Kate Middleton, the Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, to Miss St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Royal watchers hoping for a swift answer to the multitude of questions posed by a manipulated photo released by Prince William and Kate Middleton last weekend have another disappointment in store. 

For the first time since 2016, Middleton will not attend the Irish Guard’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, England. William, the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards from 2011 to 2022, won’t be at the event, either, a situation that is unlikely to put an end to the tidal wave of speculation over her low profile since her surgery in January.

As you, of course, know, Middleton has not been officially seen in public since Christmas Day, when her family attended services at Sandringham. In mid-January, Kensington Palace announced that Middleton underwent “planned abdominal surgery,” an announcement that reportedly surprised even those close to the Princess. 

After a two-week hospitalization, she returned home, the palace said, noting that her recovery was expected to continue—in private—through Easter. Speculation that things are not as the palace claims has run rampant ever since, and there’s an argument to be made that matters like the release of a Photoshopped image of Middleton with her family have fanned—instead of quelled—the flames.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke Of Cambridge,, attend the annual Irish Guards St Patrick’s Day Parade at Cavalry Barracks on March 17, 2018, in Hounslow, England.

Pool/Getty Images

Some commentators have suggested that one way to end the chatter would be for Middleton to attend a highly-visible-from-many-angles live event (though in these days of QAnon credulity, who knows?). As she is the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, some thought she’d reemerge for their St. Patrick’s Day parade—after all, she’s attended every year since 2012, barring one missed parade in 2016. 

But that’s not happening, People cites an anonymous source as confirming. Nor will William, whom Queen Elizabeth named as their honorary colonel shortly before Kate and William tied the knot in 2011. After Elizabeth’s death and King Charles III’s coronation in 2022, William was instead named Colonel of the Welsh Guards; last year, Charles named Middleton as the Irish Guard’s new honorary colonel.

“I look forward to spending more time with you and your families, seeing your commitment to duty and service in all you do,” Middleton said at last year’s event, her first as their colonel. “Before I close, however, I want to thank Colonel William. He has always talked about his fierce pride for this Regiment. I know he will continue to support us all in the work we do.”