welcome. the princess of wales has made her first official public appearance since announcing she was being treated for cancer. she joined the rest of the royal family at the annual trooping the colour parade to mark the king's official birthday. it's the first royal engagement she has carried out this year. the king — who is also receiving cancer treatment — travelled with the queen in a carriage, instead of riding on horseback as he has done in the past. charlotte gallagher reports. the princess of wales, back in the public eye. riding in a carriage with her three children at the king's birthday parade. all eyes on her for her first appearance since her cancer diagnosis was announced. she was a huge draw for the crowds in central london today. this is a day full of tradition and spectacle, but it's also about family. the king and queen in their carriage. it's his first trooping the colour since his own cancer diagnosis, and he chose not to travel on horseback. the troops taking part have been rehearsing for months. every step, drumbeat and musical note has to be perfect. the irish guards are leading the event this year and their colour, or regimentalflag, has been on full display. their royal colonel, the princess of wales, looked on with her children as the king took the salute from the parade ground next to his son and heir to the throne, prince william, himself the royal colonel of the welsh guards. the princess of wales only announced she was attending the event yesterday, and it's a welcome sign about her recovery and recuperation. although the weather hasn't been ideal, the pageantry of trooping the colour is the same, with the king braving the elements outside buckingham palace. this has been an incredibly difficult six months for the royalfamily, but today they are together for one of their grandest celebrations. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. let's speak to our correspondent sarah campbell in central london. sara, more eyes than usual watching this because of the princess of wales attending.— this because of the princess of wales attending. this because of the princess of wales attendinu. , , . ., wales attending. yes, it is always a reall bi wales attending. yes, it is always a really big event. — wales attending. yes, it is always a really big event, it's _ wales attending. yes, it is always a really big event, it's a _ wales attending. yes, it is always a really big event, it's a very - really big event, it's a very significant event in the royal calendar. as you say it celebrates the king's official birthday but as you say there are many eyes on the princess because as we said this is her first appearance since her cancer diagnosis. in fact, her first appearance since her cancer diagnosis. infact, herfirst public appearance since before christmas. let's talk to robert hardman of the daily mail and author of charles iii, the inside story. the palace are very keen to point out that this is not a return to royal duties for the princess. that is still some way off because her cancer treatment continues. that's ri . ht, cancer treatment continues. that's riaht, she cancer treatment continues. that's right. she has _ cancer treatment continues. that's right, she has said _ cancer treatment continues. that's right, she has said and _ cancer treatment continues. that's right, she has said and they - cancer treatment continues. that's right, she has said and they have l right, she has said and they have said, _ right, she has said and they have said. in_ right, she has said and they have said. in a — right, she has said and they have said, in a personal statement, she said, in a personal statement, she said i_ said, in a personal statement, she said i have — said, in a personal statement, she said i have my good days and i have my bad _ said i have my good days and i have my bad days. no question today is a -ood my bad days. no question today is a good day _ my bad days. no question today is a good day i— my bad days. no question today is a good day. i would say this is the most _ good day. i would say this is the most upbeat, probably the happiest day for— most upbeat, probably the happiest day for the monarchy this year. the last time _ day for the monarchy this year. the last time we — day for the monarchy this year. the last time we saw all of them together smiling and in good spirits was last_ together smiling and in good spirits was last christmas. since then we have _ was last christmas. since then we have had — was last christmas. since then we have had all the dramas, the medical diagnoses _ have had all the dramas, the medical diagnoses. they have been through a lot. diagnoses. they have been through a lot there _ diagnoses. they have been through a lot there is— diagnoses. they have been through a lot. there is still a long way to go but what — lot. there is still a long way to go but what we did see today was that the direction of travel is going the film the direction of travel is going the right wax — the direction of travel is going the right way. both the king and the princess— right way. both the king and the princess very much showing that the monarchy— princess very much showing that the monarchy are doing their best and united _ monarchy are doing their best and united as — monarchy are doing their best and united as a — monarchy are doing their best and united as a family today, a strong family— united as a family today, a strong family day — united as a family today, a strong family day. it united as a family today, a strong family day-— family day. it is an international event. it will— family day. it is an international event. it will be _ family day. it is an international event. it will be watched - family day. it is an international event. it will be watched from l family day. it is an internationall event. it will be watched from an international perspective. but as you say it is a family event, it always feels like a family event, and that image when they are standing on the balcony as the red arrows fly overhead, it is often used as a defining image of the royalfamily that used as a defining image of the royal family that year. so it would have been important to them that thatis have been important to them that that is the image as opposed to a depleted family, shall we say. you are absolutely _ depleted family, shall we say. you are absolutely right, had the princess— are absolutely right, had the princess not been there i think they would _ princess not been there i think they would have — princess not been there i think they would have been a ball hanging over it but— would have been a ball hanging over it but that's — would have been a ball hanging over it but that's the picture that will be it but that's the picture that will he on _ it but that's the picture that will he on the — it but that's the picture that will be on the front pages notjust in this country but on newspapers around — this country but on newspapers around the world tomorrow and the message _ around the world tomorrow and the message could not be clearer. yes, these _ message could not be clearer. yes, these are _ message could not be clearer. yes, these are challenging times but we are getting through this.— these are challenging times but we are getting through this. waving and smilin: as are getting through this. waving and smiling as much _ are getting through this. waving and smiling as much as _ are getting through this. waving and smiling as much as we _ are getting through this. waving and smiling as much as we can _ are getting through this. waving and smiling as much as we can ever- smiling as much as we can ever looking well. smiling as much as we can ever looking well-— smiling as much as we can ever lookin: well. ., ., ~' ., , looking well. looking well and she has said she _ looking well. looking well and she has said she is _ looking well. looking well and she has said she is going _ looking well. looking well and she has said she is going to _ looking well. looking well and she has said she is going to try - looking well. looking well and she has said she is going to try and - has said she is going to try and make _ has said she is going to try and make appearances as and when she can. make appearances as and when she can let's _ make appearances as and when she can. let's not forget this is the busiest — can. let's not forget this is the busiest time of year for the royal family. _ busiest time of year for the royal family, next week we have things like garter— family, next week we have things like garter day, royal ascot, there is a state — like garter day, royal ascot, there is a state visit coming up, royal weekend — is a state visit coming up, royal weekend in scotland, wimbledon, we know the _ weekend in scotland, wimbledon, we know the princess loves that. people will he _ know the princess loves that. people will be wondering whether we will see her— will be wondering whether we will see her at— will be wondering whether we will see her at those things. she has said let's — see her at those things. she has said let's wait and see but i think what _ said let's wait and see but i think what we — said let's wait and see but i think what we can take away from today is that this _ what we can take away from today is that this is _ what we can take away from today is that this is a — what we can take away from today is that this is a family that is very much _ that this is a family that is very much in — that this is a family that is very much in better spirits than they were _ much in better spirits than they were a — much in better spirits than they were a few months ago. the much in better spirits than they were a few months ago. the king, we should remember, _ were a few months ago. the king, we should remember, is— were a few months ago. the king, we should remember, is continuing - were a few months ago. the king, we should remember, is continuing his . should remember, is continuing his own cancer treatment, and recovery. in terms of adaptations, the main one was that he was on a horse last year and he was in a carriage this year. it has been extraordinary and his first public facing engagement was at the end of april. he's been really busy since then. they have been lots of big set piece events and lots of meeting the public. lgallium and lots of meeting the public. when ou took and lots of meeting the public. when you took those _ and lots of meeting the public. when you took those first _ and lots of meeting the public. when you took those first steps _ and lots of meeting the public. when you took those first steps at - and lots of meeting the public. when you took those first steps at easter and met— you took those first steps at easter and met a — you took those first steps at easter and met a few people at winsted no windsor— and met a few people at winsted no windsor castle, since then his engagements have got bigger and bigger. _ engagements have got bigger and bigger, he had a garden party here 'ust bigger, he had a garden party here just a _ bigger, he had a garden party here just a few— bigger, he had a garden party here just a few weeks ago, several thousand _ just a few weeks ago, several thousand people last week. there he was at _ thousand people last week. there he was at the _ thousand people last week. there he was at the beaches of normandy with other heads of state. very important for him _ other heads of state. very important for him underlying that the monarchy .oes for him underlying that the monarchy goes on _ for him underlying that the monarchy goes on. there are two sides of it, the head _ goes on. there are two sides of it, the head of— goes on. there are two sides of it, the head of state bit and the personal— the head of state bit and the personal bit. our head of state thing _ personal bit. our head of state thing hasn't changed, still meeting prime _ thing hasn't changed, still meeting prime ministers, with an election coming _ prime ministers, with an election coming up — prime ministers, with an election coming up and probably a state opening — coming up and probably a state opening of parliament very soon. all of these _ opening of parliament very soon. all of these things, that's when the monarchy— of these things, that's when the monarchy is front and centre in national— monarchy is front and centre in national life and you want to make sure he _ national life and you want to make sure he is— national life and you want to make sure he is there.— sure he is there. robert hardman, thank you- — sure he is there. robert hardman, thank you- as _ sure he is there. robert hardman, thank you. as we _ sure he is there. robert hardman, thank you. as we were _ sure he is there. robert hardman, thank you. as we were saying, - sure he is there. robert hardman,| thank you. as we were saying, and worth reiterating, this is not a full return to royal duties for catherine, princess of wales but it is certainly a reassuring step that things are going in the right direction. back to you. sarah campbell. — direction. back to you. sarah campbell, thank— direction. back to you. sarah campbell, thank you. - direction. back to you. sarah campbell, thank you. our. campbell, thank you. our correspondence sarah campbell in central london. dozens of world leaders arejoining president zelensky in switzerland to explore how to bring peace to ukraine. mr zelensky is hoping to sustain the momentum of this week's g7 meeting, when leaders pledged $50 billion of loans on the back of seized russian assets, and his signing a ten—year security deal with president biden. but no—one from russia is invited to the two—day summit, and china is staying away. our correspondent sarah rainsford joins me now. sarah, without russia attending, what expectations can there be for any meaningful step towards any peace process? i any meaningful step towards any peace process?— any meaningful step towards any eace rocess? ~ ., , ., peace process? i think that everyone involved in this _ peace process? i think that everyone involved in this process _ peace process? i think that everyone involved in this process is _ peace process? i think that everyone involved in this process is quite - involved in this process is quite clear that this is a very, very early and very tentative step towards a possible path to peace. this is not even being described as a peace summit, it is being described as a summit on peace. and that i think is key, because it's about trying to feel the way towards some kind of deal that first and foremost will be acceptable to ukraine, and could then potentially in the future be presented to russia. president zelensky of ukraine is already here, already holding meetings with a number of world leaders and he is already presenting the fact that this event is happening at all as a success. he's very keen to point of the huge number of people here come the huge number of people here come the huge number of people here come the huge number of countries represented, but as you mentioned, china is not here, and i that's key. if russia are at any point, and we are talking some way down the road here, not right now, if rush at any point were to be pressured into accepting any kind of deal that ukraine and its allies come up with, then china might be the key to that, without china here, without china involved in this process, it is difficult to see how russia could ever be pressured into accepting this deal. and let's be honest before the summit even happen, president putin was very clear that there is no way he will accept a deal. in fact, he issued his own ultimatum. he said he described it as a peace proposal but it wasn't, it was an ultimatum. he said ukraine must withdraw from all four regions that russia claims to have a next of ukrainian territory and ukraine must give up on ambitions ofjoining nato. there is ambitions ofjoining nato. there is a massive gulf between ukraine and russia at this point. the fighting is still intense inside ukraine. as i say, this is very much an early and tentative step.— and tentative step. sarah, if we look back at _ and tentative step. sarah, if we look back at some _ and tentative step. sarah, if we look back at some of _ and tentative step. sarah, if we look back at some of the - and tentative step. sarah, if we i look back at some of the progress made in the g7 summit in terms of the aid pledged and the security deal, what difference does that make to ukraine in its defence against russia in this war? i to ukraine in its defence against russia in this war?— russia in this war? i think all of it is critical. _ russia in this war? i think all of it is critical. it _ russia in this war? i think all of it is critical. it is absolutely - it is critical. it is absolutely critical. i think what ukraine would say is they are fighting all the time to persuade their allies to catch up with the reality on the ground. that's been the case with ammunition, that's been the case with missiles, with air defences, it's been the case with financial support as well. and i think the difference about this summit, or the way the summit fits into the hole bigger picture is that this is very much a global initiative. it is not supposed to be simply ukraine's allies, its western allies taking part, ukraine wanted the rest of the world to be here and wanted to seize the initiative on a possible peace process and bring as many countries in the process as possible. at this point all continents are represented here but key people are staying away. one news line that has come out of our conversations today, i spoke to the head of the administration here, ukraine's presidential administration, administration here, ukraine's presidentialadministration, he administration here, ukraine's presidential administration, he said to me if they can come up with some of plan at the summit ukraine is open to russia being present at a second summit, possibly of world leaders, may be including putin, he implied, that could take place as a next step. but i think all of this is a long way down the line. the fighting is still intense and the gulf between russia and ukraine, the principles on which ukraine is prepared to compromise nothing, territory and integrity is key, defence is key, joining nato if it wants to is also key. it is a very, very convex problem to solve. as ukraine is saying today, at least they are bidding on to take the first steps. they are bidding on to take the first steps-— they are bidding on to take the first stes. . ~' ,, ., ~ , first steps. thank you, sarah. as ou sa , first steps. thank you, sarah. as you say, tentative _ first steps. thank you, sarah. as you say, tentative first _ first steps. thank you, sarah. as you say, tentative first step - first steps. thank you, sarah. as you say, tentative first step at i first steps. thank you, sarah. as you say, tentative first step at a | you say, tentative first step at a significant one. that is our correspondence sarah rainsford. thank you for the update. the ukrainian president was in a positive mood as the summit opened. todayis positive mood as the summit opened. today is a day ofjoint success. indeed, we all managed to give diplomacy a chance. ukraine never wanted this war, it is criminal and absolute unprovoked aggression of russia and the only one who wanted it was putin. i believe that we will witness history being made here at the summit. thank you for your support. and mayjustice be established as soon as possible. that was president of volodymyr zelensky, a little bit of what he had to say in that discussion of leaders there, exploring how to bring peace to ukraine. let's turn to politics over here now. we're at the halfway point in the general election campaign here in