It has emerged that the Princess of Wales has held her first meeting since completing her chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis – and it marks her slow return to royal duties after taking time off for her recovery

The Princess of Wales has marked a major milestone in her return to work following the completion of her chemotherapy treatment.

It has emerged that yesterday she held her first meeting at Windsor Castle since the treatment ended following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. In the official Court Circular of engagements undertaken by working royals, an entry for September 17 reads: “The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle.”

The meeting is likely to have discussed the princess’ ambitious Shaping Us campaign, launched last year by the centre with the aim of raising the profile of the formative years of a child’s life.

Kensington Palace confirmed it is the first noted mention of Kate working since she was first hospitalised in January for abdominal surgery. The princess spent two weeks in hospital before being discharged to recover at home. Weeks later, doctors delivered a secondary diagnosis of cancer before she began a course of preventative chemotherapy.

Her return also comes a week after an intimate video of Kate, husband Prince William and their three children, the future queen – who was diagnosed with cancer in February – told how she was looking forward to returning to duties. In her video, she said: “I am looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months.” However, she added: “My path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”

So what does her work schedule look like now? Royal sources said the princess would ease herself back into royal life by working from home as well as undertaking some engagements. In her video, Kate explained: “I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”

One engagement she is said to be hoping to attend is Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph. Each year, all working members of the Royal Family gather at the memorial in Whitehall to honour the nation’s war dead with Kate hoping to attend. Meanwhile, the princess’ Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey has become a firm fixture in the royal calendar in recent years and she has begun working with her team on the project and is likely to host the event.

However, one event she is not expected to attend is William’s Earthshot Prize Awards in South Africa, with the future King set to attend the awards in Cape Town solo. Kate’s entry in the Court Circular is only the third time she has been mentioned in the official record of royal engagements since her health scare began at the start of the year.

She attended the King’s birthday parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, in June and the following month presented the winning trophy in the men’s Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz, with both events featured in the Court Circular.

Kate was applauded last week for her statement, in which she spoke of her cancer journey being “complex, scary and unpredictable”. The princess added: “With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.”

Kate also spoke of how her husband Prince William, 42, had been by her side and together they had come to “reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.” She added: “Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus.”