King Charles 'annoyed' as he's 'forced' into carriage for Trooping the Colour 'but may surprise us'
With Trooping the Colour returning to London today (Saturday, 15 June) spectators will no doubt be eager to catch a glimpse of the King, who is set to ride in a carriage - as opposed to the traditional horseback - due to his cancer treatment.
Despite battling cancer, the 75 year old monarch is resolute about participating in the official birthday festivities but adjustments are being made to the annual event's proceedings to accommodate his health situation, with Buckingham Palace and the Ministry of Defence having spent weeks deliberating potential modifications.
However, according to Royal expert Jennie Bond this decision for Charles to ride in a carriage is something the King hasn't made lightly and it's even said to 'annoy' him.
She exclusively told OK!: "Like any proud man, Charles will probably be somewhat peeved that he can’t sit astride his horse as he has for so many years.
"But time marches on…and he is no longer a spring chicken, so he’s probably resigned to the fact that he has now made the switch to a carriage for good. After all, his mother did it much earlier in her life," Jennie continued.
However, the royal expert believes that come next year things could be very different for the monarch and he could very well be riding horseback once again.
Jennie continued: "Having said that, he ‘s also quite a stubborn chap, so maybe next year he’ll back back on his horse. Personally I think it’s a very sensible move, and I’m sure Camilla will have been gently prodding him in that direction.
"It’s never easy to acknowledge your advancing years, but sometimes you just have to be sensible. And being sensible has just been forced on the King. He might even enjoy it. There’ll be a lot less stress being driven instead of trying to cope with a feisty steed and stress isn’t good for cancer patients, so I’m sure Camilla and his doctors will heartily approve."
Trooping the Colour, marking the sovereign's official birthday, has been a consistent tradition for over 260 years. It became an annual event during King George II's reign and has undergone several changes since then. This iconic celebration showcases British military pomp and pageantry on a grand scale. Its origins can be traced back centuries, with a version of the parade believed to have first taken place during King Charles II's reign.
The spectacle will feature 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians parading down The Mall and at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, before the appearance by the royals.
Following the parade, the Royal Family are set to take to the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Flypast, with one very unexpected guest - Kate Middleton.
The Princess of Wales confirmed the news herself and released a personal message, in which she said she is making “good progress” in her cancer treatment. She said she has begun to work from home, undertaking meetings with her foundation and Kensington Palace team, and hopes “to join a few public engagements over the summer” but stressed “I am not out of the woods yet”.
