King Charles set to make four changes at Trooping the Colour as Kate's attendance in doubt

King Charles's second Trooping the Colour as monarch is set to look quite different to his first.

By Catherine Meyer-Funnell, Royal Reporter based in London

Princess Kate joins royals for Trooping the Colour in 2023

King Charles is likely to make four major changes at this year's Trooping the Colour, which will take place in central London on Saturday June 15.

Despite some speculation about it happening due to the General Election, it has been confirmed that the monarch's official birthday will be celebrated as it usually is every June.

However some differences will be inevitable due to his and Princess Kate's ongoing health battles, with the King for one likely to opt for an alternative method of transport.

Last year the King went by horseback, but his cancer treatment may mean he chooses to travel by carriage instead to avoid any risk to his health.

This may also impact his decision to take the salute as sovereign sitting on his black mare Noble, a gift from the Royal Canadian Mountain Police, as he did in 2023.

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King and Queen wave at Trooping The Colour 2023

King Charles is making some changes to Trooping the Colour this year (Image: Getty)

It was the first time a monarch had ridden on horseback since 1986, when Queen Elizabeth made her last appearance at Trooping riding a horse.

However this will no longer be possible this year if the King opts to travel by carriage, meaning he will receive the salute without sitting on his horse.

While the Buckingham Palace balcony at last year's Trooping reflected the King's desire for a "slimmed-down" monarchy, with only working royals making an appearance, next month it may look a little fuller.

King Charles salutes on horseback

King Charles will likely not be on horseback this year (Image: Getty)

With Princess Kate not thought to be attending, and as such her three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis possibly being absent too, the King may invite other members of the family instead.

This could include non-working royals such as Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, as well as Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie's two children, Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex.

Prince William invited his royal cousins along to a garden party at Buckingham Palace earlier this month, suggesting they could help the family out at more public events.

George, Camilla and Kate ride in carriage Trooping

Princess Kate is still being privately treated for cancer (Image: Getty)

The final change is the rumoured appearance of Lady Gabriella Kingston, who the King extended an invitation to following the sudden death of her husband Thomas Kingston earlier this year.

Princess Kate's absence has not yet been confirmed, but a statement from Kensington Palace explained that she will only return to work with the blessing of her medical team.

Following the publishing of a landmark report from her business taskforce focusing on early years, the Palace said this "should not be seen as the Princess of Wales returning to work", and she would only do so once doctors had given her the "green light".

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