After the year they have had, it was probably as close to the ‘new normal’ for the Royal Family that we are going to get, for the time being at least.
Naturally, all eyes were on the Princess of Wales as she returned to the public eye in her most significant official role since she effectively retreated from royal life at the beginning of the year following her shock cancer diagnosis.
Her amiable smile and dazzling sense of style made us all realise how much Kate had been missed, even if this particular princess wasn’t quite up to going to ‘the ball’ (aka the State Banquet).
MailOnline understands that this is all part of her ‘gradual’ and measured return to work, balancing her responsibilities generally, but also specifically this week between the State Visit and her own annual carol service on Friday.
Seeing her so content and healthy, though, was still a tonic. Prince William quietly put a reassuring hand on her shoulder once, but otherwise let his wife do what she does best—shine.
There were other ‘tweaks’ too throughout the day, most notably for Queen Camilla, who had been forced to pull out from the official ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards as she is still suffering from the side effects of what we now know to be a bad case of pneumonia.
Instead, she met the royal party inside Buckingham Palace – a sensible move for a 77-year-old suffering from such a debilitating viral infection in the circumstances – and announced an ever-so-slightly trimmed appearance at the evening’s glittering State Banquet.
Later, in the historic palace Picture Gallery, Old Masters looked down as the royal party studied a notably smaller collection of artefacts from the Royal Collection – including the late Queen Elizabeth’s speech from Qatar’s State Visit in 2010 – than in previous years.
There were only two tables, rather than a third of the room’s length as if the planners were subtly eager to keep things going a little faster.
All this might appear inconsequential to the untrained eye, but in royal terminology, it’s these little details that usually paint the bigger picture.
It is crucial to emphasise that this is by no means a picture of gloom and doom.
Think back to the beginning of the year, when King Charles and Kate were admitted to the hospital at the same time, she for major stomach surgery and he for a prostate ailment.
In a matter of weeks, we not only learnt that the monarch had been diagnosed with an unrelated type of cancer, but the princess also disclosed that she had been informed that cancer had been detected and that she would require preventative chemotherapy at the young age of 42.
Quickly following the death of Queen Elizabeth’s reassuring influence and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s doughty stoicism and supposedly endless longevity, the country was left in deep shock.
It is very astounding that nearly every member of our Royal Family is on duty at the same time for such a significant diplomatic occasion less than a year after these seismic—and perhaps disastrous—events.
But it does also go to emphasise that, for the time being at least, we may have to cut them a little slack.
Recovery from a life-threatening illness like this takes time because when the physical treatment ends, the mental recovery begins, and let’s face it, all cancer is life-threatening, if not caught in time – that’s a given.
It puts a strain on families, whether royal or not.
Kate looks stunning and we should not be scrutinising her every move and she should be left alone to recuperate at her own pace.
As a toxin, chemotherapy is extremely hard on the body, causing widespread harm and a protracted healing period, but people will always gossip, looking over their fences and gossiping about other people because they have nothing better to do with their lives.
The most terrifying thing a person can have is cancer. That individual has no clue how the treatment will proceed or whether it will be effective at all. You either win or you lose, just as in a lottery game, and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 