MOD jumps gun by announcing Princess of Wales will attend Trooping the Colour
THE Ministry of Defence was forced to remove a statement from its website claiming that the Princess of Wales would attend Trooping the Colour after it was announced without approval from Kensington Palace.
There was confusion yesterday after the Army announced that the Princess, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would review soldiers on parade on June 8.
However, Kensington Palace was not consulted before the announcement and has not yet confirmed her attendance. The Princess continues to recover from abdominal surgery and has not undertaken any public duties since Christmas.
While plans are in place for the Princess to attend, sources said the palace would make the official announcement as and when a final decision is made.
The MOD is understood to have frustrated royal aides with its statement, not least because it was the first event to be announced for the Princess since she stepped back from official duties to convalesce following surgery on Jan 16.
One source said that Kensington Palace,
and “no one else”, confirms the attendance of the Prince and Princess of Wales at events.
However, the Army’s web page, which was selling £15 tickets for the event, remained live throughout yesterday. It was expected to be removed imminently. The MOD also said the King, who is undergoing cancer treatment, would be back in action for his official birthday parade the following Saturday, June 15.
Buckingham Palace sources said planning for the King’s engagements continued, with allowance to be made for his changed circumstances, if necessary, nearer the time.
The Army’s website said the Trooping the Colour attended by the Princess would be the same as the parade traditionally inspected by the monarch.
The site said: “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.”
‘The soldiers will be inspected by HRH The Princess of Wales, Colonel Irish Guards’