Kate Middleton Attends Remembrance Sunday as She Gradually Returns to Public Duty After Completing Chemo…. See More

The Princess of Wales has never missed Remembrance Sunday in her 13 years as a member of the royal family

Kate Middleton is supporting an important event on the royal family’s annual calendar after completing chemotherapy treatment.

On Nov. 10, the Princess of Wales, 42, appeared on a balcony above the Cenotaph war memorial in London on Remembrance Sunday for the National Service of Remembrance. Princess Kate has never missed the service honoring the wartime sacrifices of British and Commonwealth Armed Forces personnel since she married Prince William in 2011.

She took her place next to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh on the center of three balconies to observe the ceremony, where King Charles and Prince William led the tributes by laying wreaths, in which William and King Charles led the tributes by laying wreaths. After exchanging a brief smile and a few words with Sophie, Kate—wearing a black coat dress with a velvet bow detail by Catherine Walker & Co—stood solemnly as the bell at Westminster tolled at 11 a.m., signaling the beginning of a two-minute silence.

King Charles, 75, was the first to lay his wreath of 41 poppies, designed in homage to his late grandfather, George VI. The wreath’s ribbon bore the colors of his racing horses—scarlet, purple, and gold. In a message alongside his wreath, Charles wrote: “In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice.”

Wearing a Royal Navy uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet with greatcoat, poppy and sword, he took a short step back and saluted.

Queen Camilla, who was absent due to a lingering chest infection, was represented by her own wreath, which was laid on her behalf by her equerry, Major Ollie Plunket, The Rifles.

Prince William followed, dressed in his Royal Air Force uniform with the rank of Wing Commander, complete with a greatcoat, poppy and sword. Standing at attention with a crisp salute in white gloves, he was watched by Kate, who looked down thoughtfully, a trio of red poppies adorning her outfit.

After the wreath-laying ceremony and a brief service led by the Bishop of London, the National Anthem, “God Save the King,” was performed. Charles, looking drawn, gave a final salute before the royal family departed the site. They filed into the Whitehall building, with Kate and Sophie looking on from above.

The other working royals came out in full force for the service at The Cenotaph, and joining Prince William and King Charles were Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, all attended.

The National Service of Remembrance marked Princess Kate’s first time this year attending royal events on consecutive days, following her appearance at the Festival of Remembrance on Nov. 9. These events were her first major public services since announcing on Sept. 9 that she had completed chemotherapy. The milestone update came after Princess Kate revealed in March that she was undergoing cancer treatment, leading her to step back from royal duties to focus on her health.

Princess Kate’s appearance comes two months after she announced that she completed chemotherapy treatment in an emotional video message on Sept. 9.

Queen Camilla was notably absent from this weekend’s Remembrance events, missing both Saturday’s outing and Sunday’s service at The Cenotaph, as she continues to recover from a chest infection. On Nov. 9, the palace released a statement confirming her absence: “Following doctors’ guidance to ensure a full recovery from a seasonal chest infection, and to protect others from any potential risk, Her Majesty will not attend this weekend’s Remembrance events.”

While this is a source of great disappointment to The Queen, she will mark the occasion privately at home and hopes to return to public duties early next week,” it added. Her wreath was placed by her equerry, Major Ollie Plunket, The Rifles.

Though Princess Kate has not fully resumed royal duties after completing chemo, she expressed in the Sept. 9 message that she was eager to return to work when she was able.

Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” the Princess of Wales said in part. “I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”

It emerged then that she hoped to join her family at The Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. The solemn service has been attended by members of the royal family for generations, and King Charles ceremoniously leads the tributes to those who died in war.

The event brings the royals together with government officials and service personnel and includes a two-minute silence, laying of poppy wreaths, bugle call and march past of 10,000 veterans, the Royal British Legion said.

Before this weekend’s Remembrance events, Princess Kate had two unannounced outings in October. The royal had a surprise meeting with a teen navigating cancer and joined Prince William for an emotional visit to Southport, England, on Oct. 10, and PEOPLE confirms she’ll hold her annual carol concert in December.