On June 15, she attended the Trooping the Colour parade alongside her husband, Prince William, and their three children.
The British monarchy soldiers on without Kate Middleton, who is battling cancer. The Princess of Wales has even been replaced in royal family photos alongside Prince William.
Sometimes, life throws curveballs, and even royals aren’t immune. Kate Middleton, unfortunately, had to step back from public life to focus on her cancer recovery. She made a rare appearance at Trooping the Color for King Charles III’s birthday but has mostly stayed away from royal events. Yet, the show must go on, right? Her temporary absence means other royals have stepped in to fill her shoes. Which is why we see Kate Middleton being replaced even in official photos.
Prince William in Scotland: The Show Goes On
King Charles III and Queen Camilla jetted off to Edinburgh for “Royal Week” at the start of July. This week-long celebration honors Scottish culture and allows the monarch to mingle with the locals. Last year, newly crowned King Charles had the support of William and Kate during these festivities. However, this year Kate Middleton was notably absent. Instead, Prince William was flanked by Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie of Edinburgh. The two of them have been stepping in for Kate more frequently over the past few months. In fact, Edward even took Kate’s spot in the official royal photos!
A Changing Line-Up: Kate Middleton Replaced
On July 3rd, Prince William, Prince Edward, and the Duchess of Edinburgh joined Charles and Camilla for the Order of the Thistle ceremony, the oldest order of Scottish chivalry. This event, one of the highlights of “Royal Week,” usually had Kate Middleton front and center. This time, however, Queen Camilla and Prince Edward stood in her place. The plot thickens: during a mass at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Queen Camilla and Prince Edward received honors that Kate has yet to achieve, being inducted into the Order of the Thistle.
Post-ceremony, the royals gathered for an official photo, which was promptly posted on the royal family’s Instagram. The image, featuring William, Camilla, Charles, and Edward, portraying them in their grandiose Order of the Thistle garb—think black capes, gold accents, and feathered hats—is both fascinating and telling. This replacement of Kate Middleton in royal photos hints at the changing dynamics within the monarchy. With ongoing rumors circulating that Kate may not return to her full royal duties anytime soon, her stand-ins are becoming the new normal.
