Britain’s government faced embarrassment on Tuesday after mistakenly advertising that Kate, the Princess of Wales, would attend a Trooping the Color ceremony in June without consulting palace officials.
The announcement, posted on the U.K. Ministry of Defense’s website, indicated that Kate, 42, would participate in her first major official duty since undergoing abdominal surgery.
However, Kensington Palace, the office of Prince William and Kate, has not confirmed any scheduled public events for Kate, making it the responsibility of palace officials, not government departments, to announce and confirm the royals’ attendance at events.
The premature announcement caused confusion and drew attention to the state of Kate’s health, as she has been out of the public eye since January when palace officials announced her admission to a private London hospital for unspecified planned surgery.
While palace officials stated that she would not return to public duties until after Easter, they did not provide further details about her condition.
Reports indicate that the army did not seek approval from Kensington Palace before publishing details about Kate’s appearance in June, assuming that she, as the Colonel of the Irish Guards, would inspect the troops at the annual military ceremony.
The Trooping the Color ceremony, a significant event in the royal calendar, involves birthday parades to honor the reigning monarch and typically attracts large crowds to London’s Horse Guards and along The Mall, outside Buckingham Palace.
This year, the Irish Guards are trooping their regimental flag, or “color,” at the ceremony, a duty that would normally be led by Kate as the troops’ figurative chief. However, palace officials may not confirm her attendance until closer to the event.
The royal family has been under increased scrutiny recently due to health issues affecting both Kate and King Charles III. Charles is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate, leading him to cancel all public engagements.
Kate’s undisclosed condition prompted her hospitalization, but palace officials have respected her wish for privacy regarding her medical information.
Recent speculation about Kate’s health intensified when William withdrew from a memorial service for his godfather at the last minute due to a “personal matter,” though palace officials reiterated that Kate is recovering well.
