The Princess of Wales and the King have both been undergoing cancer treatments (Picture: Getty)
King Charles is ‘delighted’ that daughter-in-law Kate Middleton will make Trooping the Colour today while she receives cancer treatment.
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, said last night that she plans to attend the central London ceremony today which marks the monarch’s official birthday.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said yesterday: ‘His Majesty is delighted that The Princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events and is very much looking forward to all elements of the day.’
Charles, 75, also receiving treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, will be taking centre stage for Trooping the Colour from inside a carriage.
He was reportedly determined to make Trooping the Colour – an event he first attended when he was just three years old.
Trooping the Colour marks the monarch’s official public birthday (Picture: Marcin Nowak/LNP)
Son Prince William will take part in the parade, which involves 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses, on horseback.
Kate, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, did not take part in the Colonel’s Review last week which acts as a dry run of Trooping the Colour.
But she will be joined by her three children – Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, nine; and six-year-old Prince Louis – in a carriage down the Mall to watch the parade.
This will be the first time she is officially seen in public since last Christmas Day, but she stressed this is not her official return to public life.
In a highly personal six-paragraph statement, Kate said she hoped to return to public duties in the summer after her rounds of cancer treatment took a toll on her.
Kate Middleston’s Trooping the Colour statement in full:
‘I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months. It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.
‘I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.
‘My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.
‘I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.
‘I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.
Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.’
‘I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,’ she said.
‘On those bad days, you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting.
‘But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.’
She added: ‘I am not out of the woods yet.
‘I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much-needed time to heal.’
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