Was Kate Middleton’s Return to Royal Duty Following Her Surgery Recovery Just Revealed?

Did the British army just give a date for the re-emergence of Kate Middleton?

The Princess of Wales, who has been recovering from abdominal surgery since Jan. 16, is reportedly slated to inspect soldiers during an engagement at Horse Guards Parade in London on June 8. Over 1,400 soldiers will take part in the review, which is a forerunner to the Trooping the Colour parade that takes place the following weekend.

The official British army website advertised the two dates on Tuesday, picturing Princess Kate in her teal green outfit as she inspected the Irish Guards on St. Patrick’s Day last year. King Charles named Princess Kate, 42, as the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards shortly after becoming monarch in 2022. Number 9 Company of the Irish Guards is leading the parade this year, meaning Kate would traditionally conduct the Colonel’s Review the weekend before the event.

Trooping the Colour is the event to officially mark King Charles’ birthday, and the monarch, who is undergoing cancer treatment and largely staying out of the public eye since his diagnosis, is listed by the British army as attending the parade on June 15.

Royal watchers have been hanging on any clue as to Princess Kate’s return to public life and thought they might have it with the announcement from the Ministry of Defence.

However, the British military may have got ahead of itself as arrangements for obtaining spectator tickets were laid out. Royal sources point out that it’s for Kensington Palace to confirm the appearance of Prince William, 41, and Princess Kate at any official outing.

Princess Kate has attended Trooping the Colour every year since marrying Prince William in 2011 with the exception of the period when the event was scaled down due to COVID-19 restrictions, riding in a horse-drawn carriage and appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the royals to watch a flypast. But this year would be the first time that she conducted the Colonel’s Review.

The June 8 parade is also on the same weekend as the Big Help Out volunteering days, set aside for community groups and other organizations to rally support for helping others. Last year, William, Kate and their kids helped at a scouts group not far from their Windsor home.

There is every chance, of course, that the Princess of Wales will have already stepped out before Trooping the Colour takes place in June.

Officials said at the time of her operation that she’d likely not resume duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31. With her three children — Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — on school vacation until mid-April, it’s likely she will time her first official appearance for soon after then.

Kate has been recuperating at home, primarily at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, since leaving the hospital following 13 days of care in January. She was spotted on Monday being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, marking the first time she’s been seen since the operation.

Princess Kate’s surgery was announced in a statement by Kensington Palace on Jan. 17. “The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” the statement read. “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private,” the statement continued. “Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”