The Princess of Wales will join her husband Prince William at Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations in London today, Kensington Palace has confirmed.
Kate and William will attend the official events together to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The ceremony - which will be shown on BBC1 at 7pm tonight - will bring together faith and civic leaders as well as survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.
William, 42, will give a reading and light a candle alongside young representatives from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and other partner organisations.
The ceremony will also be attended by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is expected to speak too – and William will later hold a private meeting with him.
According to convention the heir to the throne meets with the Prime Minister annually, but there will be no public read out of their discussions behind closed doors.
Earlier in the day today, William had a meeting with Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan at Windsor Castle where they discussed relations between the two countries.
Before this afternoon's ceremony, William and Kate, 43, are expected to meet Holocaust survivors at an undisclosed location to hear their personal stories.
The couple also attended events for Holocaust Memorial Day in 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where they met survivors.
In November 2021, Kate opened the Holocaust Gallery at London's Imperial War Museum - while the couple visited the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin in July 2017.
Meanwhile, King Charles will become the first British head of state to visit Auschwitz when he travels to Poland today to tour the site and commemorate the 80th anniversary with foreign monarchs, presidents, prime ministers and survivors.
January 27, 2020 -- William and Kate on Holocaust Memorial Day at Westminster Central Hall
November 10, 2021 -- Kate at London's Imperial War Museum to open the Holocaust Gallery
July 19, 2017 - Wiliam and Kate visit the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin during a tour of Germany
Kate's appearance at today's events is another milestone on her return to duties, nearly a fortnight after she carried out her first significant solo engagement in more than a year on January 14 when she visited the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
The Princess has endured a hugely challenging past 12 months which saw her undergo abdominal surgery, be diagnosed with cancer and face chemotherapy treatment.
But 43-year-old Kate revealed earlier this month that she is now in remission from cancer, one year since she was admitted to hospital for an operation on January 16, 2024.
That came days after Prince William praised his wife as the 'most incredible wife and mother', saying 'the strength you've shown over the last year has been remarkable'.
William previously described 2024 as a 'brutal' and probably 'the hardest year' of his life, with his father the King also diagnosed with cancer last February.
As well as the health woes, Kate and William have faced other personal challenges in recent years - dealing with the fallout from Megxit and the allegations levelled at them by the Sussexes amid William's ongoing rift with his younger brother Prince Harry.
Prince William has a meeting with Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan at Windsor Castle today
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan is welcomed by Prince William at Windsor Castle today
Prince William speaks with Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan at Windsor Castle today
Last January, Kate spent nearly two weeks in the London Clinic after her major abdominal surgery, and was recuperating at home when she was told she had cancer and had to begin chemotherapy.
She shared heartfelt updates on her cancer treatment throughout the year, having previously endured spiralling online conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts after her operation.
Speculation worsened when Kensington Palace released a Mother's Day photograph of Kate and her three children on March 10, and photo agencies later 'killed' the image when it turned out to have been digitally altered.
The princess made a public apology and admitted having edited the photograph, and she was seen soon afterwards, smiling as she visited a farm shop in Windsor with William.
Then just days later on March 22, Kate revealed in a shock video message that she was undergoing chemotherapy after post-operative tests showed she had cancer.
She described the development as a 'huge shock', but vowed 'I am going to be OK' and asked for time, space and privacy.
Good wishes flooded in from around the world and the King was said to be 'so proud' of his 'beloved daughter-in-law' for her courage in speaking out about her diagnosis.
January 14, 2025 -- The Princess of Wales talks with a patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital
December 25, 2024 -- William, Kate and their children at church in Sandringham, Norfolk
December 6, 2024 -- Charlotte, Louis and Kate during the Westminster Abbey carol service
In June, a new photo and written message to the nation came from Kate ahead of a brief return to the public spotlight at Trooping the Colour – her first official engagement of the year and since her diagnosis.
The Princess in candid words revealed she was 'making good progress' but had 'good days and bad days', was 'not out of the woods yet' and was facing a few more months of treatment.
She was pictured in the grounds of the Windsor Castle estate, standing in a tranquil setting against a weeping willow tree near a lake.
At the Trooping, the princess rode in a closed carriage with her children and appeared on the balcony, and in July went to the Wimbledon men's final with Charlotte.
In September, she confirmed she had completed her treatment, but revealed in a deeply personal video how she, William and their children had faced an 'incredibly tough' time.
'The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family,' she said, adding: 'The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you.'
December 3, 2024 -- Kate joins William to welcome the Emir of Qatar for a state visit to London
November 10, 2024 -- Kate and Sophie at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph
The princess, who is expected to continue her gradual return to public duties with more appearances this year, said: '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.'
Her words were narrated over stylised footage showing the Waleses and their children enjoying the outdoors, walking through woods, and the couple cuddling as they held hands.
In October, Kate was pictured hugging aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, who had a rare and aggressive form of cancer, after inviting her to take pictures at William's Windsor Castle investiture.
The teenager died just eight weeks later, with the prince and princess paying tribute.
November 9, 2024 -- The Royal Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall
October 10, 2024 -- Kate and William meet the emergency services in Southport, Merseyside
On October 10, Kate made a surprise visit with William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims in Merseyside.
During the Remembrance weekend in November, she appeared at the Royal Albert Hall Festival of Remembrance in honour of the nation's war dead, and at the Cenotaph, where the Duchess of Edinburgh placed a comforting hand on Kate's back in a show of support.
In December, the princess joined the King and William on Horse Guards Parade to welcome the Emir of Qatar to the UK at a state visit, another step on the road back to her public role.
She brought Christmas cheer with her annual carol concert in Westminster Abbey, where she gathered with William and their children, other royals, and celebrities such as Paloma Faith and Richard E Grant.
Kate spoke to Faith of 'challenging times' and said she had not anticipated what the past year would bring.
October 2, 2024 -- Kate hugs aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, who had cancer, after inviting her to take pictures at William's Windsor Castle investiture. The girl died eight weeks later
September 9, 2024 -- Kate confirmed she had completed her treatment, but revealed in a deeply personal video how she, William and their children had faced an 'incredibly tough' time
The princess planned the service with help from Lady Gabriella Windsor, after inviting the recently-widowed Ella, whose husband, Thomas Kingston, took his own life in February, to contribute.
The Princess rounded off December by joining her family at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day.
She then made a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital on January 17, where she offered comfort to cancer patients and their families. telling them: 'There is light at the end of that tunnel.'
Kate – who was making an emotional return to the hospital where she was treated, - spoke candidly about her own diagnosis, the 'shock' of her 'really tough' chemotherapy and the challenges of getting back to normal.
Later that day, she revealed in a written personal message that she is in remission from cancer, describing her 'relief' and saying 'there is much to look forward to'.
The princess said, in her message which was signed 'C': 'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.
'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.'
July 14, 2024 -- The Princess in the royal box on day 14 of the Wimbledon Championships
June 15, 2024 -- William and Kate at Trooping the Colour on the Buckingham Palace balcony
William and Kate look set to carry out an overseas visit together this year, with the prince hinting as much.
'I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we'll have some more trips maybe lined up,' he said during his tour to Cape Town last autumn.
Kate has not taken part in an official foreign visit for 15 months, since she attended the Rugby World Cup in France in October 2023.
The Waleses are also launching a new mental health pilot this year to boost support for those living on the Sandringham Estate and surrounding area.
The couple are co-funding a programme with Norfolk and Waveney Mind, which will provide counselling and targeted groups for often-isolated rural and farming communities.
It is also hoped that Kate will make a triumphant return to the red carpet at the Bafta film awards along with William at London's Royal Festival Hall on February 16.
Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 will be broadcast on BBC One at 7pm this evening
