Kate Middleton showed her emotions during the Festival of Remembrance, marking her first major engagement with the royal family since completing chemotherapy.

On November 9, the Princess of Wales, 42, joined Prince William, King Charles, Princess Anne, and other members of the royal family at the solemn event at Royal Albert Hall in London to honor military service and sacrifices. Princess Kate appeared to hold back tears during a standing ovation for World War II veterans, as captured in footage shared by The Sun. Later, she seemed visibly emotional, holding her breath in a poignant moment during the evening service.

For Kate, this event represented an emotional return to public life after a difficult year, as described by Prince William, which included both her own cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as King Charles’ health struggles. “She is clearly a vital piece of the royal family, both symbolically and in reality as a future Queen,” royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE. “It was good that people saw her. You can’t say she is back, but she is coming back.”

This year’s Festival of Remembrance was especially significant, as it marked Kate’s first major event since announcing in September that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment. She had stepped away from the public eye earlier in the year to focus on her health following her cancer diagnosis, which she revealed in March.

Bedell Smith further noted that Prince William’s protective gesture towards Kate, as he put his arm around her during the event, reflected his deep care for her, especially given the hardships of the past year. “He was putting his arm around her and being very protective. It is connected to what he said about this being a ‘brutal’ year,” she explained. “He is not known for expressing his emotions in that way. It was solicitous and protective in a very understandable way.”

The British royal family traditionally attends the Festival of Remembrance to honor those who served in the armed forces, particularly in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday. This year, the event highlighted the contributions of the World War II generation, marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

After the Festival of Remembrance, Princess Kate made her first consecutive royal appearance by attending the Cenotaph Service on Remembrance Sunday, November 10. She observed the ceremony from a government building balcony, watching as King Charles and Prince William laid wreaths.

The wreath laid by Kate after the service carried a message: “In memory of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We will remember them.” While her participation in these events was not seen as a full return to royal duties, it reassured fans to see her looking well.

Kate had previously mentioned in her September announcement that she was “looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.” She had hoped to attend the Cenotaph Service on Remembrance Sunday, an event she has never missed since marrying Prince William in 2011.