LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AS SHE RETURNS TO PUBLIC EYE THE PRINCESS OF WALES SHARES GOOD PROGRESS AS SHE THANKS FANS FOR SUPPORT

Looking serene and well amid the lush foliage of a weeping willow tree on the Windsor Estate, the Princess of Wales shared this stunning new image with a personal update on her health ahead of her return to the spotlight at Trooping the Colour.

- EMILY NASH

It's the good news that royal fans have been waiting for - and Kate's portrait and message say it all.

She posed for photographer Matt Porteous days before joining the rest of the royal family for the King's Birthday Parade.

In a touching and highly personal message released with the photo, Kate revealed she was "making good progress" and had been "blown away" by the support and encouragement she had received since sharing her diagnosis of an unspecified cancer.

She added that it had made the "world of difference" to her and her husband the Prince and "has helped us both through some of the harder times".

In words that will have resonated with many others who are undergoing treatment for cancer, she said: "As anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.