Royal observers eagerly anticipating clarity regarding the recent manipulated photo released by Prince William and Kate Middleton last weekend may find themselves facing yet another disappointment.
In an unprecedented move since 2016, Middleton will not be in attendance at the Irish Guard’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, England.
Likewise, William, who served as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards from 2011 to 2022, will also be absent from the event. This absence is unlikely to quell the ongoing speculation surrounding Middleton’s relatively low profile following her surgery in January.
As many are aware, Middleton has not made any official public appearances since Christmas Day, when her family attended services at Sandringham. Mid-January saw Kensington Palace announcing Middleton’s “planned abdominal surgery,” a revelation reportedly surprising even to those close to her.
Following a two-week hospital stay, Middleton returned home, with the palace stating that her recovery would continue privately until Easter. However, speculation persists regarding the accuracy of the palace’s updates, with some arguing that incidents like the release of a photoshopped image of Middleton with her family only serve to intensify rather than quell the speculation.
Kate Middleton (Credits: Town & Country Magazine)
Some commentators have proposed that Middleton’s attendance at a highly visible public event could put an end to the ongoing speculation. Given her role as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, there was speculation that she might appear at their St. Patrick’s Day parade, an event she has attended annually since 2012, with the exception of 2016.
However, according to an anonymous source cited by People magazine, neither Middleton nor William will be present at the parade.
Despite Queen Elizabeth appointing William as their honorary colonel shortly before Middleton and William’s marriage in 2011, William was reassigned as Colonel of the Welsh Guards after Elizabeth’s passing and King Charles III’s coronation in 2022. Last year, Charles appointed Middleton as the new honorary colonel of the Irish Guards.
“I look forward to spending more time with you and your families, seeing your commitment to duty and service in all you do,” Middleton expressed at last year’s event, her first as their colonel. “Before I close, however, I want to thank Colonel William. He has always talked about his fierce pride for this Regiment. I know he will continue to support us all in the work we do.”
