King Charles inspects Kate’s Irish Guards ahead of Trooping the Colour parade

King Charles donned full military regalia to inspect the Princess of Wales’s Irish Guards ahead of the Trooping the Colour parade. See photos.

King Charles has presented new colours to the Irish Guards at Windsor Castle in the absence of Princess Catherine.

Charles inspected the guardsmen and officers on parade before the Chaplain General consecrated the colours with a blessing.

The new colours will be those trooped in the Trooping the Colour at the King’s official birthday parade in London next weekend.

The monarch is expected to take part in the parade, but will inspect the soldiers from a carriage rather than on horseback, The Sun reports.

King Charles III reviews the Irish Guards during a ceremony where he presents New Colours to No 9 and No 12 Company The Irish Guards at Windsor Castle. Picture: AFP

Charles has recently returned to public-facing duties while still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Colours – adorned with a regiment’s emblems and battle honours – were originally used as rallying points for troops on the battlefield.

The new Colours will be those trooped in the Trooping of the Colour at His Majesty’s official Birthday Parade in London. Picture: AFP

They still accompany soldiers on operations and, more visibly, on ceremonial duties.

In March 2023, the Princess of Wales took over the role of Colonel of the Irish Guards from the Prince of Wales.

King Charles III speaks to soldiers as he reviews the Irish Guards during a ceremony where he presents New Colours. Picture: AFP

Princess Catherine sent a personal message to the Irish Guards to wish them luck and apologise for being absent at a key rehearsal for the upcoming Trooping the Colour event which takes place on June 15.

King Charles III salutes The Irish Guards marching in front of him at the end of a ceremony where he presents New Colours to No 9 and No 12 Company. Picture: AFP

Soldiers from the Irish Guards remove their busbees to honour King Charles III during a ceremony where he presented New Colours to No 9 and No 12 Company. Picture: AFP

In a personal letter shared via the Irish Guards’ X page, the royal told how she regarded her position as colonel as “a great honour” and was sorry she was unable to take the salute.

The mother-of three has been out of the public eye since revealing in March that she was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Princess Catherine and Prince William visit the 1st Battalion Irish Guards for their St Patrick’s Day Parade in Aldershot in 2023. Picture: AFP

Catherine wrote: “I wanted to write to you to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the colonel’s review and trooping the colour.

“I appreciate everyone trooping the colour this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate.

The royal pair with their children at the 2023 Trooping the Colour. Picture: Getty Images

“Being your colonel remains an honour and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s colonel’s review. Please pass on my apologies to the whole regiment, I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”

The letter ended with the touching Latin phrase “quis separabit”, meaning “who will separate (us)?”, a motto associated with the British army in Ireland.

The colonel’s review takes place a week before the Trooping the Colour parade, which has been held on the sovereign’s birthday for more than 260 years.

It has not been confirmed yet whether or not Princess Catherine will attend the Trooping the Colour parade next weekend.

Originally published as King Charles inspects Kate’s Irish Guards ahead of Trooping the Colour parade