The Princess of Wales, Princess Catherine, has been ruled out of participating in a significant event next month, following ongoing speculation regarding her return to public duties.
In the latest announcement from Buckingham Palace, it has been confirmed that Princess Catherine will not be present for the rehearsal of Trooping the Colour scheduled for next week, as she continues to undergo cancer treatment.
Traditionally serving as the Colonel of the Irish Guards, Princess Catherine would have typically taken the salute at the Colonel’s Review, which acts as a customary rehearsal preceding the main trooping event on June 8th.
Despite no official declaration from Kensington Palace regarding her return to public engagements, the Princess has been seen in public in recent weeks while receiving treatment.
In the event that she is unable to fulfill her role, Lieutenant General James Bucknall, KCB CBE, is set to step in as the inspecting officer.
A wave of confusion arose when the Ministry of Defence announced confirmed attendance at the upcoming event without prior consultation with Kensington Palace.
The question remains unanswered as to whether Princess Catherine will be in attendance for the official birthday celebrations on June 15th.
Her absence is keenly felt by the public, particularly on momentous occasions like Trooping the Colour, where her presence is greatly anticipated.
Hopeful speculations of Princess Catherine’s return for this year’s birthday celebration for King Charles have dwindled following the latest update.
If she does make an appearance, it will mark one of her initial engagements of the year subsequent to planned abdominal surgery earlier in January.
Meanwhile, King Charles is set to partake in this year’s birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, albeit opting for a carriage ride instead of horseback.
The royal couple, the King and Queen, are expected to grace the event, although it remains uncertain whether the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – will partake in the parade.
In past years, Princess Catherine has watched the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade from a carriage alongside her children, utilizing the five Ascot-Landau carriages preserved by the Royal Muse for the monarch’s procession during the royal meeting at Ascot.
Palace insiders have disclosed that adjustments to the customary proceedings align with previous guidance from Buckingham Palace, emphasizing the careful evaluation of the King’s return to public engagements on a case-by-case basis, with necessary modifications made in accordance with medical advice to prioritize the Sovereign’s continued recuperation.
Following the review, only senior working royals assembled on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to witness the flypast.
Contrary to previous years, where extended family members were invited by the late Queen Elizabeth II to observe the military spectacle, the upcoming Trooping the Colour ceremony is set to feature solely working members of the royal family.
Notably absent from the balcony will be other family members like Princess Eugenie, Beatrice, the Duchess and Duke of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor, and James, the Earl of Wessex.
Trooping the Colour, a longstanding tradition dating back centuries, serves as the official birthday celebration for the monarch, even though King Charles’s actual birthday falls on November 14th.
The grand event, scheduled for June 15th, is considered one of the most prominent military ceremonies of the year, showcasing approximately 1,600 parading soldiers, 400 musicians, and 200 horses, culminating in an ARF flypast over Buckingham Palace.
Notably, tickets for the military spectacle were briefly available for purchase on the official website, featuring an advertisement including the princess, which was subsequently removed.
Several weeks later, Princess Catherine shared an emotional message with the public, disclosing her cancer diagnosis and treatment journey.
Her most recent public appearance dates back to Christmas Day 2023, when she and Prince William were seen walking to church accompanied by their three children.
