The Princess of Wales will not attend a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour. The Colonel’s Review is scheduled to take place in London on June 8, and as Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards, Kate would typically take the salute.
However, Lieutenant General James Bucknall, KCB, CBE, will perform the role of Inspecting Officer on behalf of the Princess as she continues her recovery.
Kate announced on March 22 in an emotional video message that she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis. Just weeks before her illness was made public, and amid her recovery from major abdominal surgery, the army mistakenly posted an announcement on its website that the Princess would conduct the review without seeking approval from Kensington Palace.
Tickets were sold on the official website for the military spectacle, which advertised an appearance by Kate. The announcement led to confusion at the time because there had been no official confirmation from the palace.
Kate’s last official public appearance was on Christmas Day 2023, when she and Prince William walked to church with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King will participate in his birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, on June 15. Charles, 75, who is also being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, will inspect the soldiers during the ceremony from a carriage with Queen Camilla by his side.
It has not been confirmed which members of the royal family will join the King and Queen at the parade, but in recent years, only working royals have participated and watched the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
When Will Kate Return to Royal Duties?
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said earlier this month: “Early childhood is a huge priority for the Princess of Wales and she has been kept fully up to date throughout the process and the development of the taskforce’s work, and she has seen the report.”
