Kate Middleton simply looked regal in her meaningful return at the annual Trooping the Colour.

Making her first public appearance in more than six months since announcing in March that she was undergoing cancer treatment, Kate wore a white long-sleeved dress by Jenny Packham with an exaggerated contrasting bow tied at the collar to the June 15 celebration at Buckingham Palace. The dress was paired with a white angled hat by Philip Treacy, which was visible through the window of the car she rode in with her family on her first arrival. Behind-the-scenes footage released by Kensington Palace showed the structured sleeves of the dress and the slim ribbon detail of the hat.

Princess Kate accessorized with Cassandra Goad's pearl cluster earrings, which she previously wore at Prince Louis' 2019 christening, WWD first reported. The royal wore her hair in a low bun to highlight the earrings and hat.

A gold Irish Guard regiment brooch was pinned to her chest. The brooch represented the fact that Princess Kate was an honorary colonel of the regiment and one of the many regiments that carried the regimental flag in the march that day.

Middleton's costume was on full display elsewhere as he entered Buckingham Palace alongside Prince William (in formal attire) and his children (Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and shades of navy). She carried a navy clutch bag and matched her dress with bright white heels. The full image also showed details not shown on the day, such as the striped belt detail on the dress and the hemline over her knees.

Princess Kate often chooses her own looks and lets her children do the same, but this time she tried a mother-daughter coordinate with a twist with Princess Charlotte. Princess Charlotte wore a navy blue dress with white bow detailing. Prince Louis and Prince George also wore navy suits. (11]

Middleton announced on her Instagram that she would be attending Trooping the Color with a heartfelt statement paired with a portrait by Matt Porteous taken outside her Windsor home. Along with a photo of her in a more relaxed wardrobe staple, a casual blazer and jeans, Middleton thanked those who supported her during her cancer treatment and revealed that she had "good days and bad days" on her road to recovery. In the same post, she said she was "looking forward" to attending Trooping the Color with her family the following day.

At the end of May, reports first surfaced that the royal family would "consider" following tradition and appearing on the balcony with her family. Kate Middleton has attended Trooping the Colour since 2011, when she first wore an Alexander McQueen coat dress. Given that the event honors the birth of a monarch (in this case, King Charles III, Prince William's father), princesses have historically chosen British designers like McQueen and Erdem for the occasion.

Jenny Packham, the designer behind the white and navy ribbon dress worn by Kate Middleton in 2024's Trooping the Colour, is a frequent feature in the Princess's wardrobe. From movie premieres to official state visits, she has worn this British designer in a variety of evening gowns with understated sheaths and embellishments like the dress she wears today.

The choice of white is also significant because of Kate Middleton's previous Trooping the Color outfits. On at least two occasions, in 2011 and 2022, she has chosen shades of ivory and paired them with contrasting hats. White often symbolizes beginnings and rebirth, and it may have been a deliberate choice as Middleton makes her long-awaited return to the public eye at today's event.

Princess Kate appears to have worked with recently promoted stylist Natasha Archer on the Trooping the Color dress and overall styling. The two have coordinated for her major events since 2007.

Before revealing to the public in a March announcement that she was undergoing cancer treatment, Princess Kate's last public appearance was at a Christmas service in 2023.

The royal family was "delighted" that the princess would be attending King Charles III's birthday celebration. Following a statement containing an update on the Princess's health, Kensington Palace issued a statement on behalf of her husband, Prince William, saying that Prince William "will continue to focus his time on supporting his wife and children while continuing his official duties."

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton's regal white dress in Trooping the Colour may be a rare sight rather than a harbinger of upcoming events. While she says her treatment is "moving forward," she says she is "not out of the woods yet" and has several more months of treatment ahead of her. For now, her Jenny Packham white dress is elegant in the public eye, a moment that will go down in history.