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With the 2024 Trooping the Colour fast approaching, royal watchers are all wondering whether the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) and her three children will attend the event.

After Kate’s name was left out of the review on June 1 and the announcement that William’s wife will miss the Trooping the Colour dress rehearsal on June 8 amid her cancer treatment, the Palace would not rule out her appearance at the June 15 parade. So while Kate’s attendance is still up in the air, a decision on whether Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will be there has reportedly been made.

Report about whether George, Charlotte, and Louis will attend Trooping the Colour

Kate Middleton and Prince William watch a flypast with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis during Trooping the Colour
Kate Middleton and Prince William watch a flypast with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis during Trooping the Colour | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Fans are hopeful that Kate will appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the king’s birthday parade but understand if she is not well enough to. Even if she’s not there, though, her children will likely be there with their father.

According to multiple reports, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are expected to join other royals on the balcony as part of their grandfather’s birthday celebration.

The Wales children have attended the event every year since 2019 (excluding 2020 and 2021, when Trooping the Colour was canceled). They usually arrive by carriage with their mother and Queen Camilla but some royal watchers believe that this year they could arrive with the king.

“I have this lovely little feeling that perhaps the carriage will include the king and queen and the three grandchildren,” Royal Musings author Marlene Koenig told Express. “Normally, it was mom and Camilla and the three children. But since Catherine is most unlikely to be at Trooping, [the thought] is that they will be with their grandparents, which would be really cute, really sweet.”

Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade
Kate Middleton, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George watch the RAF flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

King Charles’ former aide says we may never see monarch do one thing again

That notion is definitely possible since it’s been confirmed that the king will be riding in a carriage this year instead of on horseback as he has in the past. It’s believed that the monarch wanted to be on horseback but is following doctors’ orders not to because of his health.

Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler for seven years. During his time working for the now-monarch and his wife Queen Camilla (formerly known as Camilla Parker Bowles) Harrold’s duties included that of housekeeper, house manager, driver, and valet. He weighed in on the decision and said while it’s not unusual for a monarch to ride in a carriage (Queen Elizabeth did in her later years), it could mean that we will never see the king on a horse again.

King Charles III rides horseback during the Trooping the Colour parade at Buckingham Palace
King Charles III rides horseback during the Trooping the Colour parade at Buckingham Palace | Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Speaking on behalf of Slingo, the former royal employee said: “It’s not hugely unusual for the king, due to his age, that this would be the best thing, though saying that, the king is quite an accomplished horse rider. But then again, what they don’t want is something going wrong. 

“They probably think it’s best that he takes it easy and a very gentle carriage ride is much easier. He’s following in his late mother’s footsteps, whether this be a sign of what’s to come and we may never see the king on horseback is very possible. From now on, he may be in a carriage like his late mother and father used to do. Although it’s not unusual, his condition has sped this up and that’s what led to this decision. It’s quite significant but we will see a very normal Trooping the Colour I think. The king will take his place at the podium where he watches the Trooping the Colour as usual.”