King Charles continues cancer treatment but will join Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children at Trooping the Colour celebration
The British royal family is expected to put on a united front as they continue to “keep their distance” from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
King Charles III will once again ride in a carriage at Saturday’s Trooping the Colour, an annual event also known as the “King’s Birthday Parade” in London, People magazine reported.
The monarch, who is still in treatment for cancer, will be at the festivities alongside Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children, as well as Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Queen Camilla and other key figures.
“Continuity will prevail all while shining a brilliant spotlight on stability,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “There will be a united front from the working senior royals with a rather deliberate distance from the Sussexes, who weren’t even invited for the third consecutive year, thereby avoiding unpleasant distractions.”
For the festivities, Prince William is expected to ride horseback again this year alongside his aunt Princess Anne and uncle Prince Edward, People magazine reported. His wife, Kate Middleton, and their three children will ride in a carriage and appear with the king and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The king, 76, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in 2024, rode horseback on his first Trooping as sovereign in 2023. Charles became king in 2022 upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. England’s longest-reigning monarch was 96.
“King Charles won’t ride on horseback, which has been a centuries-old custom for British monarchs, but will instead travel in a carriage alongside Queen Camilla,” Fordwich explained. “His much-beloved mother set a precedent as she switched to carriage travel after 1986 due to her own advancing age.”
Despite the king’s ongoing health challenges, Fordwich said the event will emphasize “royal resilience and the importance of tradition.” The celebration also signifies hope and perseverance for the family.
“King Charles’s cancer treatment is progressing well, and his schedule remains busy, which signals optimism about his health and reign,” said Fordwich. “Courtiers are also preparing for his 80th birthday celebrations in just a few years from now.”
