As the Princess of Wales stepped out of her carriage and walked towards the entrance of Buckingham Palace, wearing a crisp, white Jenny Packham dress and Philip Treacy hat, smiling for the cameras as she ushered her three children inside, it was almost as if she had never been away.

And yet the 42-year-old was making her first official appearance in over six months, having stepped away from her official duties in January after undergoing abdominal surgery, which in turn alerted doctors to the presence of cancer which she announced in March. Since then, Kate Middleton has been undergoing ‘preventative chemotherapy’ and has been purposefully staying out of the public eye while she focuses on her health.

Kate’s return to public life was with an event she has always loved, Trooping the Colour, and the crowds on the Mall were thrilled when she made an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the royal family in honour of the King’s official birthday. She was seen whispering in the King’s ear, while he laughed – a happy moment which signalled perhaps a change in mood from the dark days the royals have been weathering since the beginning of the year, with King Charles’s own shock cancer diagnosis coming just before Kate’s

Backstage footage video released by Buckingham Palace showed Kate smoothing Princess Charlotte’s hair as they waited to board the glass horse-drawn carriage without Prince William, who rode on horseback behind his father. King Charles, still not in full health, was unable to ride horseback as is tradition, opting to ride with his wife Queen Camilla.

It was not quite a surprise appearance, but perhaps unexpected. Indeed Kate had said in a statement just the evening before that she had decided she would attend the event. In the statement, posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales’s social media pages, the princess was open about her cancer journey admitting she is experiencing ‘good days and bad days’, adding, ‘I am not out of the woods yet.’

She said: ‘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 added that support from the public has made a deep impression on her during such a difficult time, and said she had been ‘blown away’ by the ‘kind messages’ that had made a ‘world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times’. She finished by saying, ‘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.’

Although she is said to now be taking some work meetings, as well as closely following the work of her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, whose recent report Kate was said to be ‘excited’ by, she is not in a position to make a committed return to public duties or her old life. To step out on Saturday was not an easy decision for the princess to make, understandably, after a year of such turmoil, not to mention public speculation about what was happening to her behind the scenes.

In March the ‘Where’s Kate’ movement had reached such a viral fever pitch, with online commentators suggesting outlandish theories about the princess’s whereabouts (including one incredibly upsetting one that she had died) that Kensington Palace was forced to make an unprecedented statement about her health. ‘Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the Princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates,’ the statement read. ‘That guidance stands.’

According to royal insiders, Kate’s decision was ultimately inspired by her desire to show support for King Charles, but also to stand alongside her family during what has been a difficult year. ‘Kate has felt unwavering support from William, her children, and the King and Queen,’ says the source. ‘In turn she has offered that support back, because they’ve all been going through a challenging few months. Appearing in public for Trooping of Colour felt like an appropriate way to support her family publicly, and maintain a certain sense of tradition which is fundamental to the royals.’ It will have meant a great deal to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to have their mother standing alongside them on the balcony, says the source. And while such a public event might not feel ‘normal’ to most of us, for the royal family such public facing appearances are part of their lives.

Maintaining a sense of equilibrium for the children has been at the centre of everything Prince William and Kate have done since her diagnosis earlier this year. In March, in the video she made to reveal to the public the news of her treatment, Kate said, ‘William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.’ The princess added: ‘It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.’

Whilst Kate has been undergoing chemotherapy, the Wales family has been mainly staying at Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk on the Sandringham estate—a 10-bedroom home complete with a swimming pool, tennis court. There, Kate is said to enjoy spending time baking and reading, and has also been spotted in shops near to her home – though she is largely left alone by the locals who are, by now, used to seeing her and act with a certain level of respect. Meanwhile, Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, and younger sister, Pippa Middleton Matthews are said to be ‘a constant presence’, supporting Kate and William, and the children, through this difficult time.

For now, it’s thought that the princess will be making decisions on any further events as she goes rather than making firm commitments. Kate has no plans to attend another favourite event of the season, Royal Ascot, for example, as she is still undergoing treatment, which is believed to be ongoing until the end of summer. But the princess’s decision to appear on Saturday, and wave at the crowds who had come from miles around to see her, only cements what we already knew: Kate loves to serve the public, and will continue to do so whenever she can.