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King’s aides draw up plans for him to attend Trooping the Colour
Monarch said to be determined to participate in his official birthday celebrations on June 15 during cancer treatment
The King’s aides are drawing up plans that would allow him to attend Trooping the Colour during his cancer treatment.
The monarch is said to be determined to take part in his official birthday celebrations on June 15.
Buckingham Palace and the Ministry of Defence are exploring ways in which the 75-year-old could participate while avoiding any undue risk to his health.
Options may include watching the military parade from a podium, rather than on horseback, and being driven from Buckingham Palace in a carriage.
The King has been advised by his medical team to avoid large public gatherings as he undergoes treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, which was diagnosed in January.
Since then, although he has continued with his daily office work and occasional, small audiences, he has only been seen in public when being driven to and from Clarence House and Buckingham Palace, or on pre-recorded videos.
Traditionally, the monarch rides down the Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade during Trooping the Colour before inspecting the troops and riding back to the Palace, where the Royal family gathers on the balcony for an RAF flypast.
Palace aides tasked with drawing up various options for this year’s event may look at contingency plans drawn up for Elizabeth II when she became too frail to ride on horseback.
The last time the late Queen was on horseback during the ceremony was in 1986 when she rode her beloved mare Burmese for the 18th consecutive year. From that point on, with Burmese retired, she opted to use a carriage rather than train another charger.
In 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic, the late Queen celebrated her official birthday with a scaled-back military procession in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle.
In 2022, Prince Charles took the salute on behalf of his ailing mother for the first time. Last year, his first as monarch, he rode Noble, a black mare presented as a gift by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
No firm decision will be taken about the King’s involvement in this year’s event until nearer the time. Aides insist it will depend on his condition and medical advice.
The Colonel’s Review, which takes place a week before Trooping the Colour, is this year scheduled to be taken by the Princess of Wales, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, whose colour – or regimental flag – is being presented to the King.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence prompted confusion when it began selling tickets for the event, announcing that the Princess would take part in the review on June 8 and the King would take the salute at Trooping the following week.
It quickly emerged that they had jumped the gun, with Kensington Palace insisting that it would announce the Princess’s involvement if and when it was confirmed.
The Princess underwent abdominal surgery on Jan 17 and continues to recover at home. Aides have said she will return to public duties after Easter, if she is well enough.
Reports that she was seen this weekend, shopping at a Windsor farm shop with Prince William and cheering on her three children at school sports matches, have raised hopes that she is on the mend.