Kate Middleton stuns in red as she returns to join King Charles for poignant service

The Princess of Wales returned to royal duties alongside King Charles to join a poignant service they both sadly missed last year.

Kate looked eye-catching in a red Catherine Walker coat and a hat by Gina Foster in the same colour as she arrived at Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day service with Prince William. They arrived just before King Charles and Queen Camilla and were joined by other royals, including Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as well as a 2, 000-strong congregation.

The King, who is head of the Commonwealth, gives an annual address each year to the family of 56 nations, but last year pre-recorded a video message after postponing his public-facing duties for around three months after being diagnosed with cancer.

The Princess of Wales also couldn’t attend the service last year, a key event in the royal calendar, after also being diagnosed with cancer but was among the congregation alongside the King, Queen and Prince of Wales. Kate is still making a gradual return to public duties after confirming she is in remission.

The service at Westminster Abbey, which was also attended by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, comes as the King, who is head of the Commonwealth, delivered his annual message to mark the day. He said: Leaders recently reiterated the importance of collaboration for peace and human rights, as well as for the restoration of nature both on land and in the oceans.

“As we mark Commonwealth Day together, there is no more important task than to restore the disrupted harmony of our entire planet. For the sake of our younger generations ‘ threatened future, I can only hope that the Commonwealth will continue its vital work to restore that harmony”.

Plans have been announced for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ) Days. Charles also referenced his in the message by saying: “This year, the world reflects on the eightieth anniversary of the end of World War Two. More than one and-a-half million men and women who served during the War came from across the Commonwealth to support the United Kingdom and its allies.

” On this special anniversary, we remember with particular pride and everlasting gratitude the untold sacrifice and selflessness of so many from around our Family of Nations who gave their lives in that dreadful conflict. “

After the ceremony, the King will also launch the inaugural King’s Baton Relay at Buckingham Palace, officially starting the countdown to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Charles and Camilla will also be guests of the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland, at the annual Commonwealth Day reception on Monday evening and hear a commemorative song by Andrew Lloyd Webber to mark the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize.

Commonwealth Day on Monday is also being marked by the release of a playlist Charles has compiled following a collaboration with Apple Music for his King’s Music Room show. Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue, Grace Jones and contemporary artists Davido and Raye are among those who make it into Charles’s top tracks from across the Commonwealth.

Source: Mirror