Kate's return: Princess to play major role in Trooping the Colour as part of comeback to royal duties after surgery

5 March 2024, 11:05 | Updated: 5 March 2024, 11:36

The Princess of Wales will lead Trooping the Colour in June
The Princess of Wales will lead Trooping the Colour in June. Picture: Alamy
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

The Princess of Wales will lead the Trooping the Colour event in June after she has returned to royal duties following abdominal surgery, it has been announced.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Princess Kate will lead the major royal event which will take place on Saturday, June 8 2024.

It comes as the Princess of Wales continues with her recovery after she had abdominal surgery at the start of the year.

She is not expected to return to full royal duties until after Easter, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

Kate at Trooping the Colour
Kate at Trooping the Colour. Picture: Getty

A Ministry of Defence description states: "Trooping the Colour reviewed by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is identical to Trooping the Colour reviewed by His Majesty The King, with the exception that some additional mounted officers ride when His Majesty The King is present.

"Taking part will be over 1400 soldiers of the Household Division and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, including 400 musicians from the Massed Bands, all of whom will parade on Horse Guards for the second of two formal Reviews."

Read More: Kate's uncle hits out at Harry for 'having a pop' at niece and 'reinventing history' as he starts Celebrity Big Brother

LBC Views: The King’s got cancer, Kate is recovering & now the Queen’s on holiday - just who is in charge of the Royal Family?

"Trooping the Colour reviewed by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales also includes 250 soldiers from the Foot Guards who will line the processional route along The Mall," the description continues.

"The soldiers will be inspected by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, Colonel Irish Guards."

Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour. Picture: Getty

It comes after Kate was seen with her mother Carole Middleton, driving near Windsor Castle, for the first time since her January surgery.

The Princess sat behind the wheel of a black Audi while Kate sat in the passenger seat, wearing dark sunglasses.

The photos were published by a US gossip website and have not been reproduced by news outlets in the UK. The photo is understood to have been taken by unauthorised paparazzi.

Kensington Palace was forced to double down on its statement after Kate's surgery, which said they would only be providing major updates.

Prince William, Prince of Wales during his visit to The Turf Pub, near Wrexham AFC
Prince William, Prince of Wales during his visit to The Turf Pub, near Wrexham AFC. Picture: Getty

It follows a series of conspiracy theories appearing online about why the princess had not been seen in public for so long.

This was also fuelled when Kensington Palace announced on short notice that Prince William would be dropping out of an event due to a "personal matter".

Following the speculation, a spokesperson for Kate has maintained the princess is “doing well”.

Her spokesperson told People on Thursday: “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.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is a 'young psychopath' - but the sentencing rules are right, says ex-attorney general

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana is a 'young psychopath' - but the sentencing rules are right, says ex-attorney general

Exclusive
MPs from Reform UK have called for a debate on the death penalty for criminals like Rudakubana following the killer’s sentencing hearing.

Reform MPs call for death penalty debate and CPS chief to be sacked after Southport killer jailed for 52 years

President Donald Trump signs an executive order

Trump's 'blatantly unconstitutional' order to end automatic birthright citizenship blocked by judge

Millions have received an emergency alert to their mobile phones after the Met Office issued a red danger to life warning for wind

Millions receive emergency alert after Met Office issues red danger to life warning for wind ahead of Storm Eowyn

Marr

'What punishment is enough?' Andrew Marr reflects on 52-year sentence of 'girl hating sadist' Axel Rudakubana

This is the moment the Southport killer's father tried to stop him going to his old school

Moment Southport killer's dad stops him going to old school after buying knives - a week before dance class murders

Inside the Southport killer's home

Inside Southport killer's bedroom: Chilling photos show triple murderer Axel Rudakubana's weapons cache

Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King

Southport murder victims parents speak of 'lifetime of grief' after an act of 'pure evil'

Axel Rudakubana

How Axel Rudakubana descended into murderous rampage: Full timeline of Southport attack as killer jailed

Rudakubana was captured on CCTV moments before the shocking attack in Southport

Moments before murder: Chilling footage from taxi shows Southport killer minutes before stabbing three girls to death

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy

Read in Full: Merseyside chief constable Serena Kennedy reacts to Southport killer's sentence

The sentence was passed in Rudakubana's absence, with the judge declaring: "I will not continue to have these proceedings disrupted”

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana 'likely to die in jail' as he's sentenced to 52 years for the murder of three girls

Police were called to Percy Road, Seacombe, last November

Man and woman charged with murder after death of three-month-old baby found unresponsive

A 16-year-old boy was arrested outside the Inverclyde Islamic Centre in Greenock, western Scotland

Boy, 16, arrested outside mosque under Terrorism Act

Clarke was found in possession of a Soviet-era style AK-47 assault rife and ammunition

Man jailed after being caught with loaded AK-47 assault rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition

Leanne Lucas, 35, was teaching in Southport at the children's Taylor Swift dance class on July 29

Southport attacker 'targeted us because we were vulnerable and easy prey,' admits dance teacher Leanne Lucas