Kate Middleton and Prince William Step Out for First Time in a Month amid Royal Family Upheaval

Kate Middleton and Prince William joined members of the royal family for one of the most solemn days on the royal calendar — Remembrance Sunday.

The Princess of Wales, 43, stepped out for the annual Remembrance service at the Cenotaph in London on Nov. 9, watching from her usual perch on the Foreign Office balcony alongside Queen Camilla as King Charles led the nation in honoring those who lost their lives in service to Britain and the Commonwealth. 

This year, Charles, 76, laid a specially designed wreath that paid tribute to those of his late grandfather, King George VI, and his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Prince William, 43, also laid a wreath — the same one his father once used when he was Prince of Wales.

From the balcony, Kate appeared still, serene and composed in an all-black ensemble, accessorized with a black hat, scarf, her RAF brooch and the traditional red poppy.

Sunday’s appearance followed Kate’s outing the night before at the Royal British Legion’s annual Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, where she joined King Charles, Queen Camilla and other royals to honor the armed forces through music and reflection. Prince William was notably absent as he traveled home from Brazil after a busy week tied to his Earthshot Prize Awards.

By Kate’s side on Nov. 8 was the couple’s 12-year-old son, Prince George, who made his debut at the Remembrance event — a significant step in his gradual introduction to royal life.

On Tuesday, she is set to continue the commemorations with a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire for a Service of Remembrance marking Armistice Day.

The show of unity from the royal family comes just over a week after King Charles formally stripped his brother, the former Prince Andrew, of all his royal titles and instructed him to vacate his Windsor home, Royal Lodge.

A source tells PEOPLE that the King’s statement carried “a female touch” — with Queen Camilla and Princess Kate believed to have been involved in the discussions. “I would think the Queen had a hand in that,” the source speculates. “There would have been a push from Camilla and Catherine.”

This year’s Remembrance events come at a time of renewed stability for Kate, William and their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — who recently settled into their “forever home,” Forest Lodge, in Windsor — where they plan to remain even after Prince William becomes king.

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For the Princess of Wales, the weekend of tributes carries special meaning. Last year’s Remembrance events came just weeks after she announced she had completed chemotherapy for cancer, making her return to the Cenotaph especially poignant.

Since marrying Prince William in 2011, Kate has never missed the ceremony honoring the wartime sacrifices of Britain’s Armed Forces — a tradition she continues with quiet grace and steadfast devotion.