05 March 2024 , 10:40
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A new Princess of Wales royal event is now in the diary after she had abdominal surgery, just a day after being spotted for the first time since Christmas.
Catherine will attend the Trooping the Colour dress rehearsal ceremony on 8 June, the Ministry of Defence has said, ahead of the main event on June 15. The Princess has until now had her entire diary cleared after she was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16. The future Queen was discharged on January 29, after spending nearly two weeks at The London Clinic in Marylebone. Kate had not been seen in public since Christmas Day and has been continuing her recovery at home in Windsor.
Now US celebrity news site TMZ has published a picture of the princess which it says was taken near Windsor Castle on Monday. She was seen in dark sunglasses and sat in the passenger seat of a black Audi which was being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photo is understood to have been taken by unauthorised paparazzi.
Kensington Palace previously said no updates would be given on Kate’s health, only saying her surgery was “non cancerous”. Last week the palace said she was “continuing to recover well” after Prince William pulled out of a Windsor Castle memorial service for “personal reasons”. The Palace also hit out about the “madness of social media” after theories spread online about her health.
The diary entry released today is the first engagement listed for Kate this year, although she is targeting a return to royal duties after Easter. Although His Majesty The King's actual birthday is 14th November, the spectacular ceremony of Trooping the Colour remains the single national celebration of the Sovereign's Official Birthday. However, the Mirror understands Kensington Palace has not yet confirmed the Prince and Princess of Wales will be attending the event, and was not consulted on the Ministry of Defence making any such announcement.
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Kate Middleton (C) waves to a crowd in 2011, with her sister Pippa (left) and her mother Carole. (Alamy Stock Photo)The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed first during the reign of King Charles II (1660 – 1685). In 1748, it was determined that this parade should mark the official birthday of the Sovereign, becoming an annual event when King George III ascended the throne in 1760. The King, who has been undergoing weekly treatment for cancer and is taking several weeks off from public duties; will review the troops for the main event on June 15.
On an online ticket booking site for Trooping the Colour in June, the Army said the Princess of Wales will review soldiers on parade. Kate, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, will carry out the inspection during the event. The Army’s website, which is selling tickets for the event for £15, said the Trooping the Colour attended by Kate will be the same as the parade traditionally inspected by the monarch, which this year will take place the following weekend on June 15.
Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis and the Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, following the Trooping the Colour last year (PA)The site said: "Trooping the Colour reviewed by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is identical to Trooping the Colour reviewed by His Majesty The King, with the exception that some additional mounted officers ride when His Majesty The King is present. Taking part will be over 1,400 soldiers of the Household Division and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, including 400 musicians from the Massed Bands, all of whom will parade on Horse Guards for the second of two formal Reviews. Trooping the Colour reviewed by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales also includes 250 soldiers from the Foot Guards who will line the processional route along The Mall. The soldiers will be inspected by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, Colonel Irish Guards."
It comes as Kate's uncle Gary Goldsmith entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on Monday night. Goldsmith, who is the younger brother of Kate Middleton's mother, Carole, made his debut on the revived ITV reality series on Monday alongside a host of TV stars. The businessman, commentator and podcast host said he was using the experience to give the public an insight into who he is.
Gary Goldsmith (Kate Middleton's uncle) (James Veysey/REX/Shutterstock)"We all like to be liked; this is a great opportunity to show anyone who cares the 'real me', the fun, caring and devilish 'me', not the villain I'm often portrayed in the press," the 58-year-old said. "Also, as I fast approach 60, I want to say 'yes' to most things put in front of me." His Big Brother appearance comes after a public court case in 2017, which saw Goldsmith fined and given a community order after admitting he assaulted his wife in a drunken argument in which she accused him of taking drugs.
Goldsmith, who compared his personality to a "toddler on sugar", said that he will need a lot of entertainment during his time on the show. "I don't scare easily, and I love a challenge, but this is so far out of my comfort zone I am nervous about the unknown, and if I'm honest, I'm nervous about myself," he said.
Goldsmith said he would find it difficult to live with "rude, insensitive or mean people", singling out former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Katie Hopkins as someone who would be a "challenge". He said he had packed a "sense of humour" and an "extra bag of patience and ear plugs".