Princess of Wales to join King and Queen in hosting state visit next week, Buckingham Palace confirms

The Princess of Wales will join her husband along with the King and Queen in London next week for the state visit by the Emir of Qatar, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Catherine is expected to take part in the official events in welcoming the Qatari royals on Tuesday, December 3.

The Princess' involvement will come just two days before she is due to host the Together at Christmas carols concert inside Westminster Abbey.

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Next week's events will be just Kate's sixth and seventh public appearances of the year.

The princess missed the Japanese state visit in June.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will be joined by his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, when they visit the UK next week.

The Prince and Princess of Wales will welcome the Emir and his wife at their residence, on behalf of King Charles, on Tuesday morning.

They will then will travel with the Emir and his wife to Horse Guards Parade, in central London, for the ceremonial welcome by the King and Queen Camilla including a Guard of Honour.

Kate is then due to ride in a carriage with Prince William, and the Sheikh and Sheikha, along The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

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King Charles and Queen Camilla will also be in the procession, which will be met by a second Guard of Honour formed of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards with the Band of the Irish Guards.

As the carriages arrive at Buckingham Palace, the Band of the Irish Guards will play the Qatari and British National Anthems.

A lunch will then be held inside Buckingham Palace.

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It will be the final state visit hosted inside Buckingham Palace before the grandest rooms close under the ongoing 10-year, £369 million (approx. $714 million) refurbishment with all future state visits to be moved to Windsor Castle.

Prince William is later set to host the Qatari royals at Kensington Palace, which remains the official London residence of the Wales family.

A state banquet will take place at Buckingham Palace that evening, attended by members of the royal family but Kate will not be in attendance.

The Princess of Wales was absent from the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on November 19, where Queen Camilla wore Elizabeth II's aquamarine ribbon tiara for the first time.

Kate did attend a meeting at Windsor Castle related to her Early Years work, last week, but has been carefully pacing herself after finishing chemotherapy.

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The 42-year-old was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in March following abdominal surgery in January.

She has made just a handful of public appearances in 2024: Trooping the Colour in June, Wimbledon in July, a visit to Southport in October, and in early November joined the royal family for the Festival of Remembrance, followed by Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

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