Kate Middleton breaks silence on lacking main Trooping the Colour occasion
The Princess of Wales has expressed her heartfelt regret at missing a key rehearsal for the upcoming Trooping the Colour ceremony.
As the Colonel of the Irish Guards, who are set to troop their colour this year, she would typically have been present to take the salute at the Colonel’s Review.
This event is a crucial run-through ahead of the main spectacle next week.
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However, due to her ongoing recovery from cancer treatment, it was announced last week that Kate would not be able to attend today’s rehearsal and Lieutenant General James Bucknall will stand in her stead, reports The Mirror.
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Despite her absence, the princess made sure to convey her apologies and support in a letter to the regiment.
The missive, penned on official Kensington Palace stationery and shared via the Irish Guards’ social media platform, read: “I wanted to write to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour.
“I appreciate everyone Trooping this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensure their uniforms and drill are immaculate.”
“Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I am unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope I can represent you all again soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”
(Image: @irish_guards/Twitter)
Kate concludes her letter with the handwritten motto of the Irish Guards, Quis Separabit, translating to ‘Who shall separate us?’ and signs off as ‘Colonel Catherine’.
The regiment also shared a video of the letter being read aloud to the troops. Her heartfelt words were met with applause from the Guards at the end of the reading.
This comes after the Mirror disclosed that Kate hasn’t been ruled out for an appearance at the King’s official birthday celebrations next weekend.
It is believed that she may make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Trooping the Colour ceremony if she feels up to it.
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However, palace insiders maintain that the Princess isn’t expected to resume official duties until doctors give her the all-clear, and any appearances at Royal events would be infrequent at best.
The King, who has also been undergoing treatment for cancer, will however attend his birthday celebrations in London next Saturday.
But in a change to his usual routine, instead of riding on horseback to inspect the troops, the monarch will travel in an Ascot Landau carriage alongside Queen Camilla.
Palace sources stated that this alteration to normal proceedings aligns with guidance from the palace that the King’s return to work would be “carefully reviewed” for each engagement.
Trooping the Colour, the annual official birthday event for the monarch, is set to take place again this year, despite King Charles’ actual birthday being on November 14.
According to Royal insiders, other members of the Royal Family are expected to attend, similar to last year when only working family members were present.
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