Author: openjargon

• Rep. Tom Cole's office has been a place for GOP lawmakers to smoke cigars and bond.
• But the Oklahoma Republican recently switched offices — depriving Republicans of their usual spot.
• "We desperately need a place to smoke cigars," said Cole. 

House Republicans are facing yet another crisis — but it's only tangentially related to the business of crafting and passing laws.

They need a place to smoke cigars near the House floor.

Until recently, they had one: Rep. Tom Cole, a long-serving Oklahoma Republican known for his own cigar penchant, had provided space for such activities as chairman of the House Rules Committee, which meets on the second floor of the Capitol.

"The Rules office was a great place," Cole told Axios. "But I'm not Rules chairman anymore."

But Cole recently got a new job. He took over as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, a panel that oversees government funding, after Rep. Kay Granger of Texas opted to step down. Cole opted to let Granger keep her existing office space in a show of respect, leaving him without a space in the Capitol for cigar-puffing.

"We desperately need a place to smoke cigars," said Cole.

Several House Republicans backed Cole up, saying that having a space for cigar smoking in the Capitol was important for mentoring newer colleagues and building relationships, especially in a place with as much GOP infighting as the House of Representatives.

"There's no better time to build a relationship than over a cigar," Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania told Axios. "You can actually have a long conversation with somebody, and it really leads to building bridges."

In general, Republicans are more likely than Democrats to be smokers at the Capitol. Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican former sheriff from Texas, can often be seen lighting up a cigar at the top of the House steps after votes.

And the smoking trend extends to some younger staffers as well.

"My Senate office probably has the highest ratio of smokers of anybody in the US Senate," Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio told Business Insider in January. "So there's probably something to be said there."

• The average American household spends at least $475 a month on groceries.
• 40 million Americans are food insecure and SNAP benefits often don't provide enough financial help.
• With only $23 a month from SNAP,  Mary Dacus is often reliant on food pantries. 

Mary Dacus, 69, fills her basket at Ruler Foods with the essentials.

Three cans of SpaghettiOs for $1 each, a dozen eggs for $2.99, a half gallon of milk for $2.59. She adds bread, soup, potatoes, chili mix, graham crackers, cereal bars, clementines, toilet paper, some frozen vegetables, and canned chicken — the fresh stuff is expensive.

It comes to $83.02.

Dacus goes shopping near her home in Robinson, Illinois — a city 200 miles south of Chicago — on the fourth Wednesday of every month after her husband Stephen cashes his Social Security check. She hopes the food will last them a full 30 days, but she inevitably has to stop at Walmart a few times to fill in the gaps.

Granola for $5.34, bell peppers for $2.88, two bottles of butter pecan coffee creamer for $7.94, and a new vacuum bag for $8.77. That's an additional $53.39.

Dacus and her husband have to stick to a tight budget: their household only receives $23 a month from SNAP. They must rely on their combined $2,140 Social Security income for the rest and any other expenses they have since they're both retired. The average American household spends $475 a month on groceries plus $303 on restaurants and takeout, according to the latest available US Bureau of Labor Statistics report on consumer expenditures in 2022.

There are over 40 million Americans experiencing food insecurity. SNAP provides relief for many households living paycheck to paycheck. But some struggling families, like Dacus', don't receive enough help, or their income is considered too high to receive any help at all. ALICEs — people who are asset-limited, income-constrained, employed — feel especially left behind by food assistance programs.

According to the Pew Research Center, about 13% of Americans, or 22 million households, are enrolled in government food benefits.

Anything helps, Dacus said, but her SNAP allocation "barely covers one meal."

"The man called me and told me, 'Oh, we're going to get you $23 a month.' And I laughed," she said. "That's pitiful. That's really pitiful."

With limited SNAP dollars, Dacus relies on food pantries

Dacus is a good cook — she used to love making pot roast when she could afford it — and can usually make a meal out of whatever miscellaneous ingredients she and Stephen have in their cupboard. She typically makes crockpot meals, casseroles, or other dishes that she can stretch for more than one meal. But $23 a month in food benefits isn't even close to affording what they need to eat.

Often, Dacus said a full month of food and household products can run them about $200, plus an additional $30 to $50 a week when they run out of things. They struggle with their other household bills, are in nearly $10,000 in credit card debt, and have drained their savings in order to pay for food and healthcare.

"We've used our credit cards within the last three and a half years to buy groceries and things that we needed," she said, adding that she and Stephen's low credit score has now made it difficult to qualify for housing and car payments.

To avoid going hungry, Dacus said she has to rely on local food pantries. They pick up canned goods and packaged food. But there aren't many food pantries near her house, and the ones in driving distance are open for limited hours. Even when they can go to the pantry, Dacus said the food is unhealthy and sometimes spoiled.

SNAP benefits don't always align with household needs

America's SNAP program provides low-income households with money to grocery shop, and the qualifying criteria is based on the federal poverty line. The allocation can also be affected by earned-income taxes, and the number of children or older adults in a household. What's more, the costs of groceries can vary widely based on a person's location.

An individual with a monthly gross income lower than $1,580 can receive a maximum of $291 monthly from SNAP, and a couple with a monthly income lower than $2,137 can receive a maximum of $535, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Yet, many households like Dacus' don't receive the maximum because their income isn't low enough.

There are also limitations on how SNAP dollars can be used. The money covers basic food products like milk and bread, but it cannot be used to purchase dish soap, toilet paper, laundry detergent, vitamins, feminine products, over-the-counter medicine, or pet food.

Groceries are just part of the $38,268 the average couple in Robinson, Illinois needs to survive every year, which includes the cost of housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, and unexpected expenses, according to United Way. For a family with two school-age children, that number becomes $61,632. This budget doesn't leave any room to build savings or prepare for retirement.

It's also more difficult for childfree adults, or adults whose children are no longer minors, to qualify for food assistance. Dacus said she and her husband have to rely on SNAP and food pantries because she can't access other programs like WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), the child tax credit, and parts of the earned-income tax credit.

"We don't get ahead at all," Dacus said. "We take two steps forward and three back."

Are you experiencing food insecurity? Are you open to sharing your experience with SNAP or grocery shopping? If so, reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com.

• Ukraine has modified its naval drones to carry R-73 heat-seeking missiles.
• It's the latest innovation for the country's formidable fleet of uncrewed systems.
• The upgraded naval drones will be able to target Russian aircraft patrolling the Black Sea. 

Ukraine has armed its naval drones with heat-seeking missiles, giving the systems a major upgrade that will allow them to target Russian aircraft patrolling around the Black Sea.

An unspecified number of Magura V5 naval drones have been modified to carry R-73 short-range air-to-air missiles, the Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence, an arm of the country's defense ministry, confirmed on Monday, marking another noteworthy innovation for Kyiv's fleet of uncrewed systems.

These innovative drones were first spotted in early May and have already been used during combat operations in the Black Sea, the HUR said in a statement shared to the Telegram messaging app, adding that the systems have become "a serious factor of fear and risk" for Russian aircraft.

"Such developments are effective — Russians are very afraid of them," the commander of "Group 13," a special HUR unit dedicated to operating the naval drones, said in a recent interview.

"When they see them, they are afraid to even fly up. And the uniqueness is that no one has such a thing," the commander said in the interview, which the HUR shared to Telegram. "This weaponry has already been installed, and it will produce results."

The R-73, known by NATO as the AA-11 Archer, is a Soviet-era missile that has infrared homing technology and is typically carried by Sukhoi and MiG fighter jets.

Outfitting a naval drone with such weaponry is an unusual development, as the speedboat-like systems have historically been rigged with explosives and used to go after Russia's Black Sea Fleet, but the addition is likely to make these combat systems more dynamic during a mission.

Moscow, largely unable to stop Ukraine's unrelenting naval drone attacks, has turned to combat aircraft to patrol the waters and protect its warships. Now, the naval drones can use their R-73 missiles to defend themselves from Russian aerial attacks and provide cover for other uncrewed systems, thus reducing their vulnerability to the threats from above.

The R-73 missile upgrade represents another innovation for Ukraine's formidable naval drone program, which has given Kyiv a way to take on the Black Sea Fleet even though it doesn't have a proper navy of its own.

Ukraine has also outfitted its Sea Baby drones — another type of homemade uncrewed system — with Grad rockets to hit targets on land.

"Naval drones, primarily the Magura V5, have become such an asymmetric response that the enemy still cannot catch up to," Andrii Yusov, a representative of the HUR, told private Ukrainian television channel ICTV.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Ukraine has sunk, destroyed, or damaged at least 24 Russian vessels in the Black Sea. Kyiv has relied on its fleet of naval drones, as well as long-range missiles, to inflict these losses.

Drone warfare has been one of the defining elements of the war in Ukraine. Beyond Kyiv's uncrewed success in the Black Sea, unmanned systems have been used in both surveillance and attack roles in the air and on the ground.

• Apple's new iOS 18 will make iPhone 14 and later models less reliant on wi-fi or cell connectivity.
• The company is expanding an emergency satellite messaging feature first introduced with iPhone 14.
• While currently free, it could become a source of profit as Apple grows its services business.

Several of Apple's iOS 18 software features will make iPhone 14 and later models less reliant on wi-fi or cellular connectivity — and could potentially even make the company less reliant on iPhone sales.

The company is expanding an emergency messaging feature, first introduced with iPhone 14, which enabled devices to contact first responders via satellite.

While the service was initially free, Apple indicated at the time that it would likely charge for the emergency feature, but then it extended the free period for another year.

But then, at last week's WWDC, the company unveiled a non-emergency version of the service it's calling "Messages via satellite."

"Now you can use the satellite capabilities on iPhone 14 and later to connect to satellites hundreds of miles above the Earth to text your friends and family when you're off the grid," said Ronak Shah, Apple's head of internet technologies product marketing.

The functionality will support sending and receiving messages, emoji, and tap-backs, all with end-to-end encryption, as well as SMS messaging.

While the emergency service is currently free — and could likely stay that way — the non-emergency version could become a source of profits as Apple grows its services business to offset slowing iPhone sales. Last quarter, the company reported record services revenue while iPhone sales fell 10% from a year earlier.

For now, Messages via satellite might be most useful as a nudge for owners of older iPhone models to upgrade, especially if the service expands to support calls and other media.

But the financial upside could be even better for the company if it decides to charge for the service as it does for Music, News, or Apple TV.

• Patrice Poltzer realized it was cheaper to go to Europe than pay for a summer camp for 10 weeks. 
• On their return, the mom and her husband realized more than ever that they were in the NYC rat race.
• They moved their family to Portugal in 2023, and Potzer said their new lifestyle was way better.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Patrice Poltzer. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I got sticker shock in 2017 when researching summer camps for my two oldest boys.

We rented in Brooklyn; even the most basic day camps cost more than $1,000 for the two of them. My husband, Olly, and I calculated that we'd spend at least $12,000 sending them for 10 weeks. It wasn't as if they would be at camp all day — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. instead.

When we did the math, we figured it would be cheaper to travel to Olly's native England instead. We stayed with his family most of the time, but we used London as a hub to visit other parts of Europe, like Croatia.

Our trips to Europe felt like an adventure

It wasn't as if we were paying for fancy hotels. We stayed in a couple of AirBnBs and then spent three weeks with friends in Zagreb, followed by an island where their relatives owned a home. Olly and I worked remotely.

Many parents are scared to travel with little kids, but they're adaptable. There were some challenges with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old at the time. But it was an experiment — a cool adventure.

We did the same thing several years in a row because it made financial sense. We spent time in France and Spain before venturing into Portugal.

Portugal had a stunning, rugged landscape with seemingly untouched beaches. We felt like explorers of a different planet. "I could live here," I told Olly in the summer of 2019.

Each time we returned to the US, I was conscious that we were doing what everyone else did in New York — working harder to make money so we could live a certain way.

The price of living was crazy. I once spent $50 on bagels. I'd go to Target for one thing and come out with $1,000 of stuff. "How did that happen?" I'd ask myself.

Meanwhile, we always wanted the next upgrade: a better apartment — one with a washer/dryer. Then, when I got pregnant with our youngest son, my landlady said, "You're going to need a larger place."

Our kids integrated into the Portuguese culture

Then, in 2022, Olly's boss moved with his family to Spain full-time. We thought, "If the boss can do it, we can do it too." We were on vacation in Mexico City over the New Year of 2023. Olly and I sat in a bar, and he said, "Are we going to do this?"

Portugal made the most sense. Within eight months, we moved to Lisbon. We chose an ornate, high-ceiling apartment straight out of Architectural Digest. The cost in Euros was a fraction of our rent in Brooklyn.

We chose an international school for our kids, where many Portuguese children want to learn English. I liked that our boys were integrated into the culture.

The adjustment wasn't quite so easy for me. After all my years in the city, I'd attached my identity to living in New York. I didn't speak the language, and there was red tape. I started crying in a coffee shop because my American credit cards were denied again. We'd applied for Portuguese credit cards, but they took forever to come through.

Slowly, I found my groove. My video production business is doing well. Olly set out on his own in tech. I'm seeing Lisbon in color. Things are magical. There's no Amazon. There's no Target. I don't waste money on things we don't need.

I don't want to return to New York City

I don't worry about healthcare bills any longer. My mom has embraced the laid-back European lifestyle and often flies from Chicago to watch the boys. It's a kid-friendly environment.

This is how I want to live my life; I'm at that point where, if you had to tell me we had to go back to New York tomorrow, I wouldn't want to contemplate it.

Do you have an interesting story about living away from your native country that you'd like to share with Business Insider? Please send details to jridley@businessinsider.com.

• Season three of "Bridgerton" addresses Lady Danbury's past affair with Violet's father, Lord Ledger.
• The two women acknowledge the affair in the finale and emphasize the importance of their friendship.
• Adjoa Andoh, who plays Lady Danbury, told Business Insider she enjoyed the "delicate resolution."

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for season three of "Bridgerton."

The season three finale of "Bridgerton" addresses one of the biggest unresolved storylines from the prequel spin-off "Queen Charlotte" involving Lady Agatha Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) and Violet Bridgerton (Ruth Gemmell) — and the result is a heartwarming scene that solidifies their friendship.

Season three of "Bridgerton" focuses on Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and Penelope Featherington's (Nicola Coughlan) friends-to-lovers relationship, while also juggling multiple character arcs. Among those is the arrival of Lord Marcus Anderson (Daniel Francis), Lady Danbury's younger brother whose presence forces her to reckon with their complex past. Lady Danbury's friendship with Violet also becomes complicated when Marcus takes an interest in her.

Here's how the season three finale provides a satisfying resolution for Lady Danbury and Violet.

In 'Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,' young Lady Danbury has an affair with Violet's dad, Lord Ledger

"Queen Charlotte," released in 2023, alternates between the 1700s and the present-day world of "Bridgerton."

Although the miniseries centers on the relationship between young Queen Charlotte (India Amarteifio) and young King George III (Corey Mylchreest), it also dives into the backstory of young Lady Danbury and explains why she has such an affinity for the Bridgertons.

After the death of her husband, Lord Danbury (Cyril Nri), she connects with Lord Ledger (Keir Charles) and the pair go on secret walks together. They have a brief affair but mutually agree to stop seeing each other.

Then in the season finale, set in the present day, Violet comes to the realization that Lady Danbury and Lord Ledger had a relationship.

Violet tries to lightly prod Lady Danbury into confessing by asking if she ever had the desire to marry again or take a lover after Lord Danbury's death. Lady Danbury, playing coy, says that she "wanted to feel alive."

"I have loved and been loved," she says. "And that is all I shall say."

Lady Danbury and Violet Bridgerton acknowledge the affair in the season 3 finale of 'Bridgerton,' but harbor no hostility

While having a drink together, Violet asks for Lady Danbury's blessing to pursue her feelings for Marcus. In response, Lady Danbury says that it's not her place, and they're both adults who are free to do what they wish.

"After all, it is not as though I asked your permission," Lady Danbury adds, subtly referencing the affair. "You know, yes?"

In response, Violet says: "I know my father was a good man. And that you have been a very good friend. And that is all I need to know."

Lady Danbury reciprocates Violet's sentiments and makes it clear that no man, even a family member, will ever come in the way of their friendship.

"And my brother is a good man," Lady Danbury says. "And you are a good friend. And that is all I need to know as well. But if he sours things between the two of you, I will pick you over him."

Adjoa Andoh was pleased with the 'delicate' way the show handled the drama

In an interview about her hopes for Lady Danbury in season four, Andoh told Business Insider that she had been waiting for the metaphorical shoe to drop ever since Lady Danbury and Lord Ledger's affair occurred in "Queen Charlotte." That additional context about Lady Danbury's backstory also informed her performance in season three of "Bridgerton."

"I was really fascinated to see if it would and how it would impact the narrative of season three," Andoh said. "And I've really enjoyed the way Violet and I come to our own delicate resolution, but also in that mix obviously is the brother. It's kind of lovely. There's a lot of complexity in there for Lady Danbury."

"Queen Charlotte" shows young Lady Danbury's fragility and obstacles that she had to overcome before establishing herself as the powerful, commanding woman that fans have come to love in "Bridgerton."

"When you come to season three, you've had all of that, plus you know that she had this great love of her life and it makes your understanding of why she's so invested in the Bridgertons stronger. Why? Because they are the offspring of the man of her heart," Andoh said.

Marcus' unexpected return to the ton throws Lady Danbury off because she's pushed to confront their strained dynamic, which stems from him foiling her plan to escape the night before her wedding to Lord Danbury — a betrayal that she never forgave him for.

Even though Lady Danbury is supportive of Violet wanting her garden to bloom (a metaphor for her horniness) she becomes protective of her friend when Marcus enters the picture.

"She wants to protect Violet from someone who she has banished to the far reaches of her mind because, for her, he's a betraying, terrible brother, and that makes him a betraying, terrible person," Andoh explained. "And she does not want that person anywhere near her friend. Especially as she's been the one that's been going, 'Go on Violet, get back on the pony, you can bloom that garden, sister… Not with him. Don't do it with him. He will make it wither.'"

Andoh said she has fond memories of filming the scene with Gemmell, whom she describes as a "goddess." The heartfelt, non-confrontational scene also reflects the two women's respect and care for each other.

"Friends are hard to come by and long-term friends are really hard to come by," she said. "You hold tight to them if you can. So I think that's what you saw in the scene. There was a delicacy in it that was born out of love and devaluing of the preciousness of friendship and the wanting to hold onto it."

All episodes of "Bridgerton" season three are streaming on Netflix.

• Trooping the Colour honors the monarch each year. 
• But the younger generation of royals often steal the show with their antics at Buckingham Palace.
• In 1988, Prince Harry stuck his tongue out, and Prince Louis has made a splash in recent years.

The royal family gathered at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on Saturday.

Trooping the Colour is the British sovereign's official birthday celebration, and the 2024 event was King Charles III's second as monarch. It also marked Kate Middleton's first royal engagement of the year, as she used the occasion to return to the public eye after her months-long absence.

The parade offers one of the few times the whole royal family gathers in public together throughout the year, so the event is always heavily photographed.

For decades, royal children have been pictured greeting the public from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, and they're often documented in candid moments of joy and silliness as their powerful parents look on in both exasperation and laughter.  

From Prince William to Prince Louis, take a look at times royal children have stolen the show at Trooping the Colour.

At the 1984 Trooping the Colour, a blond Prince William distracted his cousins on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

In 1985, young Prince William again distracted his cousins by pointing during the parade.

Prince Harry sweetly mimicked his older brother at the 1987 Trooping the Colour.

Prince Harry was photographed sticking his tongue out at cameras while Princess Diana held him at the 1988 parade.

At the same parade, Prince William caused a stir by covering his face in apparent exasperation.

At the 1989 Trooping the Colour, Prince Harry and Prince William waved in a silly manner as they honored their grandmother.

Prince William and Prince Harry were playful with their cousins on a carriage at the 1990 Trooping the Colour.

Harry was photographed sweetly looking down at the crowds in front of Buckingham Palace at the same celebration.

Although they were a bit older, Prince William and Prince Harry still managed to cause a bit of a distraction at the 2003 Trooping the Colour by pointing and staring at the crowds.

At his first Trooping the Colour in 2015, Prince George stole the show before he even walked out onto the balcony by waving at crowds from a window.

When he did reach the balcony, photographers captured the young prince pointing at the crowds as his father and uncle did years before him.

In 2016, Princess Charlotte adorably waved at the crowds assembled for the Queen.

Both Charlotte and George appeared to get tired later the same day.

The pair both appeared stressed out by the planes flying over the palace in 2017.

Savannah Phillips playfully covered George's mouth during the 2019 Trooping the Colour while William looked on.

But later, Savannah, Charlotte, and George all grinned and clapped as they watched the parade.

In 2019, George, Charlotte, and Prince Louis all looked cutely overwhelmed by the planes flying above them.

At the same event, George looked at the sky unhappily while Charlotte covered her ears.

At the 2022 Trooping the Colour, George, Charlotte, and Louis made funny faces as they looked down at the crowds in front of the palace from a window.

The siblings were then seen sweetly interacting with their great-grandmother during the event.

But Louis really became the star of the day when he dramatically reacted to the planes flying overhead by screaming and covering his ears.

The young prince's face even turned red from the force of his yell.

Louis was photographed covering his ears again at the 2023 Trooping the Colour, though he didn't look quite as unhappy as in 2022.

Both George and Louis made silly faces as they watched the fanfare in matching blazers and ties.

Meanwhile, Charlotte shared a sweet moment with William, holding his hands over her shoulders as they stood together on the balcony.

And Louis stole the show again by pretending he was flying the overhead planes, miming revving an engine.

George, Charlotte, and Louis' attendance at the 2024 Trooping the Colour marked their first public appearance of the year.

All three children turned their heads to the sky as planes flew overhead, delighting in the fanfare.

Louis was particularly excited, gasping as he took in the sights from the balcony.

One of the day's sweetest moments came when Louis and Charlotte mimicked their parents. Louis and Kate bore identical expressions at the same time as William and Charlotte.

• Tripadvisor's cofounder discussed the traits he looks out for when hiring and potential red flags.
• Interviewees should look out for questions about their most difficult projects and self-improvement.
• Kaufer says curiosity and adaptability are crucial traits, especially in startups.

A stellar résumé and LinkedIn profile is only half the battle for surviving the current job market. Nailing your hiring interviews is an entirely separate test, and Tripadvisor cofounder Steve Kaufer recently shared some red flag answers to avoid.

Kaufer, who stepped down as Tripadvisor CEO in 2022 to found the philanthropy-focused startup Give Freely, spoke on "The Logan Bartlett Show" about his interviewing methodology and what traits he looks out for when hiring.

One go-to question he asks: What's the hardest project you've ever worked on? Kaufer said he listens for tendencies to blame others (a red flag) or their ability to be empathetic to coworkers (a green flag).

"That can often tell me, are they a team player?" he said. "Are they ever taking responsibility on why something became difficult?"

In other words, don't play the blame game in interviews, as it could suggest an inability to take personal responsibility when things get tough.

The answer to that question can also indicate differing definitions of hard work, the former Tripadvisor CEO said. For example, if the candidate viewed a task as difficult because they had to work on a single Saturday, that can be "kind of a red flag," Kaufer said.

Kaufer said he looks not only at the obstacles interviewees struggled with but also at their ability to constantly evaluate and improve for future endeavors. Kaufe said he'll often ask about successful projects, and how they might still refine those processes.

"That'll sometimes catch people off guard," he said. "And I can see by the pause that they've never thought about it."

Kaufer is also particularly drawn to curiosity, which he also uses to gauge interviewees' adaptability. Interest in the latest technology or future trends can help indicate flexibility, especially in more unpredictable environments like startups.

"I don't know a good question for adaptability, I do know good questions for curiosity," he said.

For example, with AI as the tech sphere's latest industry shake-up, Kaufer specifically asks interviewees whether they have played around with new AI agents and chatbots. For Kaufer, it's important that a candidate demonstrate a willingness to adapt and a curiosity about what's around the corner.

The software engineers who say they haven't experimented with AI usually get passed on, he said.

"I just don't understand it," Kaufer said. "And I probably don't want to work with that individual."

• Kate Middleton announced she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer on March 22.
• She didn't attend royal events for nearly six months amid her health struggles. 
• But on Saturday, the princess returned to public duty at Trooping the Colour.

Kate Middleton finally returned to the public eye.

On March 22, the Princess of Wales revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for an unspecified type of cancer after months of speculation.

Kensington Palace previously announced that Kate had a "planned abdominal surgery" in January, saying she likely wouldn't return to public duty until after Easter.

As time passed, her absence led conspiracy theories about the princess to run rampant online, some of which were bolstered after Kensington Palace released an edited photo of Kate and her children on March 10.

But Kate spoke directly to the public about her health to announce her illness, revealing her diagnosis and reiterating a request for privacy in a video shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' social-media accounts.

And on Saturday, Kate attended King Charles' birthday celebration, Trooping the Colour, marking her first official public appearance in 2024. She also gave a public update about her health ahead of the event.

Here's everything we know so far.

Kate Middleton made her most recent public appearance on Christmas Day.

Kate joined the royal family for their annual walk from Sandringham in Norfolk, England, to attend a church service on Christmas Day.

The Princess of Wales walked with her children and husband to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in one of her signature coatdresses, much like she did in years past.

On January 17, Kensington Palace announced Kate was in the hospital for "a planned abdominal surgery."

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Kensington Palace said in its statement that Kate would remain in the hospital, The London Clinic, for up to two weeks following the procedure.

"Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery," the statement read. "The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter."

Kensington Palace provided no additional information about what procedure Kate underwent, though the palace told the Associated Press the princess didn't have cancer.

The statement also said Kate hoped "her personal medical information remains private" to help provide her children with "normality."

"Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share," the statement went on to say.

Prince William was photographed visiting Kate at the hospital the following day.

Kensington Palace said on January 29 that Kate had returned to Windsor Castle.

"The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery," the statement shared on Instagram said. "She is making good progress."

William and Kate went on to thank the staff at The London Clinic in the statement, as well as those who sent them well wishes.

The same day, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles was returning home after having a procedure for a benign prostate enlargement.

Buckingham Palace announced on February 5 that King Charles has cancer.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement that "a separate issue of concern was noted" during the king's prostate procedure, and additional testing disclosed he has cancer. The palace didn't disclose what form of cancer he was diagnosed with, though they said it wasn't prostate cancer.

The statement also said that the king "commenced a schedule of regular treatments" and that although he would still be working from home, he would "postpone public-facing duties" per medical advice.

The palace didn't specify how long the king would forgo public-facing work.

"His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer," the statement also said.

Prince William returned to public duty on February 7.

William paused his royal engagements amid Kate's surgery and recovery, returning to work on February 7 for an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

The same day, he attended a gala raising money for the London Air Ambulance, and he thanked the public for their messages of support for Kate, Town & Country reported.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days," he said, adding that "it means a great deal to us all."

He has attended a handful of public events since. The public was predicted to look to William in Charles and Kate's absences, as he represents the monarchy's future as heir to the throne.

"It's an opportunity for him to communicate on behalf of the royal family," Eric Schiffer, the chairman of Reputation Management Consultants, said.

In addition, the public generally responds to younger royals more favorably. Without Kate, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, William's youth could be a boon for the monarchy, as Kristen Meizner, a royal watcher, told BI.

"They are most focused on the royals when they are of courtship age, getting married, having babies, that kind of thing," she said. "They're not necessarily considered as dazzling or as exciting to the public when they're 60 or 70 or whatnot."

Kate was reported on February 9 to have traveled to Norfolk to continue her recovery.

On February 9, the Daily Mail reported that Kate had joined her family at their home in Sandringham, Anmer Hall, for her children's half-term holiday.

The outlet also reported that her recovery was going well at the time.

Kate wasn't photographed during her trip from Windsor to Sandringham.

King Charles was photographed a few times throughout February, while Kate remained unseen.

Although he isn't taking on public-facing duties, King Charles has still been photographed a few times since his cancer diagnosis and the beginning of his treatment.

On February 11, he and Queen Camilla were spotted going to church in Sandringham, and he was photographed meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on February 21 at Buckingham Palace.

Kate, on the other hand, remained absent, as Kensington Palace released no photos or videos of her.

William released a rare solo statement on February 20.

A statement from The Prince of Wales pic.twitter.com/LV2jMx75DC

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) February 20, 2024

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Typically, William and Kate have released statements as a pair since they got married.

But on February 20, Kensington Palace released a statement on only William's behalf regarding the conflict in Gaza, in which he said he remained "deeply concerned about the human cost of the conflict in the Middle East since the Hamas terrorist attack on 7 October."

"I, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible," the statement said. "There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza."

William also said he continued "to cling to the hope that a brighter future can be found, and I refuse to give up on that."

In addition to speaking for only William, the statement had a "W" seal at the top rather than the crown featured on messages from the Prince and Princess of Wales as a unit.

William missed a service of thanksgiving on February 27 because of an unnamed personal matter.

On February 27, members of the royal family attended a service of thanksgiving for King Constantine of Greece, King Charles' second cousin and close companion. He was one of William's godfathers.

William was set to attend the event alongside Queen Camilla and other family members but missed the service because of a personal matter, Kensington Palace told Business Insider.

A palace representative also told BI that Kate was doing well, but they didn't elaborate on what caused William to miss the event.

Following his absence, chatter about Kate's prolonged absence from the public eye erupted on social media, with users speculating about why she hasn't been seen in months. The princess was trending on X, and thousands of people posted about her on TikTok. "Kate Middleton" was also sixth on Google's list of trending search terms on February 27, highlighting how high public interest got in her absence.

Kensington Palace reiterated that Kate was "doing well" as William returned to public duty on February 29.

On February 29, Prince William resumed public duty, visiting the Western Marble Arch Synagogue to learn about the Holocaust Educational Trust, as Kensington Palace shared on Instagram.

He sat down with a Holocaust survivor, Renee Salt. Rebecca English, a royal editor for the Daily Mail, reported on X that during the conversation, he spoke on behalf of himself and Kate.

"Both Catherine and I are extremely concerned about the rise in antisemitism," English quoted the prince as saying to Salt. "That's why I'm here today to reassure you all that people do care and people do listen, and we can't let that go."

Kensington Palace also reiterated that Kate was "doing well" in a statement sent to BI on February 29.

"We gave guidance two days ago that The Princess of Wales continues to be doing well," the statement said. "As we have been clear since our initial statement in January, we shall not be providing a running commentary or providing daily updates."

Kate was spotted for the first time in 2024 on March 4.

On March 4, a sunglasses-clad Princess of Wales was seen riding in a car with her mother, Carole Middleton, in photos obtained by Backgrid and shared by TMZ.

According to TMZ, the pair were driving near Windsor Castle when they were photographed, and no other royals or security appeared to accompany them on the drive.

The sighting came as Queen Camilla announced she was taking a break from filling in for her husband at royal engagements until March 11.

After initially indicating she would attend, the British army removed references to Kate from online tickets for a June event shared on March 5.

On March 5, outlets like BBC News reported that Kate's name was included on tickets released online to The Colonel's Review, an event the British army hosts amid Trooping the Colour, on June 8. Kate was named the Colonel of The Irish Guards in December 2022, and the Colonel typically participates in the Review.

Many took her inclusion on the tickets as a sign she was on track to return to work in the summer. But then, the army quickly removed all references to Kate after the tickets were released because Kensington Palace had not confirmed she would attend.

A source close to the situation told Business Insider's Mikhaila Friel the army didn't get approval from Kensington Palace to include references to the princess in the tickets, leading to the confusion.

The palace didn't respond to a request for comment from BI on the matter.

Kensington Palace released a photo of Kate with her children for Mother's Day — but the photo was immediately met with suspicion.

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March 10 was Mother's Day in the UK, and to commemorate the occasion, Kensington Palace released the first official portrait of Kate since Christmas.

In the photo, Kate sits in a chair surrounded by her children, who are all giggling. According to the caption they shared on social media alongside the image, William took the picture of his family in 2024, and the photo appeared to come directly from Kate, as she signed the caption, "C," which stands for Catherine.

"Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months," she wrote. "Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day."

But shortly after it was released, people began to speculate the photo had been edited. Photo editor Patrick Witty told BI's Shubhangi Goel it was "astonishing" the palace released the photo at all because of issues in the image, pointing to areas where the picture is blurred and things that seemed to be added to the shot during the editing process, like a zipper on Kate's jacket.

Later that day, multiple photo agencies removed the picture from their platforms.

On March 10, Reuters, the Associated Press, and the French organization Agence France-Presse sent kill notices for the picture, which means the picture is no longer available for distribution through their platforms.

Reuters said it removed the picture after a "post-publication review," while the AP said explicitly in its kill notice that it wouldn't distribute the photo because "it appears the source has manipulated the image. No replacement photo will be sent."

Kensington Palace has been accused of editing photos of the royals before, as was the case with the Waleses' 2023 Christmas card, but the photo released March 10 is the first to be killed by photo agencies.

The palace did not respond to a request for comment on the editing controversy.

Kate personally apologized for "any confusion" the picture caused on March 11.

On March 11, Kate addressed the controversy surrounding the photo in a statement released on social media, seeming to take responsibility for the manipulated image.

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote on X. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C."

Notably, the statement was signed by Kate alone. Kensington Palace typically speaks on behalf of the couple as a unit, and the royals said in their post on Sunday that William took the shot.

The statement didn't appear to convince royal watchers online. Kate was trending on X, and the edited image had been viewed over 72 million times on the platform as of Monday.

William and Kate were photographed together on March 11 before he attended a Commonwealth Day service.

A few hours after the princess posted on X, the Daily Mail released a photo of William and what appeared to be Kate in a car together leaving Windsor Castle.

Kate is looking out of the window in the shot, so only her profile is visible. According to the outlet, Kate was going to "a private appointment," and William was en route to a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

William was photographed alongside Queen Camilla at the Commonwealth Day service after the photo of him and Kate was published.

Multiple tabloids released a video of what appeared to be Kate and William shopping in Windsor on March 18.

#KateMiddleton seemed to be in good spirits while out and about with #PrinceWilliam Saturday. https://t.co/kLUsfvt3b2 (🎥: TMZ/The Sun) pic.twitter.com/EqbtVojBcw

— TMZ (@TMZ) March 18, 2024

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On March 17, The Sun reported that William and Kate were spotted shopping at a "farm shop" near Adelaide Cottage, their home on the grounds of Windsor Castle. But The Sun's coverage didn't include any images of the prince and princess.

Then, on March 18, TMZ and The Sun released a video of what appeared to be William and Kate walking through the market, holding shopping bags.

The video was grainy, and Kensington Palace did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the matter.

On March 22, Kate announced she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video, speaking directly to the public.

On March 22, Kensington Palace uploaded a video of Kate speaking directly to a camera on its social media.

In the video, Kate said that her abdominal surgery in January was successful, but "tests after the operation found cancer had been present."

Her medical team recommended she "undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy" after reviewing the tests, as Kate said in the video. She began treatment in late February, according to a press release shared with BI.

The princess said that the diagnosis was a "shock" and that she and William "have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family," adding that determining how to share the news with their children was difficult.

"As I have said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body, and spirits," Kate said.

In the press release shared with BI, Kensington Palace said it would not be revealing what kind of cancer Kate has, nor what stage her cancer is.

The release also said Kate will return to work "when she is cleared to do so by her medical team."

In the video, Kate reiterated Kensington Palace's previous requests for privacy.

"We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment," she said.

The Prince and Princess of Wales marked their anniversary with a private photo of their wedding on April 28.

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To celebrate their 13th anniversary, Kate and William shared a never-before-seen photo from their wedding on Instagram.

The caption on the post was simple, reading, "13 years ago today!"

Kensington Palace has not released a picture of the couple together in 2024.

William said Kate was "doing well" during a royal engagement on May 10.

Since her video announcement, Kensington Palace has not released an official update on Kate's health.

But on May 10, William said Kate was "doing well" when asked about her health in a video recorded by Sky News.

Kate apologized for missing a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour on June 8.

Kate became Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2022, inheriting the title from Prince William. As the Colonel, she's meant to oversee the Colonel's Review, a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, the king's official birthday celebration. However, Kate was unable to attend this year.

The Irish Guards shared a letter from Kate on X, in which she apologized for missing the rehearsal.

"Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I am unable to take the salute at this year's Colonel's Review," she wrote. "Please pass my whole apologies to the Regiment, however I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon."

On Friday, Kate announced she is attending Trooping the Colour, her first royal event of 2024.

I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.

I am making good progress, but as anyone going… pic.twitter.com/J1jTlgwRU8

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 14, 2024

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On Friday, Kate announced in a post on Kensington Palace's official social-media accounts that she would attend Trooping the Colour. The event, which will take place on Saturday, marks Kate's first official appearance of the year and her first since publicly sharing her cancer diagnosis.

In the post, accompanied by a new photograph of Kate taken at her home in Windsor earlier this week, the princess wrote that she was making "good progress" with her chemotherapy treatment, adding that there are "good days and bad days."

"On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well," she wrote.

Kate added that her treatment is ongoing but that she is starting to do "a little work from home" and hopes to be able to join other "public engagements over the summer."

"I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty," she added. "Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

"I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family," she wrote, adding that she is grateful for the public's "continued understanding" and support.

Buckingham Palace previously confirmed to the BBC that King Charles would also attend his official birthday celebration, though he will ride in a carriage instead of on horseback.

Kate stuck close to her family throughout Trooping the Colour on Saturday.

During the parade, Kate rode in a carriage with George, Charlotte, and Louis, smiling and waving to the crowd.

She later watched the RAF flyover from Buckingham Palace's balcony alongside William, her children, and other senior members of the royal family, including King Charles.

William and Kate shared a series of photos from Trooping the Colour on their official social-media accounts on Sunday.

"A memorable day at The King's Birthday Parade," the caption of their post read. "From the Irish Guards Trooping their colour to seeing so many faces on the Mall, thank you for making it a day to remember."