A BEAMING Princess of Wales and the King attended yesterday’s Commonwealth Day Service after both missed last year’s due to cancer.
They looked a picture of health and seemed to embody the event’s theme — “Together we Thrive”.
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Kate, 43, smiled and giggled with husband Prince William as they were joined by other senior Royal Family members for the event at Westminster Abbey.
She looked especially delighted when confronted by Masai dancers performing during the event.
Kate sat in the front row of the Abbey with Charles, 76, William, 42, and Queen Camilla, 77, in a pink dress and coat, to celebrate the Commonwealth.
Wills and Camilla led the royals at the service last year.
Surprisingly, Kensington Palace revealed that Kate was wearing a red dress by Catherine Walker and hat by Gina Foster.
It was reported last month that the Palace would no longer comment on her outfits to keep focus on her work.
The thrifty princess has worn the dress, which comes with a bow, several times including during her first Christmas Carol concert at the Abbey in 2021.
Kate also wore Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings, which once belonged to Princess Diana, and the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Japanese four-strand pearl choker.
Kate and the King’s health problems of last year looked like a distant memory as she joked with her family and smiled at other guests.
The Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also joined a 2,000-strong congregation which included former Spice Girl Geri Horner, cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy and PM Sir Keir Starmer.
Deputy PM Angela Rayner wore a similar red dress to the Princess of Wales and took her seat across the nave at the service celebrating the “enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family”.
Delivering a message of unity to the 56 Commonwealth nations in the order of service, Charles wrote: “The Commonwealth’s ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today.”
King’s message
There were performances from artists including singer Joan Armatrading, 2015 Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists Braimah and Jeneba Kanneh-Mason and Masai Cultural Arts team.
The King then dashed to Buckingham Palace where he began the countdown to Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games next year.
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Launching the King’s Baton Relay, he placed a special message in a baton and gave it to Olympics cycling great Sir Chris.
It was one of 74 made of ash wood and left bare so that every country taking part can decorate it themselves.
A single word is carved into each baton which together spell out the King’s message.
Charles’s words will be read out at the opening ceremony of the games next summer.
Speaking afterwards, Sir Chris said: “It was a huge honour to receive the Commonwealth Baton from the King and kick the relay off as the Games start 500 days from today.
“As a proud Scot it’s great that the Commonwealth Games are back in Scotland next year.
“I thanked the King for hosting us today and how great it was to be here and what a wonderful celebration for the Games.”
Charles and Camilla last night joined a reception at Marlborough House, the home of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
They heard a commemorative song by Andrew Lloyd Webber called Love in Peace, performed by singers from The BRIT School and The Choir of The Queen’s College, Oxford.
The first Commonwealth Peace Prize was to be awarded at the reception to Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa and Reverend Dr James Movel Wuye.
They co-founded the Interfaith Mediation Centre to promote peace and mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims.
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