Prince William makes touching gesture at mention of Princess Kate during society wedding

Princess Kate was unable to attend the Duke of Westminster's wedding, but she was not far from Prince William or anyone else's thoughts.

By Catherine Meyer-Funnell, Royal Reporter based in London

Sarah Ferguson King and Princess Kate health update

Prince William made a touching gesture when a person in the crowd shouted out their best wishes for Princess Kate outside Chester Cathedral on Friday.

The Prince of Wales was an usher at the wedding of his good friend Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson. but due to her ongoing cancer treatment, Kate could not attend.

As William left the venue someone in the crowds gathered outside offered up words of support for the Princess, to which her husband said thank you and waved in acknowledgement.

Earlier this week William gave an update on Kate's condition while he was in Portsmouth marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.

One veteran asked after the Princess, to which William responded: "She is better, thanks. She would've loved to be here today. I was reminding everybody, that her grandmother served at Bletchley so she would have had quite a bit in common with a few of the other ladies here who served at Bletchley but never spoke about it until the very end."

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Princess Kate at Pippa Middleton's wedding

Princess Kate was unable to attend the Duke of Westminster's wedding. (Image: Getty)

It has been confirmed by Buckingham Palace that the Princess of Wales will not appear at the Colonel's Review on June 8, the final rehearsal before Trooping the Colour in one week.

As Colonel in Chief of the Irish Guards Kate would usually serve as Inspecting Officer at the Review, however for now she remains off work as she focuses on her recovery.

Kensington Palace sources stated that Kate would return to her duties once doctors have given her "the green light", with the Mail's Richard Eden saying: "Friends I spoke to in the past few days suggest we might not see Catherine again until the autumn – and only then if she has recovered fully."

Prince William at the wedding.

Prince William at the Duke of Westminster's wedding. (Image: Getty)

It remains unclear whether Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will be at Trooping the Colour on June 15 without their mother Kate.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams previously told Express.co.uk: "I am sure that William will attend as Colonel of the Welsh Guards. Obviously, Catherine is unlikely to because of her health and it may well be that their children will miss this year's Birthday Parade."

Prince George also missed out on Hugh Grosvenor's wedding yesterday despite being his godson, but royal editor Emily Nash explained that there was a good reason for this.

George, Camilla and Kate ride in carriage

The working royals were out in full force for Trooping the Colour last year. (Image: Getty)

She told HELLO's A Right Royal Podcast: "I think there was some expectation by royal fans that George might appear, he might take part as a page boy. And perhaps he might have but this is all happening on a Friday, it's a school day.

"Aside from everything else that's going on for William and Kate and their family at the moment, it's something they've probably considered at length, because if you take your child out of school for a wedding does that set a precedent? It is a really tricky one."

Aside from Trooping many upcoming royal engagements have had to be cancelled or postponed due to the upcoming General Election on July 4.

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