The Princess of Wales sent a personally signed letter to the Irish Guards to send her best wishes to the regiment after missing out on them taking part in a dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour today

The Princess of Wales has spoken of how sorry she is to be missing a major rehearsal for Trooping the Colour today.

As Colonel of the Irish Guards, the regiment trooping their colour this year, she traditionally would have taken the salute at the Colonel’s Review, the traditional rehearsal, which is taking place today ahead of the main Trooping the Colour event next week. However, as Kate continues her recovery following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, it was revealed last week that she would not be at the event today to take the salute and will instead be replaced by Lieutenant General James Bucknall.

Kate with Prince William and their children at Trooping the Colour last year
But keen to express how sorry she was to be missing the event, the princess has written a letter to the Irish Guards to pass on her best wishes ahead of their rehearsal and express her pride in the regiment.

The letter on Kensington Palace headed paper and shared on the Irish Guards account on X, said: “I wanted to write to 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 practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensure their uniforms and drill are immaculate.

“Being your Colonel remains a great honour, and I am very sorry that I am unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope I can represent you all again soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”

The Irish Guards shared the lette they received from Kate ( 
Image:
@irish_guards/Twitter)
Kate finishes the letter by handwriting the Irish Guards’ motto Quis Separabit, which means ‘Who shall separate us?’ and signs it ‘Colonel Catherine’.

The regiment also posted a video of the letter being read out to troops. Her words received a round of applause from the Guards at the conclusion of the letter. The letter comes after the Mirror revealed that Kate has not been ruled out of making an appearance at the King’s official birthday celebrations next weekend.

She is understood to be considering making an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Trooping the Colour ceremony if she is feeling well enough. Palace sources have insisted that the Princess is not expected to return to official duties until given the all-clear by doctors and any appearances at royal events would be sporadic at best.

The King, who has also been having his own treatment for cancer, has however will attend his birthday celebrations in London next Saturday. But as part of the adaptations made to his routine, instead of riding on horseback to inspect the troops,the monarch will travel in an Ascot Landaucarriage withQueen Camilla. Palace sources said the alteration to normal proceedings is in keeping with guidance by the palace that the King’s working comeback would be “carefully reviewed” for each engagement.

Trooping the Colour is held every year as an official birthday event for the monarch, even though Charles’ actual birthday is November 14. Royal sources said other members of the Royal Family were expected to attend in line with last year, where only working members of the family were present.