Speculations about Kate Middleton‘s return to her royal duties have officially been cleared, as she is no longer listed as one of the Trooping The Colour attendees.
The drama began when the British army’s official website claimed the Princess of Wales would make a splashy return at an engagement in June. However, the Palace refuted this statement, noting they had not been consulted about her appearance at the upcoming event.
Kate Middleton’s Return To The Spotlight May Not Occur At The Trooping The Colour Parade
Since her abdominal surgery in January, Middleton has avoided the spotlight and is recovering at home. This is why many were surprised when the Army’s official website claimed she would participate in the annual review of soldiers at the Horse Guards Parade in London on June 8.
The website initially noted the Princess of Wales would conduct the review in her capacity as honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards. However, her office at Kensington Palace issued a statement on Tuesday, stressing they had not been consulted about her appearance.
Since their statement, Middleton’s name has now been removed from the website. The annual review of soldiers is an event that involves 1,400 soldiers and is a forerunner to the Trooping the Colour parade.
It takes place at the Horse Guards Parade, and it is accompanied by a carriage procession up and down the Mall, which stretches down from Buckingham Palace into central London.
The annual ceremony typically features Middleton’s husband, Prince William, alongside other royal family members like Princess Anne. They would usually ride horseback, accompanied by King Charles; however, it is uncertain if the monarch — who is undergoing treatment for cancer — will be able to take an active role in the event.
Like Middleton, King Charles has canceled most in-person duties and any engagement involving large crowds as he undergoes his treatment. As for his daughter-in-law, it is known that she is recuperating at home at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Castle estate.
Additionally, her office stated she would not resume duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31. This date may not work as Middleton’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, will be on school vacation at that time.
The Wales couple usually take time off to be with their kids, raising the possibility for Middleton to avoid returning to her public duties until mid-April, per PEOPLE.
Kate Middleton Spotted On Rare Outing Before Trooping The Color Speculations
As stated, the Ministry of Defence raised hopes about Middleton’s return to her royal duties with a statement on their official website that read:
“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 soldiers will be inspected by “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, Colonel Irish Guards.” At the time, the announcement generated excitement from fans, with tickets for the pre-Trooping the Colour spectacle being sold for £5 to £15 on the website.
This event would have marked the Princess of Wales’s first public appearance since she was recently spotted on a rare outing with her mother, Carole Middleton.
The royal member looked somber while riding in the passenger seat of an SUV driven by her mother. She hid her eyes behind sunglasses and rocked her brunette hair down her shoulders. Despite her sullen vibes, the mother of three looked healthy.
Speculations about Middleton’s health have been ongoing since she disappeared from the public eye while recovering from abdominal surgery.
The concerns about her wellbeing heightened when her husband, Prince William, pulled out from his Godfather’s memorial service for a “personal matter.” However, a rep for the princess addressed the rumors in a statement that read:
“Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery, and we’d only be providing significant updates. That guidance stands.”
The rep stressed that the mother of three was doing well and taking her time to recover fully from her surgery.
A royal source previously commented on Middleton’s wellbeing after a journalist from a Spanish news program alleged she was in a coma due to health complications from the procedure. The source refuted these allegations, claiming:
“There is absolutely no truth to the report that Kate was in a coma. She is recovering at home.”
