Major Kate Middleton decision about Trooping the Colour role confirmed

The Princess of Wales will not be at a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour next weekend as she continues her cancer treatment, it has been confirmed.

As Colonel of the Irish Guards, she traditionally would have taken the salute at the Colonel’s Review, the traditional rehearsal ahead of the main Trooping the Colour event, on June 8. However, Kate who is expected to return to official duties only when given the all-clear by doctors after her cancer treatment, will instead be replaced by Lieutenant General James Bucknall, KCB, CBE.

The former Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps has attended every King’s Birthday Parade since 2009 when he was appointed Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, having served as a Coldstream Guards Officer for more than 45 years.

Kate’s diary has been cleared entirely for this year while she undergoes preventative chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with the disease in February after abdominal surgery.

The princess, 42, has not been confirmed as attending the main Trooping event for the King’s birthday on June 15, although palace sources have previously said that the future queen may decide to attend some future royal events if she was well and able at the time.

Back in March before Kate’s cancer diagnosis was revealed, the Army was forced to remove a claim Kate would apear at the Colonel’s Review on June 8. The announcement on the Army website drew attention because the appearance would have been the first major official duty confirmed for her since she underwent abdominal surgery in January.