Even as he continues cancer treatment, King Charles III is set to participate in a significant royal ceremony next week at Windsor Castle in Berkshire. This comes just two days after the Trooping of the Colour event in London.
The upcoming event, scheduled for June 17, 2017, is the Garter Day celebrations in Windsor. It involves the monarch meeting and installing new members of the prestigious Order of the Garter, England’s oldest chivalric order.
The Order of the Garter ceremony, held annually in June at Windsor Castle, includes a procession to St. George’s Chapel clad in traditional blue velvet Tudor robes and caps.
Prince Andrew’s involvement in recent Garter Day events gained attention due to his withdrawal from public duties following controversial allegations associated with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite this, Andrew is still eligible to participate in the Garter Day celebrations by virtue of his membership.
This year, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, is set to be installed as a Garter Day member. Birgitte, a Danish royal who married into the British Royal Family in 1972, has been a consistent presence at royal events over the years.
While some members of the Royal Family, like Birgitte, have received prestigious honors, others, including Prince Harry, are yet to be inducted into the Order of the Garter.
Despite battling cancer since February, King Charles III recently got the green light from his medical team to resume public engagements. He has since attended several events, including garden parties and large-scale occasions.
On June 15th, Charles will partake in the Trooping the Colour festivities, where he will flank the monarch in a carriage during the military display—a deviation from the regular protocol.