Kate Middleton will not attend the St Patrick’s Day parade for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from stomach surgery, it has been reported.
Neither the Prince nor the Princess of Wales are expected to be present at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday due to Kate’s scheduled operation, which took place in January.
The Princess of Wales, 42, has been out of the public eye since, only appearing on Mother’s Day to share a family photo which became the source of increased speculation when it emerged the photo had been edited.
Sunday will be the first time since 2016 that Kate will miss the St Patrick’s Day parade. She has participated in every other parade since 2012.
But despite her no-show, Kate, who was made an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards last year, will reportedly be honored by soldiers at Mons Barracks.
Kate Middleton will not attend the St Patrick’s Day parade for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from stomach surgery, it has been reported
A source told PEOPLE that the Irish Guards will send the mother of three their best wishes and give the princess three cheers at the end of their celebratory parade.
MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
At last year’s St Patrick’s Day parade, Kate gave a short speech.
“I’m here to listen to you, to support you and to fight for you in everything you do — it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly,” she said.
‘I look forward to spending more time with you and your families and seeing your commitment to duty and service in all that you do.
“Before I close, however, I would like to thank Colonel William. He has always spoken of his fierce pride in this Regiment.
‘I know he will continue to support us all in the work we do.’
Prince William was made an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, shortly before he married Kate. He later became a colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022.
The Prince of Wales, Princess of Wales, is also not expected to be present at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday due to Kate’s scheduled operation, which took place in January. Pictured: Latest sighting of Kate Middleton
The Princess of Wales, 42, has been out of the public eye since and only emerged on Mother’s Day to share a family photo
Sunday will be the first time since 2016 that Kate will miss the St Patrick’s Day parade. She has participated in every other parade since 2012
Despite her no-show, Kate, who was made an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards last year, will reportedly be honored by soldiers at Mons Barracks
It comes as our royal editor Rebecca English said the Princess of Wales is likely to be “very saddened by the fallout” after she admitted she digitally edited a family portrait taken by Prince William.
The image was released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother’s Day on Sunday and prompted an apology from Kate, which Rebecca said was ‘honest and heartfelt’.
The princess – who has not been seen at a public royal event since Christmas Day – was “simply trying to show a nice picture of her children”, Rebecca added.
She also said she hoped ‘lessons have been learned internally’ at Kensington Palace but that the public should ‘accept the apology just as graciously and move on’.
A source told PEOPLE that the Irish Guards will send the mother of three their best wishes and give the princess three cheers at the end of their celebratory parade
At last year’s St Patrick’s Day parade, Kate gave a short speech to the Irish Guards
Prince William was made an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, shortly before he married Kate. He later became a colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022
Last year, the Princess of Wales enjoyed a swig of Guinness after paying tribute to her husband Prince William at the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade in Hampshire.
Kate wore a turquoise coat, which matched the color of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards’ blue pennant, and sipped a pint of ‘the black stuff’ with her husband after giving an emotional speech.
The princess said: ‘I really couldn’t be prouder to stand before you here today. It is indeed a true honor to be your Colonel. I’m here to listen to you, to support you and to fight for you in everything you do – it’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.’
Meanwhile, William said being colonel of the Irish Guards has been one of the ‘great honors of my life’.