OPINION: It's clear Catherine, the Princess of Wales' public return was on her terms, just like King Charles'

From the moment the world learned Catherine, the Princess of Wales had been diagnosed with cancer, the royal mum made it clear that she would be undertaking the journey ahead on her own terms.

In the seven months since, she has decided exactly what to share with the public, as well as how and when to share it.

She decided when and where she would be seen, and how much of her journey she was willing to share with the world.

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Now, Catherine has made her public return after completing months of chemotherapy, and it couldn't be clearer that she did that on her own terms as well.

With husband Prince William by her side, she braved the chill in Southport on Thursday (Friday AEDT) not for a landmark royal outing or state event but a solemn, private meeting with the families of three young girls killed in a horror knife attack in July.

The couple also met with the first responders who rushed to save children when a knifeman broke into a Taylor Swift-themed dance party and killed Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine.

Catherine wanted "to show support to the community and hear how local people have come together as the town recovers", according to Kensington Palace.

A mother of three who has vocally put her children's wellbeing first throughout her cancer journey, it was immediately clear that Catherine chose to make her public return on Thursday not for the sake of the monarchy, but for the sake of the bereaved parents she met there.

It seemed fitting that the first time the public saw the Princess of Wales speak this year – she was only seen at Trooping the Colour and Wimbledon – was to families she so clearly felt connected to.

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Nine's Europe correspondent Jess Millward told Today Catherine looked well, "but the sadness from the story she was hearing was written all over her face."

Just like father-in-law King Charles III, Catherine chose to make her public return significant by spotlighting something close to her heart, rather than simply abiding by the royal calendar.

His Majesty chose to resume his public duties with a visit to a cancer treatment centre with Queen Camilla, where he met patients and staff. It was a meaningful choice.

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While Catherine went a different route with her engagement, the similarities are clear: both royals chose causes with deep meaning to them, where they could spend private time with people they hoped to support, with their greatest supporters - their spouses, Camilla and William - by their side.

Just like her father-in-law, the Princess of Wales returned to public duties on her own terms, and it's expected that she will continue to go about her responsibilities as a working royal with that attitude.

News of her public return was announced at the last minute and it's expected that Catherine will continue to dictate her attendance at royal engagements on a case-by-case basis, putting her health and wellbeing first.

"So the fact this was announced so last minute by Kensington Palace indicates that that is how they're going to play her engagements from here on in," Millward said.

The princess is expected to appear at Remembrance Day events in November and her annual Christmas carols concert at Westminster Abbey in December but beyond that, it will be up to her to decide when and how she wants to appear in public.

And that's exactly as it should be.

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