Thousands of defiant royal fans armed with umbrellas pour into Mall for Trooping the Colour to show support for Princess Kate and wish the King a happy birthday despite it promising to be a washout with thunderstorms [Video]

05:20 EDT 15 Jun 2024, updated 06:48 EDT 15 Jun 2024

Royal fans stood in the rain on The Mall today as the Princess of Wales is set to make her first public appearance this year by joining the royals at Trooping the Colour.

Kate, who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February, will ride in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession through London today.

Later, she is expected to gather with King Charles and Queen Camilla, her husband Prince William and other royals on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the RAF flypast.

The family were photographed arriving at Buckingham Palace just after 10am, with George sitting between Kate and William, and Charlotte and Louis sat opposite, while Charles and Camilla were pictured riding in a separate car. 

Scotland Yard has a ‘substantial’ policing operation for the event, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed …