Skip to Content

The Princess of Wales Returns to Public Life Wearing Jenny Packham and Phillip Treacy UPDATED With Father’s Day Photo

By Author admin

Posted on  - Last updated:

79 Comments
The Princess of Wales Returns to Public Life Wearing Jenny Packham and Phillip Treacy UPDATED With Father’s Day Photo

The Princess of Wales returned to public life today as she attended Trooping the Colour.

This was her first engagement in six months. It follows her public statement in March explaining her cancer diagnosis and preventative chemotherapy treatment. Today’s appearance was not a surprise, as the Princess updated her health condition and plans for the next several months in a social media post yesterday. Her schedule is going to remain very limited but she hopes to undertake a few engagements in the next several months, depending upon how she is feeling.

Here you see the King and Queen in the Scottish State Coach on their way to Horse Guards Parade. Trooping the Colour is also known as the King’s Birthday Parade.

Members of the Wales family rode in the Glass State Coach. In this video from Kensington Palace, you can see the family at Buckingham Palace waiting for the carriage. 

You can see the Princess, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte in this image, but Prince George is not visible.

A smile from Prince George.

And a wave from Princess Charlotte.

Prince Louis having a giggle. 

In this quick video, you see other members of the Royal Family getting into their carriages. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh in the No.1 Barouche, where she was joined by her daughter, Lady Louise, and the Duke of Kent.

The Duchess of Gloucester in her carriage. 
Embed from Getty Images
If wondering why royal family members are not in open carriages, here is the explanation. At times during the event, it was cold, wet, and windy. Unfortunately, the heavens opened during the trip to Horse Guards Parade. The No.1 Barouche is not fully enclosed. 
Embed from Getty Images

Nor is the No. 2 Barouche, with Sir Tim Laurence in the uncovered portion of the carriage. Also traveling in this carriage were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Another view of the King in the Scottish State Coach with the Queen.

The Princess waved to the crowds. 

Another image of Princess Charlotte. 

One more photo of the King.

Last year, the King attended the event on horseback, but using a vehicle made more sense given his cancer treatment and recovery. More about today’s ceremony via The Telegraph’s coverage. 

Not to be confused with the King’s natural birthday in November, when he will turn 76, the ceremony is an annual tradition dating back to 1760 and the reign of George III, who was born in June.

It will be His Majesty’s duty to take the salute as over a thousand soldiers and hundreds of horses and musicians march in what is easily the most colourful and impressive of all Royal events – save the Coronation itself.

This year, the Irish Guards will “troop” or display their uniform and insignia colours for the King, who is Colonel in Chief of the seven Guards regiments of the Household Division.

Here is a video of the Wales family arriving at Horse Guards Parade. 

This year the King inspected his troops from the carriage before heading to the viewing stand. The King and Queen then walked to the reviewing stand, while the Princess and children headed inside to the Major General’s office to watch the event with other family members. 

And then it was time for the parade. 

The Royal Family website explains that “As is tradition, The King wore the tunic of the Guard of Honour Order, the Irish Guards. The Sovereign always wears the uniform of whichever Regiment’s Colour is being trooped.”

During the parade, the King’s Colour, or Regimental flag, is “Trooped” (carried aloft by one of the Regiment’s most junior Officers through the ranks of soldiers).

More from the Associated Press.

Five regiments take it in turns to parade their color, and this year it was the turn of a company of the Irish Guards, which has Kate as its honorary colonel. The troops in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats were led onto the parade ground by their mascot, an Irish wolfhound named Seamus.

In this photo, you can see the Wales family watching all of the action.

Another view. 

Prince Louis did a little dance when listening to the music. 

The King’s son, brother, and sister taking part in today’s parade. The Princess Royal was on Darby, the Duke of Edinburgh rode Noble, and Prince William rode Sir John. UPDATE JUNE 16: This information came from the Palace, but as Anna pointed out in a comment, it looked like the Princess Royal was on Noble, not Prince Edward.

All three wore uniforms of the regiments of which they are Royal Colonels. Princess Anne was in the Blues and Royals uniform, while Prince William wore his Welsh Guards uniform, and Prince Edward was in the Scots Guards uniform.

More than one thousand military personnel from the British Army’s Household Division took part in today’s parade. 

Another view of the military display.

In this photo, the Duchess of Edinburgh is alongside some of the Wales children, and to the right, the Gloucesters are visible.

There were also 242 military working horses, 250 military musicians, 40 pipers, and drummers participating today.

Today’s event marked the first time in more than 100 years that soldiers on parade were allowed to have beards.

After the parade, it was time for the fly-past at Buckingham Palace. Despite the weather, crowds surged toward Buckingham Palace, as shown in this video posted by Royal Central.

Family members on the balcony.

Fortunately, the sun came out just as that element of the ceremony was getting underway.  

Once the family was on the balcony, we saw Princess Charlotte giving her younger brother a little nudge during the national anthem. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Max Foster (@maxfostercnn)

The Queen and Duchess of Edinburgh enjoying a little chat.

Princess Anne, Sir Tim, and the Duke of Kent. 

The Edinburghs. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. 
Embed from Getty Images
The Prince and Princess of Wales.

The Prince of Wales with Princes George and Louis. 

And the King with the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte. 

The big finale is the Red Arrows flypast.

It is always spectacular. 

After the flypast, a wave goodbye. 

Now for a quick look at what some of the other Royal Family members were wearing. We begin with the Queen, who was in a pale green silk crepe dress and coat from Anna Valentine and a chapeau by Philip Treacy. Jewelry details come via The Court Jeweller: “…a pair of diamond floral clips with pearl drops, with a favorite pearl and diamond necklace and the Grenadier Guards Badge that belonged to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.”

And now the Duchess of Edinburgh, wearing the Yahvi dress (£625, about $790 at today’s exchange rates) by Beulah London. (The Princess of Wales wore this design in dark green in 2019.) The Duchess accessorized with Jane Taylor’s Persephone hat, a tear-shaped cocktail style in double crepe with a birdcage veil and bow. Her earrings are by Giulia Barela. Thanks to Royal Fashion Police for some ID assistance. 

Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor in a dress by Suzannah and a Jane Taylor hat previously worn by her mother.

It is the dress she wore to the Coronation last year.

And now for our look at the Princess of Wales. 

She brought back a Jenny Packham design that was initially worn for the pre-coronation luncheon and walkabout last May. 

The style is similar to two other Jenny Packham designs worn by the Princess, a blue sheath worn in Northern Ireland in October 2022, and the black dress worn to view floral tributes in mid-September at Windsor following the Queen’s death.

All three resemble the Thetis Dress ($2900) as offered at BergdorfGoodman, from the spring/summer ’24 resort collection. The design is a classic sheath with a round neckline, long sleeves that zip at the cuff, and a concealed back zipper. Obviously, the Princess updated her dress with the bow at the neck/shoulde, and a change made at the waist.

Thoughts on the dress choice via Tamara Abraham, The Telegraph’s Fashion Editor. 

By choosing a dress that was last worn for such an important moment for the King, it suggests a nod of support and honour for the monarch on his official birthday.

And from this piece by the New York Times’s Fashion Director, Vanessa Friedman. 

She wore a white knee-length Jenny Packham dress with a black-and-white striped belt and a jaunty bow at the neck, topped off with a Phillip Treacy hat, angled just so.

The nautical theme was reflected in the navy dress with a sailor collar and white trim worn by Princess Charlotte (who also wore white shoes to go with her mother), along with the matching double-breasted navy suits with their gold buttons, white shirts and bright blue ties of Princes George and Louis, all of which made a neat Union Jack trio with William’s bright red military uniform — which in turn matched that of Charles and Prince Edward.

If you would like to read Vanessa Friedman’s entire piece, this link allows you to see the article without worrying about the paywall. 

For some, the bow at the neck brought back Audrey Hepburn’s ensemble in My Fair Lady. 

The Sunday Times headline writers referenced the film on the paper’s front page. 

The Princess accessorized with a new Philip Treacy hat. Thank you to Innominate and to Gabi for the ID. 

This photo offers a good view of the Princess’s updo.

Additional accessories included the Princess’s Jimmy Choo Romy 85 pumps in white leather and the Mulberry Bayswater clutch.

The Princess wore her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore Pearl Diamond Earrings ($6061). The earrings are made of 18K yellow gold with pearls and diamonds. They are described as being “inspired by the Sicilian markets, which are full of the most beautifully ripe fruit and vegetables that overflow copiously from their baskets.”

The Princess is wearing a Regimental Irish Guards brooch in her role as Colonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards. 

Here is a ‘thank you’ video from Kensington Palace 

And one final photo of the Princess of Wales. 

For last week’s retrospective piece covering all of the Princess’s Trooping the Colour looks, click here. 

One quick reminder about comments: comments regarding anyone’s weight are not allowed per the comment policy here at WKW. 

UPDATE SUNDAY JUNE 16: This morning, the Wales children made their first social media post today, wishing their father a Happy Father’s Day. The Princess of Wales took the photo of the children with Prince William in Norfolk last month.

Prince William shared this message on social media.

Here is the Buckingham Palace social media post. 


 VIDEOS: 

This video from the Royal Family Channel covers the balcony appearance.

 The Royal Family Channel covers carriage rides and the parade in this 2-minute video. 

 

Pin It

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Virginia

Sunday 23rd of June 2024

If we all step back and think about it, Catherine’s choice to attend was a stunning decision and one that just says volumes about her character. It was a selfless call and a clear demonstration of her strong will and her love for her family and her country. All of that shined through and in my opinion, she never looked more beautiful. I agree with a previous comment that the carriage picture sums it all up. Out of the storm of cancer, came this lovely person who exemplifies grace, hope and courage.

Larissa

Friday 21st of June 2024

Can I just say, this post is packed with stunning photos! I so love the video of Charlotte correcting Louis as well. Hard to believe how quickly the children seem to be growing, Louis is so tall now and George practically looks like a teenager. Special shoutout also to Lady Louise, I adore that hat.

What an absolute delight to see Kate in public, even if just for one event. While her outfit is not my favourite (I'm not completely convinced by the bow), it was a very calculated choice for her reappearance – a repeat, but updated to suit the more formal occasion and, as mentioned in one of the articles quoted, sentimental in that it was worn previously for the coronation weekend. The lack of colour was also a smart decision given that everyone must have known all eyes would be on Kate. If we were looking back on this date based on fashion alone, I think the outfit would be forgettable, but in combination with the circumstances surrouding Kate's appearance here, it really was a perfect choice.

I hope she is doing well and wish her all the best in her recovery.

Margaret

Wednesday 19th of June 2024

That photo of Kate waving and glancing sideways out the rain-sprinkled carriage window is one for the ages. It looks like a painting. Such a sublime expression on her face. I've never seen her more beautiful.

Katherine

Wednesday 19th of June 2024

@Margaret, I thought just the same thing, too - such an enchanting and poignant view of a special person. Those raindrops add such a delicate layer and the effect is just lovely. Best wishes to you - Katherine

Susan B.

Tuesday 18th of June 2024

Catherine looked absolutely stunning! and gave us some hope. The whole trooping this year was amazing, what with the downpours and then sunshine. I loved that during the flyovers, she looked down at her children to make sure they were having a good time. Thanks for covering!

Nicky

Tuesday 18th of June 2024

I read somewhere that the brooch she wore was new. Any information on it?

admin

Tuesday 18th of June 2024

I’m sorry, Nicky, I do not have any information other than what is in the post.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.