King Charles is reportedly determined to attend this year’s Trooping the Colour ceremony in London - but could appear in a carriage rather than riding on horseback.
The 75-year-old monarch has stepped back from public duties while he undergoes cancer treatment.
But aides are reportedly looking into ways he can take part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony - also known as the King’s Birthday Parade - in June.
MailOnline reports he could be driven to the military spectacular in a carriage before watching it from a podium, rather than riding on horseback as he has for the last two years.
The event is due to take place at Horse Guards Parade, just off The Mall, on June 15.
While the King’s attendance will reportedly depend on medical advice nearer the time, planning for the event appears to be pushing ahead, with details still on the British Army website where tickets are available through a ballot system.
A source told MailOnline: “There are a number of key events His Majesty would love to attend coming up in the diary and this is at the top of the list.”
The military spectacle sees the most prestigious regiments in the British Army honour their Colonel in Chief by parading to mark his anniversary.
Charles deputised for Queen Elizabeth II at the 2022 event, before last year riding onto Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall as the nation’s head of state.
The sight of a monarch riding throughout Trooping the Colour had not happened since 1986 when the late Queen rode her charger Burmese for the final time. After that, the late Queen attended the ceremony in a carriage.
Buckingham Palace announced on February 6 the King had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, and had begun treatment.
The shock announcement came a week after Charles was discharged from private London hospital the London Clinic, where he spent three nights undergoing scheduled treatment for benign prostate enlargement.
His cancer was reportedly picked up on during his stay. Detils of the King’s diagnosis have not been revealed by the Palace, but it has confirmed he does not have prostate cancer.
The King is undergoing “a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties”, said the Palace.
But he is still carrying out State business and official paperwork as usual, attending weekly audiences with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
On March 5, the day before Jeremy Hunt made his 2024 Spring Budget announcement, the King was pictured smiling as he held a private audience with the Chancellor, as per tradition.
The King’s cancer treatment comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, has faced her own health concerns.
Kate was also admitted to the London Clinic last month, where she underwent planned abdominal surgery. She spent 13 days at the private hospital before being discharged.
Kensington Palace has not revealed the nature of the surgery the future queen underwent, but has confirmed she was not being treated for cancer.
She has also cancelled all public engagements until Easter.
There has been much speculation about the future Queen’s health in recent weeks - stoked by a doctored photograph released by the Palace to mark Mothering Sunday.
But Kate was reportedly looking “happy” and “well” as she was spotted shopping with Prince William in Windsor at the weekend.
A military inspection identical to the King’s Birthday Parade is due to take place at Horse Guard’s Parade a week earlier, on June 8.
The Army’s ticketing website previously claimed the Princess of Wales was due to appear at the June 8 event. It would mark her first confirmed public engagement since her hospitalisation.
But the Army later removed the claim. It is understood the Army did not seek approval from Kensington Palace prior to publishing the page.
