Kate joins William in Mumbai for Earthshot, her first big trip abroad since cancer

The Prince and Princess of Wales begin a three-day visit to India on Monday, with the Earthshot Prize awards night in Mumbai the centrepiece on Tuesday. According to the Evening Standard, it is the Princess of Wales's first long-haul overseas trip since she announced her cancer diagnosis in 2024.

Kensington Palace says the programme will celebrate innovation, sustainability, youth leadership and the links between the United Kingdom and India. Winners in five categories will each receive £1 million on awards night.

What is planned in India

The Standard reported that the couple are expected to meet Bollywood stars, learn about India's film industry and celebrate the country's love of cricket. They will also attend the first Children's Earthshot Awards, which grew out of the "I Can Earthshot Challenge" for young people across India.

The Mirror reported that the ceremony will be hosted by the Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and streamed on Prime Video for the first time. It is the sixth annual Earthshot awards and takes place on 17 November, at the end of a summit run by the Prince's environmental prize.

A spokesperson for the couple said India has produced more Earthshot winners and finalists than any other country: nine finalists and four winners.

How we got here: the key dates

March 2022: the couple's last major tour, to the Caribbean, was dogged by protests over slavery reparations and colonialism, according to the Mirror. Some images from the trip were criticised as echoing a colonial past.
December 2022: the couple last appeared together on the international stage, at the Earthshot awards in Boston. The princess then stayed at home for the ceremonies in Singapore, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro.
2024: the princess was diagnosed with cancer. The Standard said she was treated at the Royal Marsden hospital.
January 2025: she said she was in remission, the Mirror reported, after six months of preventative chemotherapy.
May: she made a solo two-day visit to Reggio Emilia in Italy to learn about early years teaching.

What the palace says about the trip

The Mirror reported that a spokesman for the couple said both were looking forward to the week and had fond memories of their last visit together in India in 2016. The spokesman said the princess is "incredibly proud" of what her husband has achieved with Earthshot and wants to see its progress for herself.

The Mirror said palace aides described the visit as set against a backdrop of optimism and looking to the future, with young people a major focus. It added that royal sources see the princess's decision to travel as a sign of growing confidence.

The Standard reported that the prince said earlier this year that his wife was gradually taking on more overseas visits, but that such trips take their toll and care is needed to make sure she is rested.

Why it matters

For readers following the royal family, the visit is the clearest sign yet of the princess's return to full public life after her illness. The Mirror described it as the biggest step so far, and said the couple's first official trip overseas in four years will inevitably invite comparisons with the Caribbean tour.

It is also a test of how the Prince of Wales's flagship environmental project is received in a country that, according to a spokesperson, has produced more of its winners and finalists than any other. The Mirror said the couple have rarely been seen together on the world stage since 2022, a period in which both the King and the princess were diagnosed with cancer.