Kate Middleton's next royal engagement revealed with biggest role since cancer treatment

The Princess of Wales has only made several public appearances this year after receiving a cancer diagnosis and having chemotherapy treatment - but her most important outing yet has been confirmed by Buckingham Palace - and it is coming up next week

The Princess of Wales will take on her biggest royal role since finishing chemotherapy treatment, with a major appearance next week.

It has been confirmed that she will participate in the Emir of Qatar's state visit to the UK alongside other members of the Royal Family. Kate, who is recovering from cancer, will join her husband Prince William in greeting Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, at Kensington Palace next Tuesday (December 3).

William and Kate are then due to travel with the pair to Horse Guards Parade, where they will receive a ceremonial welcome before meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla. Presentations will be made, a royal salute will occur and the Qatari national anthem is set to be played.

The Emir and Sheikha Jawaher will join Charles and Camilla and William and Kate in a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they will be met by a second guard of honour. However, Kate will not attend the grand state banquet hosted by the King where royal guests are expected to wear tiaras at Buckingham Palace in the evening, Kensington Palace said.

The princess, 42, has made just a handful of public appearances so far in 2024 after she underwent major abdominal surgery in January and then was diagnosed with cancer. Last month, Kate made a surprise visit with her husband William to meet the bereaved families of the victims of the Southport attack. She also honoured the war dead at Remembrance events earlier this month.

In a video the princess released in September, she revealed she had finished her chemotherapy treatment, and spoke of how she was "looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months". But she added her focus was "doing what I can to stay cancer-free".

She is also expected to appear at Westminster Abbey later that week on Friday, December 6 for her annual Christmas Carol Concert, with planning for this year's event well underway.

The Emir and Sheikha Jawaher will arrive next Monday afternoon at London Stansted Airport ahead of their two-day visit. The following day, the pair are set to view a special exhibition relating to Qatar at Buckingham Palace. There will also be a visit to Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster.

On the morning of December 4, the Emir will visit the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally bid farewell to the King and Queen. The ruling Emir will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks at Downing Street before his departure. Qatar – one of the richest Gulf states – is a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war.

But the country has faced criticism over its human rights record, in particular its criminalisation of same-sex relationships. Charles visited the country eight times as the Prince of Wales and met the Emir at the Cop28 summit in Dubai in December.

The Qatari leader and Sheikha Jawaher also attended the King's coronation in Westminster Abbey and the late Queen's funeral. Sheikh Tamim, 44, was educated in Britain, attending public schools Sherborne and Harrow, before graduating from the Sandhurst military academy. He set up Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2005, which owns the French football team Paris Saint-Germain.