Princess Kate Issues Rare Statement Addressing Her Absence from Royal Duties

Princess Kate Releases a Rare Message About Her Absence From Royal Duties

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Princess Kate expressed her apologies last week for missing an important Trooping the Colour event.

As the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, the Princess of Wales typically handles the Colonel’s Review of the regiment before the annual celebration of the British monarch’s official birthday. However, Kate missed a June 8 rehearsal due to her ongoing cancer treatment, and her role was instead fulfilled by Lieutenant General James Bucknall, KCB, CBE.

While Kate has kept a low profile since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March, she made sure to personally apologize for her absence in a letter sent to the Irish Guards. The regiment later shared photos of the royal’s message on X.

“I wanted to write and let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour. I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drills are immaculate,” Kate wrote.

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“Being your colonel remains a great honor, and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel’s Review,” she continued. “Please pass my apologies to the whole regiment, however I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon.”

The princess finished the note by writing, “Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved,” before signing off as “Colonel Catherine.”

On X, the Irish Guards captioned the post: “The Irish Guards were deeply touched to receive a letter from our Colonel, Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Wales this morning. We continue to wish Her Royal Highness well in her recovery and send her our very best wishes.”

People reported in May that the princess would miss the rehearsal for Trooping the Colou. Whether she will attend the June 15 ceremony remains unknown.

Kate has been out of commission from royal duties since December 25, when she joined other members of the royal family in a public walk to Christmas morning church service at Sandringham.

Kensington Palace recently provided a brief update on her return-to-work status in a statement to Us Weekly. “We have been really clear that [Kate] needs the space and the privacy to recover right now,” a spokesperson said. “She will return to work when she has had the green light from doctors.”

A royal insider also shed some light on her comeback for Bazaar.

“There is no information about Kate’s ‘return’ because the focus at this moment in time is 100 percent on her health—to suggest she won’t return to her role is unfair and untrue,” the source explained. “Conversations of that nature are just not being had. When the time is right, she will resume her work.”