I will start with my usual warning: If you have come here to take the piss about the Revolutionary War, George III and ‘Murica, naff off. This post is about grace, dignity and soldiering on. Oh, and fashion. Although I wouldn’t want to live in a monarchy, I quite like the British Royal Family. With Andrew, Harry and Harry’s wife definitely excluded. The participants have been rehearsing Trooping the Color for days, but it wasn’t until day before yesterday that we heard Catherine, the Princess of Wales, would attend her father-in-law’s official birthday celebration. The Princess of Wales was radiant.

If you care, King Charles III’s birthday is November 14, but the Monarch’s Official Birthday is the Trooping of the Color in June, because the weather is better. From the Royal Family website:

Over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark the Sovereign’s official birthday.

The streets are lined with crowds waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.

The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace balcony.

It was stunning news that she felt well enough to attend Trooping the Color:

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, said on Friday that she planned to take part in a parade on Saturday marking the birthday of King Charles III, a tentative return to the public stage after confirming in March that she was being treated for cancer.

The news, which Catherine released in a highly personal six-paragraph statement, reflected both the progress she has made since she was first hospitalized for abdominal surgery last January and the long road to recovery she still faces.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” Catherine wrote.

“On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting,” the princess said. “But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

A role model for all cancer patients walking their own journey.

King Charles III is also going through cancer treatments and so rode in a carriage instead of on horseback. He is not quite the equestrian that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II was or his sister, Anne the Princess Royal, is. If you enjoy military parades, check out these highlights:

Fourth in line to the throne, Prince Louis is completely adorable in the balcony scenes. The flyovers by various royal aircraft is my favorite part.

The Royal Family enjoyed the flypast from their balcony and waved at crowds. It's the Princess of Wales' first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis ⬇️ https://t.co/KQzeIvBicN pic.twitter.com/TGCGGpjk3Q

— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 15, 2024

The Princess is not a diva. She upcycled a dress she already owned. Jenny Packham is one of her go to designers and fits her type well:

I have just been told that Catherine’s Jenny Packham dress today is in fact not new and that she has up-cycled her 2023 dress.

#ThePrincessofWales #KateTheGreat pic.twitter.com/neSP6cK7a7

— Remoulade Sauce (@Remisagoodboy) June 15, 2024

Along with her stunning pearl earrings, Catherine wore her Regimental Irish Guards broach. When the Princess of Wales had to miss the Colonel’s Review/Practice for Trooping the Color, she sent the guards a note signed “Colonel Catherine”.

The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales this morning.

We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send Her our very best wishes.

Quis Separabit@KensingtonRoyal @ArmyInLondon pic.twitter.com/y95rbmaeOS

— Irish Guards (@irish_guards) June 8, 2024

If you thought of My Fair Lady, you were spot on.

The Princess of Wales channels — ‘My Fair Lady’ — at Trooping of the Colour, the King's birthday parade. #PrincessofWales #Catherine #Trooping2024 pic.twitter.com/e6QbzkJGgi

— Kristine Froeba (@Kristine_Froeba) June 15, 2024

Dignified and radiant in every way. Best wishes and prayers for continued healing.

Featured Image: Piers Morgan/X (Twitter)/cropped/Creative Commons