Royal fans were left more than a little confused yesterday after the army's website suggested Kate would be attending Trooping of the Colour this summer - but Kensington Palace did not confirm the news.
It was implied that Kate Middleton would be appearing at this year’s Trooping the Colour event in June when the Ministry of Defence published updated information regarding the event on their website earlier this week.
The post suggested the Princess of Wales, 42, would be reviewing troops on 8 June. However, her appearance was not confirmed by Kensington Palace and the mention of her involvement has now been removed from the army’s website.
Cosmopolitan understands that the army did not seek approval from Kensington Palace before publication.
Trooping the Colour is a ceremony that honours the official birthday of the monarch and is typically celebrated in the summer months to ensure good weather (King Charles III’s birthday is actually 14 November).
The current page suggests King Charles III will attend the final parade, though it's understood his majesty’s appearance has not been confirmed either, with the details set to be confirmed in the coming months.
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Given the Princess of Wales's role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, it is expected she will attend if she is able to.
Kate has not made any public appearances since it was announced by Kensington Palace in January that she would be recovering from planned abdominal surgery.
Details about the surgery have not been publicly shared by the Palace, with a spokesperson for the family only confirming the operation was successful.
Kate remained in hospital for nearly two weeks while she recovered, with husband of 13 years, Prince William, visiting her in hospital. She has since been discharged, and is recovering at home in Windsor.
A previous statement from Kensington Palace suggested the Princess would return to royal duties around Easter time. This year, Easter celebrations fall around 31st March.
Despite clear and reasonable requests for privacy, social media has been ablaze with theories about Kate’s whereabouts, prompting Kensington Palace to issue a second statement pertaining to her health.
“We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant,” reps for the pair told the media.
It's been a tumultuous time for the Royal Family of late, given that King Charles III, Kate's father-in-law, has also been facing health issues and recently announced that he had received an unexpected cancer diagnosis whilst being treated for an enlarged prostate.
Cosmopolitan has contacted Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and the Ministry of Defence for comment
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s former junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl). Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
