The Ministry of Defense is said to have taken the upper hand today by announcing the return of the Princess of Wales to royal duties without consulting Kensington Palace.
The Army’s official website has confirmed that Kate Middleton will carry out her first major assignment since her abdominal surgery during the London parade on June 8.
Tickets are now being sold on the site for the spectacle on the weekend before the main Trooping the Color ceremony, which is normally judged by the monarch.
But while this is Kate’s first official role since undergoing surgery, Kensington Palace has not yet confirmed her presence. MailOnline understands that Palace officials were not consulted about the MoD update.
A royal source added that Prince William or Kate’s presence at events is always announced by the Palace, and not the Ministry of Defence. But it seems the Ministry of Defense is hoping Kate will feel well enough to attend one of the most important ceremonial events in the year of the Armed Forces.
Only the palace can announce Kate’s presence at a royal event – and confirmation is not expected until closer to the time. MailOnline contacted the Ministry of Defense for comment, but questions were directed to the Palace, which also did not issue a statement.
The Ministry of Defense today confirmed that Kate will attend Trooping the Color on June 8
The general public can watch from the stands by requesting tickets via the Defense website
More than 1,400 soldiers from the Household Division and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will take part, including 400 musicians from the Massed Bands.
They will parade on Horse Guards for the second of two formal talks, while 250 Foot Guards soldiers will also line the route along The Mall.
Two more Trooping the Color parades are being announced by the Ministry of Defense – one reviewed by Major General James Bowder on June 1 and another by King Charles III on June 15. Buckingham Palace has not yet confirmed the monarch’s presence.
Also this morning, the King was photographed with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ahead of tomorrow’s Budget at a meeting in his private audience room at Buckingham Palace.
2023 — Prince William and Kate with their children Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte at Buckingham Palace for Trooping The Color in London on June 17 last year
2023 — Glorious scenes on the Mall during Trooping the Color in London on June 17, 2023
When Kate attends Trooping the Colour, it will be almost exactly the same as when the King discusses the parade – except for the fact that there will be fewer mounted officers riding.
The general public can watch Horse Guards Parade from the stands by requesting tickets via the MoD website, which cost £15. The parade ends at 12.25 pm.
From 9am there will also be limited visibility from public viewing points on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade.
Charles is being treated for cancer and Kate is recovering from abdominal surgery, but it is understood that planning for major royal events continues and organizers remain flexible in case of potential changes.
2022 — William, Kate and their children attend Trooping the Color in London on June 2, 2022
2021 — Trooping the Color was held at Windsor Castle for the Queen on June 12, 2021
Trooping the Color has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign for more than 260 years. The parade brings together more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians each June for a display of military precision and fanfare.
On a ticket booking website for Trooping the Colour, the Ministry of Defense said that Kate, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, will carry out the inspection at the event on June 8.
A section on the event information stated: ‘Trooping the Color judged by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is identical to Trooping the Color judged by His Majesty the King, with the exception that some additional mounted officers ride when His Majesty the King is present is .
More than 1,400 soldiers from the Household Division and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will take part, including 400 musicians from the Massed Bands, all of whom will parade on Horse Guards for the second of two formal reviews.
‘Trooping the Colour, judged by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, will also include 250 soldiers from the Foot Guards who will line the procession route along The Mall.
‘The soldiers will be inspected by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, Colonel Irish Guards.’
Kate will not return to her official duties until after Easter and William has temporarily stepped back from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The princess was admitted to the London Clinic on January 16 for a planned operation and left the hospital on January 29 – almost two weeks later.
The 42-year-old then returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her three children. Details about the princess’s condition have not been released.
However, Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that Kate wanted her personal medical information to remain private.
A week after the princess left hospital, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment.
2019 — William and Kate at Trooping the Color with their children in London on June 8, 2019
2017 — Philip speaks to William and Kate at Trooping The Color in London on June 17, 2017
Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, are said to be currently active in helping the Waleses.
Yesterday, TMZ published a photo of Kate near Windsor Castle in the passenger seat of a black Audi car driven by her mother Carole Middleton.
The photo of the princess, who wore dark sunglasses, is the first of Kate since she was photographed walking on Christmas Day in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Meanwhile, Kate’s ‘black sheep’ uncle Gary Goldsmith – Carole’s brother – praised her as ‘perfect’ as he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house last night.
Kate was last seen at a royal event on Christmas Day 2023 with her family at Sandringham
King Charles was pictured today with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt at Buckingham Palace in London
He added that she could watch the new ITV program ‘behind a sofa’.
When asked by presenter AJ Odudu if Kate would be watching, 58-year-old Mr Goldsmith said: “If she is, it will be behind a sofa I think… It will be a nice one in a nice house, I can . guarantee that.’
In a pre-recorded interview that aired before he entered the house, Goldsmith said, “She’s just perfect.”
‘The first time I met William, Catherine was cooking and William said, ‘Hello, would you like a cup of tea?’ Very normal.’
Towards the end of the programme, he told housemate Fern Britton: ‘I absolutely adore my family’, after the TV presenter praised his decision to come on the show.
Speaking to The Sun before entering the house, Goldsmith described his niece as a ‘loving mother’.
“She’s beautiful on the outside but even more beautiful on the inside and she’s a really loving mother… so the way the monarchy is developing is family-oriented.”
He added that he became “angry” at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “because you don’t stick a stick in that spoke and reinvent history.”
“Throwing your family under the bus just seemed inappropriate, especially what happened to the Queen. “I just thought it was completely unnecessary,” he added.