The British royal family is gearing up for the annual Trooping the Colour event, and this year promises to be particularly significant. Kate, the Princess of Wales, has confirmed her attendance, marking her first public appearance since revealing her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. This announcement has generated considerable interest and anticipation among royal watchers and the general public alike.
Trooping the Colour, a grand military parade held every June, celebrates the official birthday of the monarch, regardless of their actual birth date. This year, the event will take place on June 15, with festivities kicking off early in the morning as the royal family makes their way from Buckingham Palace to the parade grounds. The event culminates with the royal family gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a flypast by the Royal Air Force.
King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, will be in attendance alongside Queen Camilla. Unlike previous years, where he participated on horseback, King Charles will conduct his review from a horse-drawn carriage, a nod to his ongoing health challenges. This will be his second Trooping the Colour as monarch, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
Kate’s confirmation of her attendance came on June 14, through a personal letter where she also provided an update on her health. She expressed her excitement about joining the royal family for the event, despite acknowledging that she is still in the midst of her treatment. “I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” she wrote.
The Princess of Wales will ride in a carriage down The Mall with her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—before joining King Charles, Prince William, and other family members on the Buckingham Palace balcony. This appearance is highly anticipated, as it will be her first public engagement since announcing her diagnosis and undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
In previous years, the balcony has been graced by various members of the royal family, including Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. However, this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be in attendance, continuing their absence from the event since stepping back as working members of the royal family in 2020.
Kate’s participation in Trooping the Colour is seen as a significant step in her return to public duties. In her letter, she shared that she is making good progress but acknowledged the challenges of her treatment. “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said. “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”
The Princess of Wales also expressed her gratitude for the support she has received, which has helped her and Prince William through some of the tougher times. “I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months,” she wrote. “It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.”
While Kate’s appearance at Trooping the Colour is a positive sign, it does not mark a full return to her public schedule. The palace has indicated that she will continue to focus on her recovery and will return to official duties as her health allows. In the meantime, she has started to undertake some meetings related to her work from home.
King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February, has also been gradually resuming his public duties. He has attended several engagements, including D-Day memorial services in France, and will participate in Trooping the Colour from a carriage alongside Queen Camilla. This marks a departure from last year when he inspected the troops on horseback, a tradition his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave up in 1986.
The Trooping the Colour ceremony, also known as the King’s Birthday Parade, has been an annual event since 1760. It is a grand display of military pomp and pageantry, featuring over 1,400 officers and soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians. The event serves as an official birthday celebration for the monarch and is a highlight of the British royal calendar.
As the royal family prepares for this year’s Trooping the Colour, all eyes will be on Kate, the Princess of Wales, as she makes her much-anticipated return to public life. Her presence at the event is a testament to her resilience and dedication to her royal duties, even in the face of personal health challenges.
