Last year, King Charles attended his inaugural parade as king on horseback. (File)
London:
King Charles III will take part in his annual birthday parade next month in a carriage rather than on horseback as he battles cancer, British media reported on Thursday.
The 75-year-old head of state, who only recently resumed public engagements, will inspect the soldiers participating in the Trooping the Color ceremony, on June 15, from a royal carriage.
The annual event marks the sovereign’s official birthday and is one of the highlights of the royal calendar.
Last year, Charles attended his inaugural parade as king on horseback, the first time the monarch had ridden a horse since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986.
The change to this year’s ceremony follows the announcement in February that he had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer.
The king has been receiving treatment and last month royal officials said doctors were “very encouraged” by his progress, allowing him to resume his official duties.
He has been increasingly visible in recent weeks, maintaining a busy public schedule that included attending the Chelsea Flower Show last week.
Next week he will make his first trip abroad since his cancer diagnosis, at an event to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, 76, and eldest son Prince William, 41, the royals will be at a commemorative service at the British Normandy Memorial in northern France on June 6 .
A notable absence from these celebrations and potentially other royal events next month will be William’s wife, Catherine, 42.
She is receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer and was last seen at a public event in December last year.
The Press Association said it was unclear whether Kate, as she is widely known, would attend the Trooping the Color ceremony.
Sky News reported on Thursday that the Princess of Wales would not return to public duties for the Colonel’s Review, another ceremonial military event held the previous weekend.
As Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards, Kate used to salute at the event.
The British Army initially said in March that she would take part, but quickly removed reference to the princess from its website for review.
(Except the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
