Royal fans can settle into the holidays by tuning into the Royal Variety Performance this evening, as the glittering event marked a milestone in the Princess of Wales’s journey back to public life after cancer treatment.
A highlight of the royal calendar, this year’s edition of the televised variety show was extra special as Kate Middleton and Prince William attended the event in a rare ‘black-tie’ outing on November 19.
The princess, 43, who announced she is in remission from cancer in January, was radiant as she walked the red carpet at Royal Albert Hall wearing a gorgeous, dark green velvet gown.
Kate paired her delightfully festive dress with matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, but the high heels didn’t stop the mother-of-three from gracefully bending to greet the furriest guest of the evening.
Footage from the event showed the Princess sweetly petting the dog perched at the feet of an attendee, as she appeared to forget that cameras were trained on her.
The heartwarming clip was later praised online as social media users gushed the ‘gentle-natured’ future Queen ‘radiated warmth and kindness in a way only she can’.
One comment under the Facebook video read: ‘Such a lovely woman who seems to really care about people. William is really lucky to have her as the next Queen.’
Another said: ‘She is beautiful inside & out.’
Kate, 43, was resplendent as she returned to the red carpet after completing cancer treatment when she attended the Royal Variety Performance in November
Kate paired her delightfully festive emerald green dress with matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, but the high heels didn’t stop the mother-of-three from gracefully bending to greet the furriest guest of the evening
A third added that Kate epitomised ‘unadulterated class and beauty’ while a fourth said Prince William’s wife was a ‘true princess in every aspect’.
‘The Princess of Wales is a true Royal in every way,’ one comment read. ‘She has never put a foot wrong. She is regal and graceful!’
Like her brother James Middleton, Kate is an ardent dog lover and the Waleses’ pooch Orla, a gorgeous black cocker spaniel, sometimes makes guest appearances in family photos.
Cocker spaniel Orla joined the Wales family in 2020 as a gift from Kate’s brother James Middleton, who is well known for breeding dogs.
Shortly after Orla’s arrival, the Waleses’ beloved Lupo passed away as the family paid tribute to ‘our dear dog’ in a heartfelt Instagram post.
Also a black spaniel, Lupo was believed to have been a great comfort to Kate during a difficult time when Prince William was deployed to the Falklands after their wedding in 2012.
‘He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years, and we will miss him so much,’ the couple honoured Lupo’s memory in their tribute five years ago.
The blow of Lupo’s death was softened by Orla’s arrival as a family friend told the Mail on Sunday that they were all ‘besotted’ by the pup.
Kate made a beeline for Scout, a therapy dog, during a visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital on January 14, 2025 in London, England
Then the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate was delighted when she met springer spaniel Max during a visit to Keswick in 2019
Kate couldn’t resist the charms of Bród, former Irish president Michael D Higgins’ beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, who sadly passed away in 2023
‘They were devastated when Lupo passed away, as any dog owner will understand, but got the new puppy before he died. It was hoped that a younger dog would give Lupo some company and give him a little more life and energy,’ they said.
‘The new puppy is adorable, and the whole family is besotted.’
It was later announced that Orla had given birth to a litter of puppies – much to the delight of the royal children.
At the time, a source told The Sun: ‘We always thought the patter of tiny feet in the Wales’s household had ended, so the sound of tiny paws will have to do.’
They added that Orla and her puppies are all ‘doing well’.
Since then, Orla has frequently appeared in official photos, including pictures shared by Kensington Palace to mark Princess Charlotte’s seventh birthday in 2022 and the Prince of Wales’s 43rd birthday in June.
She even appeared in Kate’s emotional cancer update video as the Princess confirmed she had completed a preventative course of chemotherapy.
The Royal Variety Performance will be aired tonight on ITV as the countdown to Christmas continues.
At this year’s event, William and Kate joined a slew of famous faces at Royal Albert Hall for the annual charity event.
The princess was resplendent in a green, v-neck evening gown with ruching and short sleeves that Kate paired with diamond accessories from Cartier.
William was dapper in evening dress as the couple stepped out for a rare joint ‘black-tie’ event that was hosted by comic Jason Manford.
Performances included an excerpt from Paddington: The Musical as well as a 40th anniversary display by the West End and Paris casts of Les Miserables.
At this year’s event, William and Kate joined a slew of famous faces at Royal Albert Hall for the annual charity event
The princess was resplendent in a green, v-neck evening gown with ruching and short sleeves that Kate paired with diamond accessories from Cartier
William was dapper in evening dress as the couple stepped out for a rare joint ‘black-tie’ event
The princess was also seen sharing an emotional moment with Jessie J as the pair discussed their individual cancer battles
Jessie, who is continuing to undergo cancer treatment and was forced to cancel her US tour dates in order to have surgery, appeared on Good Morning Americarecently and explained how she broke protocol to hug Kate at the Royal Variety Performance
The Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English reported that Kate had ‘goosebumps on her bare arms’ as she chatted to the guests and, at one point, was heard saying: ‘It is so nice to be back for the performance.’
The princess was also seen sharing an emotional moment with Jessie J as the pair discussed their individual cancer battles.
Kate revealed earlier this year that she was in remission from an undisclosed form of cancer, while the 37-year-old pop star underwent a mastectomy in June as part of her treatment for breast cancer.
Jessie, who is continuing to undergo cancer treatment and was forced to cancel her US tour dates in order to have surgery, appeared on Good Morning America recently and explained how she broke protocol to hug Kate at the Royal Variety Performance.
Speaking to host Maggie Rulli on December 5, Jessie recalled her conversation with the Princess.
‘She just said, ‘Thank you, I know you’ve gone through a tough time.’ I said, ‘I know you have too’,’ the singer revealed.
‘I just said, ‘I want to acknowledge that, mum to mum, cancer survivor to cancer survivor. I see you, and I feel you. Can I give you a hug?”
Traditionally, people are not allowed to touch a member of the Royal Family – but Kate gave permission to Jessie to embrace her, showcasing her care and compassion.
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