Will Kate Middleton Attend the Trooping of the Colour?
Some royal fans are holding out hope the Princess of Wales will make an appearance this weekend.
Since announcing that she was receiving treatment for cancer in March, Kate Middleton has been absent from public life, and although some recent reports claim she’s doing well, it remains unclear when she’ll return. Still, many have been holding out hope that she will make an appearance at this year’s Trooping of the Colour, scheduled for June 15.
Over the weekend, a week ahead of the official Trooping of the Colour, Middleton apologized for missing Saturday’s rehearsal. In a letter to the Irish Guards, who are leading this year’s parade, Middleton — the Irish Guards’ honorary colonel — said she was sorry that she missed the regiment’s final preparations, known as the Colonel’s Review. Under normal circumstances, she would have saluted the troops at the review.
The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales this morning.
— Irish Guards (@irish_guards) June 8, 2024
We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send Her our very best wishes.
Quis Separabit@KensingtonRoyal @ArmyInLondon pic.twitter.com/y95rbmaeOS
“Being your colonel remains a great honor and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel’s Review,” she wrote in the letter, which was shared by the Irish Guards on X. “Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”
Here’s what to know about the Trooping of the Colour and what to expect this year.
What is the Trooping of the Colour, exactly?
The Trooping of the Colour is a military parade that goes back to the 17th century. It’s the official celebration of the reigning monarch’s birthday and, according to Buckingham Palace, more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians participate in various capacities in “a great display of military precision, horsemanship, and fanfare.”
Each year, the five regiments of the Household Division of the military rotate who presents their flag and leads the parade. This year is the Irish Guards’ turn to lead the parade through the streets of London. ABC describes the event as a “major” day on royals’ calendars.
Some of the most iconic photos of the royal family standing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, watching as the Royal Air Force flies overhead, are from this celebration. It’s the same event where Prince Louis first showed off his perfect royal wave in 2019 and where he stole the show making silly faces last year.
Will Kate Middleton be at this year’s event?
Middleton’s absence from Saturday’s rehearsal didn’t come as a shock since a palace official told the BBC last month that she won’t be returning to work “until it’s cleared by her medical team.” A palace official also previously confirmed that she wouldn’t be at the rehearsal. Her absence from rehearsal doesn’t necessarily mean that she won’t attend the official celebration this coming Saturday.
In her letter to the Irish Guards, Middleton said she wanted to let the troops know that she is “proud” of them. “I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate,” she wrote. She signed her letter “Colonel Catherine.”
The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales this morning.
— Irish Guards (@irish_guards) June 8, 2024
We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send Her our very best wishes.
Quis Separabit@KensingtonRoyal@ArmyInLondon pic.twitter.com/KQUgB1RmBE
The Irish Guards shared a video of the letter being read aloud to the regiment and receiving applause. “The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales this morning,” the troops wrote on X. “We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send Her our very best wishes.”
What about Harry and Meghan?
The Trooping of the Colour is typically attended by most of the royal family, especially senior royals and working members of the family. This is the second year in a row that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle haven’t been invited. This is also the second year that the event has been held in honor of King Charles III. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles will attend the event amid his own cancer treatment. In prior years, Charles has ridden a horse, but this year, he will be in a horse-drawn carriage with Queen Camilla, per the BBC.
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