Amid his ongoing cancer treatment, Britain’s King Charles is set to participate in the Trooping the Colour event on June 15, as confirmed by sources.
Royal expert Cameron Walker recently took to his former Twitter account to share that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has also indicated the King’s involvement in the ceremony.
However, there remains uncertainty regarding His Majesty’s actual participation, with no official confirmation from the palace or booking arrangements.
Despite this, the Army website has not made any adjustments to the event details provided by the Ministry of Defence.
The Ministry of Defence has disclosed specific information regarding the Trooping the Colour affair, which will feature 250 soldiers from the Foot Guards lining the processional route along the Mall.
This ceremonial event, traditionally reviewed by the King, is believed to have originated during the reign of King Charles II, who ruled from 1660 to 1685.
Sources close to the palace have revealed that King Charles has opted not to extend an invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for Trooping the Colour.
Consequently, Prince Harry will be unable to don military attire and join fellow soldiers in the parades.
For the past two years, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, residing in Montecito, have not been included in the Trooping the Colour festivities following the Queen’s passing.
Their absence was noted during the June 2022 Trooping the Colour event, which marked the commencement of a four-day celebration honoring Queen Elizabeth‘s remarkable 70-year reign.
Notably, the couple did not appear on the balcony of the palace for the flypast, an event restricted to working family members and their children.
Reports suggest that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are feeling excluded from King Charles’ deliberations concerning the monarchy’s future.
The King’s health issues have sparked discussions regarding potential scenarios for the monarchy’s continuity, including the prospect of Harry and Meghan resuming their official roles.
Feeling snubbed, the couple is disheartened by their omission from succession planning, especially given their decision to step back from royal duties and their perceived disregard for the institution that bestowed their royal titles upon them.
In a separate development, the Ministry of Defence has faced criticism for prematurely announcing Princess Catherine’s return to royal engagements without consulting Kensington Palace.
The army’s official website unveiled plans for Princess Catherine to undertake a significant role at the London parade on June 8, marking her first major public appearance since undergoing abdominal surgery.
While tickets for the prelude to the Trooping the Colour ceremony are now available for purchase, Kensington Palace has yet to confirm the Princess’s attendance.
The announcement by the Ministry of Defence regarding Princess Catherine’s participation has caused confusion, particularly given the intense media scrutiny surrounding her health status.
Following her hospitalization for planned surgery in January, palace officials had previously stated that the Princess would not resume public duties until after Easter.
Reports indicate that the army proceeded with the announcement based on the assumption that Princess Catherine, in her capacity as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would oversee troop inspections at the annual military event.