallery in London on Tuesday, according to pictures released by a protest group.

The Animal Rising group released video showing two of its supporters quickly approaching the painting and placing the head of Wallace, a character from the "Wallace and Gromit" animated franchise, onto the head of the monarch, to gasps of shock from onlookers.

A message placed on the painting said: "No cheese, Gromit. Look at all this cruelty on RSPCA farms!" The message referred to both Wallace's love of cheese and the alleged animal cruelty at a number of farms certified by the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals, a British charity.

The painting, by British artist Jonathan Yeo, pictures Charles in his red Welsh Guards ceremonial military uniform, with a butterfly on his shoulder, against a deep red background.

It was due to be on free public display at the Philip Mould gallery until June 21, with no booking required to see it — but Tuesday’s incident will bring the immediate future of the artwork into question.

The group said that the painting was not damaged. “The posters were affixed using water sprayed onto the bag of them, and are easily removable without causing damage to the painting,” the statement said.

The royal household and the artist have yet to comment.

Animal Rising released a report Sunday that claimed to have uncovered "cruelty on an industrial scale."

“With King Charles being such a big fan of Wallace and Gromit, we couldn’t think of a better way to draw his attention to the horrific scenes on RSPCA Assured farms!" said Daniel Juniper, one of the activists who defaced the painting, in a statement.

Charles visited Aardman Animations studios, which makes the "Wallace and Gromit" movies and shows, in 2001 and told staff he was a "big fan" of the franchise.

Aardman founder Nick Park congratulated the king on his coronation in May last year, with a drawing of the cartoon duo sporting commemorative mugs, noting that the new monarch was an admirer.

The RSPCA and the Philip Mould gallery did not immediately respond to NBC News requests for comment.

The RSPCA told the Times of London on Sunday: "Any concerns about welfare on RSPCA Assured farms are taken extremely seriously and RSPCA Assured will act swiftly to look into these allegations."

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.