The Princess of Wales confirmed on June 14 whether or not she plans to attend the celebration this weekend, which will look slightly different from past years
The British royal family will be coming together for Trooping the Colour this month, though the celebration will look slightly different from past years.
This year will mark King Charles’ second Trooping the Colour as monarch following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.
Taking place in June each year as a public celebration of the monarch’s birthday — regardless of when their actual birthday is — the annual event features the ceremonial presentation of the military’s regimental flags, called “colours.”
Over the years, the event has brought out many members of the royal family to join in the procession, either on horseback or riding in a carriage, before gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a fly past by the Royal Air Force.
However, various members of the royal family have been dealing with health issues — both Kate Middleton and King Charles have been undergoing treatment for cancer — so it’s unclear just who will stand on the balcony this year.
On June 14, the Princess of Wales personally confirmed whether or not she’d be attending. She also shared an update on her health amid treatment.
Ahead, here’s everything to know about this year’s Trooping the Colour and which royals will be in attendance.
When is Trooping the Colour 2024?
King Charles III delivers a speech during a ceremony. BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
This year, Trooping the Colour will take place on June 15. The event will kick off around 5:00 a.m. ET that morning as the royal family travels from Buckingham Palace for the parade before returning to Buckingham Palace for their balcony appearance.
Which royals will attend Trooping the Colour 2024?
King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Trooping the Colour. CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES
It has been confirmed that the guest of honor King Charles will be in attendance amid his cancer treatment, alongside Queen Camilla.
Unlike past years, when King Charles rode horseback for the parade, the royal will conduct his review seated in a horse-drawn carriage with his wife by his side.
On June 14, Kate personally confirmed that she will be attending the Trooping of the Colouor. She is expected to ride in the carriage for the procession down The Mall with her children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — and view the parade from the Major General’s Office.
Kate will then join King Charles, Prince William and others on the Buckingham Palace balcony as the family gathers to watch the Royal Air Force’s flypast over the city.
In previous years, other royals on the balcony included Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh while the Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester stood off to the side.
Which royals are not attending Trooping the Colour 2024?
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Trooping the Colour. SAMIR HUSSEIN
Though the final guest list is not available, we already know two royals who will not be in attendance: In early June, PEOPLE confirmed that King Charles’ son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were not invited to Trooping the Colour. They were also not invited to the event last year.
The last time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended Trooping the Colour was in 2019 just before they officially stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2020. Since then, they have been living in California.
Will Trooping the Colour 2024 be Kate Middleton’s first royal appearance since her cancer diagnosis?
Kate Middleton at 2023 Trooping the Colour. MARK CUTHBERT/UK PRESS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Amid her cancer treatments, the public has wondered if Trooping the Colour will mark the Princess of Wales’ official return to royal duties. On June 14, Kate confirmed in a personal letter that she will join the royal family for King Charles’ birthday celebration in London, marking her first public appearance since announcing her diagnosis.
“I’m looking forward to attending the King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet,” Kate wrote.
In March, she revealed that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. Regarding her return to public duties, a palace spokesperson said, “The Princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team. She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.”
Kate’s letter also came with a new photo of Kate taken by Matt Porteous in Windsor, in addition to new details about her cancer treatment.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said in part. “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”
How to watch Trooping the Colour 2024?
Kate Middleton and Prince William with their kids at Trooping the Colour. SAMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE
The official channel for all things Trooping the Colour will be BBC. However, if you don’t get the network, the site notes that BBC iPlayer will have “uninterrupted coverage of the live events.”