Princess Kate 'considering' surprise appearance on Palace balcony at Trooping the Colour
The Princess of Wales has pulled out of the Trooping the Colour review the week before the major celebration, but she may attend part of the actual event.
The Princess of Wales is understood to be considering making a surprise appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony at this year's Trooping the Colour.
Kate, who continues to undergo chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer, has not undertaken any public duties this year as she focuses on her recovery.
Sources are keen to emphasise that she will only return to duties when her doctors give her the all clear to do so, though Kensington Palace is confident that Kate will make a full recovery.
Aides confirmed yesterday that the future Queen will not attend the Colonel's Review on June 8 – which is the traditional rehearsal for Trooping the Colour, held on June 15. It would have involved Kate taking the salute on June 8 in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
But it remains unclear whether the princess will attend Trooping the Colour, a major fixture in the royal calendar.
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If she cannot join the main review, the Daily Mirror revealed that she may take to the Palace balcony alongside other senior royals to watch the traditional RAF Flypast.
She appealed for time, space and privacy for her family when she announced on March 22 she was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer but speculation has been rife about whether she will step out for the key royal fixture.
Few updates have been given on Kate since she shared her diagnosis, though the Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wife's treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly earlier this month, saying "she's doing well" when questioned by a hospital administrator.
Last year the Prince and Princess of Wales stood with their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six, to watch the impressive red arrow display fly overhead of the iconic royal residence.
King Charles and Queen Camilla stood front and centre, and were also joined by Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
So far the King and Queen are the only members of the Royal Family to confirm their attendance at this year's Trooping. The Palace are set to confirm who else will join them nearer the time.
But the Express understands that Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward will join the parade on horseback as normal.
During the Trooping ceremony, held on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, the King will carry out the review of the Guardsmen and officers from an Ascot Landau carriage with the Queen.
The change from last year's ceremony, where Charles inspected the troops on horseback, reflects earlier Buckingham Palace briefings where it was highlighted that each engagement by the King would be reviewed and adaptations made when advised by doctors.
The King is likely to travel by carriage with the Queen during the traditional procession to and from Horse Guards Parade, and is expected to watch the Trooping ceremony seated on a dais, rather than on horseback.
The colour which will be "trooped" past the massed ranks of guardsmen and officers will be from Number 9 Company, Irish Guards.
