The birthday parade for King Charles III is one of the highlights of the year for royalists. On Saturday, they will be even more excited about the ceremony: Princess Kate, who is ill, will be appearing in public for the first time since Christmas.
Princess Kate is back in public just in time for the King's traditional birthday parade. Around two and a half months after it was announced that she was suffering from cancer, the wife of the British heir to the throne, Prince William, wants to take part in the traditional “Trooping the Colour” parade on Saturday.
The 42-year-old announced this in a personal message. Kate and her three children want to ride together in a carriage to the parade ground in London and then appear with the rest of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Father-in-law King Charles III, who is also being treated for cancer, was delighted.
The palace released this photo of the princess together with her announcement.
“I'm looking forward to attending the King's birthday parade this weekend with my family and hope to make some public appearances over the summer,” Kate said. “But I know I'm not out of the woods yet.” Her treatment will last “a few more months.” Kensington Palace also released a new photo of the 42-year-old.
“Good days and bad days”
The future queen last appeared in public at Christmas. At that time, Kate and her family attended a church service near the royal estate of Sandringham in eastern England. Details about Kate's illness are not known.
The 42-year-old had an abdominal operation in January. Tests after the operation showed that she had cancer, Kate said in a video in which she made her illness public at the end of March. On the advice of her medical team, she is receiving chemotherapy as a precautionary measure.
There are “good days and bad days,” the statement said. “On the bad days you feel weak, tired and need to give your body some rest. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of your well-being.”
“Learn to be patient”
There are no decisions yet about the future queen's further public appointments and no timetable. First of all, it is about Kate being able to attend individual events, in close consultation with her doctors. “I am learning to be patient, especially in times of uncertainty. I take each day as it comes, listen to my body and give myself the much-needed time to get healthy.”
Most recently, Kate apologized in a letter to the Irish Guards, the royal regiment, for missing the rehearsal for the King's traditional birthday parade. Kate has the honorary title of “Colonel of the Irish Guards” and was therefore supposed to have attended the dress rehearsal last Saturday. “I hope to be able to represent you all again soon,” the letter said. This fueled speculation that the Princess would soon be seen in public again.
Charles III takes part in a carriage
The traditional birthday parade “Trooping the Colour” will take place in London on Saturday. Due to his illness, King Charles III will not take part in the magnificent ceremony with more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians on horseback this year, but will sit in a carriage. Last year, the King, his sister Princess Anne, brother Prince Edward and heir to the throne Prince William took part in the parade on horseback.
The British head of state has been attending regular appointments again since the end of April and most recently travelled to France for the 80th anniversary of the so-called D-Day. Unlike the king, Kate had completely withdrawn from her duties as a royal. Her husband Prince William also withdrew for several weeks in the spring to support his wife and their three children. The 41-year-old will take part in the parade on Saturday on horseback.
Official birthday of the Head of State
The name of the celebrations refers to the presentation of the flags of the participating regiments, also known as “colours”. In 1748 it was decided that the parade would celebrate the King's official birthday. The main reason for this is that the weather is usually better on the date in June. Charles III turned 75 on November 14th.
The event is dominated by the foot soldiers of the Royal Guard in their red parade uniforms and bearskin hats, who march past the king on the parade ground. The finale and highlight is always the flyover of military aircraft and helicopters of the Royal Air Force over Buckingham Palace, while the royal family stands on the balcony.
On the sidelines of the event, members of the Republic organization want to demonstrate for the abolition of the monarchy.
