The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is not ruling out making a public appearance at King Charles’ Trooping the Colour ceremony, according to British media outlet The Mirror.
Although Prince William’s wife is undergoing preventative cancer treatment, she is considering appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony if she feels well enough.
Kensington Palace confirmed last week that the Princess would not officially take part in the final dress rehearsal for the King’s birthday celebrations on June 8, but did not rule out attending the main event a week later.
As colonel-in-chief of the Irish Guards, the princess was usually greeted in The Colonel’s Review. This year, Middleton will have a trusted alternate taking over.
“Trooping the Colour is just one of those things that the royals do every year, you have the things that take place before and then you have the royal event,” said Grant Harrold, the king’s former butler.
According to sources consulted by the British media, the palace has insisted that the princess is not expected to return to her official duties until doctors give her the go-ahead and that any appearance at royal events would be sporadic at best. The King, who has also been undergoing his own cancer treatment, has confirmed that he will attend his birthday celebrations in London.
Due to his health condition, the monarch will not ride a horse, as is tradition, but will travel in a carriage with his wife.
“They’re sending a message”
Following the news of the princess’s absence from the rehearsal leading up to the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw, Brigadier Major of the Home Division, sent a special message to the princess on behalf of the Irish Guards.
“We wish the Irish Guards colonel well wishes for his recovery,” Shaw told GB News. “And again, the Irish Guard is very proud to have her as a colonel and wants to put on a really special show this year.”
The former butler said the fact that the Palace doesn’t want her to be seen in public at an event like Trooping the Colour is quite significant. “They’re sending a very clear message that suggests Kate could be out of action for the foreseeable future.”
“While we hope she’s improving, they’re doing everything they can to reduce her workload, but she’s doing the right thing.”
