It was the balcony appearance the world had waited for, and for a brief moment, the torrential rain that had drenched Trooping the Colour 2024 stopped as King Charles and Queen Camilla followed Prince William and Kate Middleton onto the Buckingham Palace balcony, into bright sunshine. As she surveyed the crowd below, Camilla captured the nation’s sentiment in one word: “Wonderful.” There was a huge cheer for Camilla and Charles, who had stood for the entire parade at Horse Guards Parade despite the biblical rain. But when Kate stepped out, jostling Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—all dressed in matching outfits—into position, the crowd roared.

Little Louis had, according to lip readers, remarked during the carriage procession earlier, how happy the parade-watchers seemed. And they did.

The announcement that the Princess of Wales was to attend Trooping the Colour came late on Friday, and it all but guaranteed a record turnout. The palace had previously indicated that the princess, who had not been seen in public since Christmas Day, would not carry out any public engagements while undergoing cancer treatment. Kate, who is colonel of the Irish Guards, did not attend last week’s rehearsal. However, after turning a corner on her health journey, Kate, who is undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy, decided that she wanted to attend.

“It was the princess’s decision and hers alone,” a source close to the family told Vanity Fair. “Catherine discussed the idea with William and with the king after having the okay from her medical team. Thankfully, she has been feeling much better recently, and Trooping has been something of a goal for her to work towards.”

Immaculately dressed in a white Jenny Packham dress and Jimmy Choo heels, coordinating smartly with her children’s navy and white outfits, the princess looked radiant and happy. Aware that the cameras would be trained on her, she smiled almost constantly, but there were occasional moments when she appeared pensive, and after standing for an hour to watch the ceremony at Horse Guards, she gratefully accepted a seat.

When it came to the eagerly anticipated balcony appearance, Kate was flanked by her family and stood next to the king, a change from last year when Charles stood shoulder to shoulder with his eldest son. It provided an opportunity for Kate to speak with her father-in-law as they surveyed the crowds and watched the flypast.

The king has been a pillar of support to the princess following her cancer diagnosis and has confided to friends that their shared experience has brought them even closer. Their warm and easy banter certainly showed the closeness between them.

Charles had told his medical team and aides that his appearance at Trooping was “nonnegotiable,” and he was delighted that his daughter-in-law was well enough to be by his side for the occasion.

Highlights From Trooping the Colour

On the king’s other side was Queen Camilla and the rest of the working royal family.

While they were fewer in number than at previous birthday parades, Charles’s slimmed-down royal family is a close one, proving it can pull together in a crisis. And there were the others too.

Princess Anne, still the busiest royal and always ready to be by her brother’s side, rode (as Gold Stick) on horseback along with Prince William and Prince Edward. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, dressed in bright yellow, was accompanied by her daughter, Lady Louise, while the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke of Kent were also there to join the king.

On Monday, the king and queen will attend the Order of the Garter ceremony in Windsor. The Princess of Wales is not expected to attend.