King Charles III to take part in official birthday celebrations

King Charles III will take part in his official birthday celebrations in a little over two weeks, as the monarch eases his way back into public duties while continuing to undergo cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday.

The news came amid reports that Prince William’s wife, Kate, will miss a public rehearsal for the event as she, too, receives treatment for cancer. It remains unclear whether the Princess of Wales will attend the main ceremony, known as Trooping the Colour, on June 15, Britain’s Press Association reported. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kate has revealed few details about her illness or treatment since announcing her cancer diagnosis on March 22.

Charles had been returning to public duties before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week called a snap election. That forced the king to postpone engagements that might divert attention from the campaign, raising questions about whether he would attend the birthday celebration.

Trooping the Colour is a 460-year old tradition in which troops in full dress uniform parade past the king with their ceremonial flag, also known as their “colour.”

Charles is likely to travel to the event by carriage with Queen Camilla and is expected to watch the Trooping ceremony seated on a dais, rather than on horseback as he did last year.

The local tradition of honouring the British monarch’s birthday on the first Monday in June is a longstanding one.

Australia celebrates a week after New Zealand, while Canada’s is the preceding Monday.

For many Kiwis, the King’s Birthday – like Queen Elizabeth II before it – is popular because of the statutory holiday it delivers.

A day off on Monday, June 3, signals a long weekend followed by a four-day working week.

New Zealanders around the country 1News spoke to were looking forward to spending time with family and friends, heading away for a break or just relaxing at home.

One couple walking along Auckland’s Ponsonby Rd said it was a chance to take some time out together and leave their sleeping teenagers at home.

“To be honest, we’re just relaxing. Monday to Friday is so full-on having two teenage girls,” the couple said with a laugh.

“This is a good breakout time for us to get out and have a chat.”

Stallholders were up early preparing their goods for sale at a central city market in Wellington. Some expected it would be quieter than usual because some regulars would be away.

But one visitor to Wellington said he and his partner had come into the city to look around.

“The King’s Birthday itself doesn’t mean a lot and because I’m retired, I don’t get a day off either,” one man said. “But we’re coming into Wellington to look at art galleries and look around so yeah, it’s a great weekend.”

On the King himself, views around the country were mixed.

Some Wellingtonians thought the constitutional connections were good for New Zealand and the relationship worked well.

Others thought it was only a matter of time until Aotearoa New Zealand became a republic, even though they thought King Charles III was doing a good job.

Monarchy NZ believes the King is doing well in a huge job that offers many challenges and very little privacy.

Labour MP Willie Jackson says many people he knows are respectful of the monarchy but believes the country is moving towards establishing its own identity.

Debate over this issue looks set to be ongoing.

In the meantime, thousands of Kiwis are looking forward to a day off on Monday.

The formalities include 21 gun salutes in Auckland and Wellington.

A host of New Zealanders will also be awarded King’s Birthday Honours.

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