Princess Catherine, known for her graceful presence and dedication to royal duties, recently made a notable appearance at Wimbledon. This event, however, is expected to be her last public outing before a quiet summer dedicated to recovery and family time. The Princess of Wales, 42, attended the men’s singles final with her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister, Pippa Middleton. Despite undergoing cancer treatment, Catherine showed remarkable strength and poise during her appearance, making it her second public event of the year.

Royal expert Robert Jobson, author of the upcoming book “Catherine, the Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen,” shared insights into her current approach to life. Jobson explains, “Before, she used to live her life by the calendar, and now she is living her life, and the calendar comes in after.” He emphasized that such an experience has undoubtedly shifted her perspective and priorities. The Princess, usually seen at Wimbledon finals with her husband, Prince William, attended the event alone as William and their eldest son, Prince George, were in Berlin for the Euros final between England and Spain.

The family’s summer plans include a period of seclusion and healing, primarily at their country home, Anmer Hall, in north Norfolk. They also anticipate a stay at Balmoral Castle with King Charles, who is also battling cancer. A palace insider revealed to PEOPLE, “Being with her family and just being herself will give her energy. There will be plenty of time to focus on her recovery.”

Despite the brevity of her Wimbledon appearance, which lasted about two hours and forty minutes, it was a meaningful and uplifting experience for Princess Catherine. The warm reception she received and the familiar atmosphere of Wimbledon provided her with a much-needed morale boost. “This will have given her sustenance. She has gone through something awful and stressful, and it is crucial to have little wins to look forward to or to give you the courage and energy to go forward,” the insider added.

As the patron of the All England Club, her presence at Wimbledon required significant planning and preparation. Jobson noted, “It showed a lot of courage and character, as she knew that the world was watching.” Indeed, Catherine’s involvement in presenting the winner’s trophy to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz was a testament to her resilience and commitment to her duties.

Since her last major appearance at Trooping the Colour on June 15, Princess Catherine has been focusing on her recovery and spending quality time with her children—Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. She has been gradually resuming her responsibilities, working from home and keeping in touch with her royal causes. A palace source confirmed that despite making some public engagements, she is not yet fully back to her regular schedule.

Her appearance at Trooping the Colour had raised hopes of her return to public life, but palace aides quickly clarified that it was not a signal of her full-time return. Princess Catherine had expressed a desire to participate in a few public engagements over the summer while acknowledging her ongoing recovery process. Her attendance at Wimbledon fulfilled this hope, allowing her to step back once more to focus on her health and well-being.

A source close to the royal household remarked, “It’s good not to feel under pressure and just take her time.” This period of quiet and recuperation will enable Princess Catherine to regain her strength, ensuring that when she returns to the public eye, it will be at the right time and with renewed energy and purpose.