King Charles III called on brother Prince Edward and his wife Duchess Sophie to step in for the first time ever at Buckingham Palace.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh stepped in for the king, 75, as he undergoes cancer treatment and has eased up on carrying out public-facing duties, at a historic military event at the palace.
Prince Edward and Sophie, who wore a pale blue dress and beige coat, looked thrilled as they inspected the troops after French soldiers joined their British and Commonwealth counterparts at a Changing of the Guard ceremony Monday, April 8, at Buckingham Palace at 11 a.m. BST.
The special ceremony, which would’ve been hosted by the monarch, marked the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, an agreement between countries united against German ambitions in the decade before World War One.
During the 15-minute ceremony, the royal couple inspected the troops along with the French Ambassador to the U.K., Hélène Duchêne.
Although the king has scaled back on attending events like these as he recovers, earlier this month, he thrilled well-wishers by appearing at an Easter Sunday church service at Windsor Castle.
Crowds gathered in anticipation outside St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Sunday, March 31, to share their support and get a glimpse of the King.
He arrived in his maroon state Bentley limousine for the service and looked in good spirits as he smiled and waved to crowds before entering the chapel.
The king, who is having weekly treatment for the disease, shook as many hands as possible with royal fans and when one said “get well soon,” he replied: “I’m doing my best.”
Princess Kate Middleton and Prince William were not in attendance as Kate has taken a step back from public appearances as she undergoes cancer treatment.
The king has reportedly told aides that he’s “raring to go” for a trip to Australia later this year and is expected to travel to Birkhall next week, The Sun reports.
Both himself and Queen Camilla also visit New Zealand and Samoa in October as part of a Commonwealth visit, which would involve 21-hour flights over 20,000 miles.
While the official line from Buckingham Palace is that “nothing is ruled in or out,” sources told the U.K.’s The Sun that the king and his doctors were optimistic following his Easter Sunday appearance.
“The King is raring to go after a significant amount of time off due to his cancer diagnosis,” an insider told the publication.
In the meantime, the king is opening the doors to Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, a storied estate that serves as a frequent vacation spot for the royal family. “For the first time since the castle was completed in 1855, we have been granted permission to take you on a private tour with our experienced guides,” Balmoral Castle’s website reads. “They will take you on a historical journey through several of the beautiful rooms within Balmoral Castle.” The guided tour, which is currently sold out, is available for $126 a person, with the option of paying $189 for afternoon tea.
