Princess of Wales: Kate to attend Trooping the Colour as first royal engagement since operation

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has not carried out any official royal engagements since undergoing abdominal surgery

The Princess of Wales may carry out her first major engagement since her operation when she reviews Trooping the Colour, it has been revealed.

The engagement was listed on the Army’s official website on Tuesday, but Kensington Palace was reportedly not consulted ahead of the announcement by the Ministry of Defence and has not yet confirmed Kate’s attendance.

The details emerged as King Charles III held an in-person pre-Budget audience with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday morning.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has undergone an operation. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Charles, who is being treated for cancer, continued with his duties as head of state. Before a Budget is presented, the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets with the monarch, usually the day before the government’s plans for the economy are delivered in a statement to the Commons.

The audience is traditionally a private one, but, this time, the King was photographed shaking hands with Mr Hunt in the Private Audience Room of the royal residence.

Charles, dressed in a blue suit and pale tie, was shown smiling broadly as he welcomed Mr Hunt to the Palace.

They were also shown sitting in chairs either side of a small antique table, with Charles looking more serious as he posed with his hands clasped together.

The slimmed-down monarchy has been under increasing pressure to remain visible in recent days, with conspiracy theories about the health of the Princess of Wales escalating on social media.

Tickets went on sale on Tuesday for the first major engagements announced for both the King, since his diagnosis, and Kate, following her abdominal surgery.

The website names the King as attending the main Trooping ceremony – also known as the Birthday Parade, as it marks the sovereign’s official anniversary – with bookings now being taken for a ballot for tickets.

Buckingham and Kensington Palace have yet to confirm their attendance.

Kate is recovering from abdominal surgery, but it is understood planning for major royal events continues, with organisers remaining flexible in the event of possible changes.

The princess has been spotted being driven close to her home in Windsor following huge speculation on social media about the state of her health.

It appears the Ministry of Defence hopes Kate will be well enough to attend one of the key ceremonial events in the armed forces’ year.

But only Kensington Palace, Kate’s official office, can announce her attendance at a royal event and confirmation is not expected until nearer the time.

Kate left hospital on January 29 and is recuperating at her Adelaide Cottage home close to Windsor Castle, but is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter.

An image circulating online shows the princess, wearing sunglasses, sitting in the front seat of a car being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton.

Since his diagnosis, the King has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers and some in-person meetings.

The Queen, meanwhile, will attend the annual Commonwealth Day service next week alongside the Prince of Wales, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Camilla and William will be joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent at Westminster Abbey on Monday, March 11.

Charles, who only acceded to the throne 18 months ago, has faced a difficult start to 2024, with a three-night hospital stay for a procedure on an enlarged prostate, during which time his cancer – not prostate cancer – was discovered.

The royal family is also grieving following the sudden death of Thomas Kingston, the husband of the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston.