The Princess of Wales penned a letter apologising for not attending a key rehearsal of this year’s Trooping the Colour event.
In a letter to the Irish Guards Regiment, of which she is colonel, Kate Middleton said she was “very sorry” she would not be able to salute during the Colonel’s Review on Saturday – the final rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour ceremony, which celebrates the King’s birthday on June 15.
The letter said: “I wanted to write to you 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 the colour this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate.”
The rehearsal for the Colonel’s Review before the banner performance took place in central London on Saturday. The letter was read out by a soldier in a video posted on X by the regiment: “The Irish guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our colonel, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, this morning. We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send her our very best wishes. Quis separabit.”
The colonel’s review comes seven days before the opening of the colour parade, which dates back more than 260 years to the sovereign’s birthday. It is not yet clear whether Kate will attend the main Colour event next Saturday, which falls on the sovereign’s birthday every year. General James Bucknell will serve as Chief Inspector at the review during Catherine’s absence.
Colour trooping is a 460-year-old tradition whereby troops in dress uniform parade past the king with their ceremonial flag, also known as a colour.
The royal had previously requested time and privacy for her family when she announced in March she was undergoing treatment for an unknown form of cancer. Despite, the Prince of Wales gave a positive update on his wife’s treatment during a visit to the Isles of Sillie in early May.
