Kate Middleton will not attend the St Patrick’s Day parade for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from her abdominal surgery, it has been reported.

Neither the Prince or Princess of Wales are expected to be in attendance at the Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday due to Kate’s planned surgery, which took place in January.

The Princess of Wales, 42, has been out of the public eye since, only emerging on Mother’s Day to share a family photograph which became the source of heightened speculation when it emerged the image was edited.

Sunday will be the first time since 2016 that Kate has missed the St Patrick’s Day parade. She has attended every other parade since 2012.

But despite her lack of attendance, Kate, who became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards last year, will reportedly be honoured by soldiers at the Mons Barracks.

Kate Middleton will not attend the St Patrick’s Day parade for the first time in seven years as she continues to recover from her abdominal surgery, it has been reported

A source told PEOPLE that the Irish Guards will send the mother-of-three their best wishes, and give three cheers to the princess at the end of their celebratory parade.

MailOnline has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.

At last year’s St Patrick’s Day parade, Kate gave a short speech.

‘I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do – this is a responsibility I do not take lightly,’ she said.

‘I look forward to spending more time with you and your families, seeing your commitment to duty and service in all you do.

‘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.’

Prince William became honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, shortly before he married Kate. He later became Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022.

Neither the Prince of Princess of Wales are expected to be in attendance at the Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire, on Sunday due to Kate’s planned surgery, which took place in January. Pictured: Latest sighting of Kate Middleton

The Princess of Wales, 42, has been out of the public eye since, only emerging on Mother’s Day to share a family photograph

Sunday will be the first time since 2016 that Kate has missed the St Patrick’s Day parade. She has attended every other parade since 2012

Despite her lack of attendance, Kate, who became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards last year, will reportedly be honoured by soldiers at the Mons Barracks

It comes as our Royal Editor Rebecca English said the Princess of Wales is likely ‘very distressed by the fallout’ after she admitted digitally editing a family portrait taken by Prince William.

The picture was released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother’s Day on Sunday and prompted an apology from Kate, which Rebecca said was ‘honest and heartfelt’.

The princess – who has not been seen at a public royal event since Christmas Day – was ‘simply was trying to put out a nice picture of her children’, Rebecca added.

She also said she hoped ‘lessons have been learnt internally’ at Kensington Palace but that the public should ‘accept the apology equally graciously and move on’.

A source told PEOPLE that the Irish Guards will send the mother-of-three their best wishes, and give three cheers to the princess at the end of their celebratory parade

At last year’s St Patrick’s Day parade, Kate gave a short speech to the Irish Guards

Prince William became honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, shortly before he married Kate. He later became Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 2022

Last year, the Princess of Wales enjoyed sips of Guinness after she paid tribute to her husband Prince William at the Irish Guards’ St Patrick’s Day parade in Hampshire.

Kate wore a turquoise coat which matched the colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards’ blue plume, and sipped on a pint of ‘the black stuff’ with her husband after making an emotive speech.

The princess said: ‘I really couldn’t be prouder to stand in front of you here today. It really is a true honour to be your Colonel. I am here to listen to you, to support you, and to champion you in all you do – this is a responsibility I do not take lightly.’

Meanwhile William said that being Colonel of the Irish Guards has been one of the ‘great honours of my life’.