Kate Middleton Made a Rare Public Appearance in Scotland with Prince William

With back-to-school season just around the corner, the Windsors are soaking up the final days of summer at their go-to getaway in the Scottish Highlands. While the royals have been enjoying activities like fishing and biking at the Balmoral estate, Kate Middleton stepped out for a rare public appearance on Sunday along with her family. The Princess of Wales joined Prince William, Prince George, King Charles, and Queen Camilla for a family service at the Crathie Kirk Church on August 25, marking her third public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Per photos obtained by The Mirror, Kate–who last appeared publicly at the men’s singles final at Wimbledon alongside Princess Charlotte–could be seen sitting in the passenger seat as William drove to the church. The royal showed off her sartorial prowess, wearing a brown houndstooth trench coat and a brown felt hat decorated with feathers

The photos also showed a glimpse of Prince George sitting in the back seat. The publication also reported that King Charles and Queen Camilla headed to the same service separately wearing traditional Scottish tartan kilts. The Queen could be seen wearing a forest green jacket paired with a matching hat. 

Kate has been largely avoiding the spotlight as she continues to undergo treatment for cancer, but her recent appearance is notable as Crathie Kirk church holds a special significance for the royal family. She and other royals headed there for a private service in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It was also where Prince William, Prince Harry, and other royals went to honor Princess Diana following her death in 1997.

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their kids weren’t invited to this year’s gathering at Balmoral, which comes just days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex completed their whirlwind Colombia tour. However, sources have reported that the family is taking advantage of their Scottish getaway to discuss the future of the royal family as they navigate Kate and King Charles’s health issues.

Per The Mirror, royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! that while there won’t be any official “royal summit” taking place, “it would be slightly odd if the family were all together for once and didn’t mull over what has happened and how they proceed in the future.”

“William is certainly preoccupied with keeping the monarchy relevant, but essentially this is a holiday for the royals, a time to stop worrying about everything and like other families on holiday just breathe in the fresh air, relax and enjoy one another’s company,” Bond added.