As the nation prepares to celebrate the Sovereign's official birthday, there are some notable changes to the traditional Trooping the Colour festivities. While King Charles is determined to attend the event despite his ongoing cancer battle, his beloved wife, Kate Middleton, will not be taking the salute at the Colonel's Review this year.
According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, the King will participate in the birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, but he will travel via carriage instead of riding horseback. This marks a departure from last year, when King Charles became the first monarch to ride at the event since Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
The annual Trooping the Colour celebration, with its 260-year tradition, will proceed as planned, even in the midst of the upcoming general election. However, there is uncertainty surrounding Kate Middleton's attendance at the main event, as she continues her chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.
In a surprising move, the honor of taking the salute at the Colonel's Review, the traditional rehearsal on June 8, will fall to Lieutenant General James Bucknall, the former commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. This role was previously set to be fulfilled by Kate Middleton in her capacity as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
As the nation gathers to honor the Sovereign's birthday, the changes to the Trooping the Colour festivities serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges and adaptations the royal family faces during this time of transition and uncertainty.
