Royal watchers were puzzled this week after the British army's website initially advertised that Kate, the Princess of Wales, would be attending the annual Trooping the Colour parade in June, only to later remove the claim without explanation.
The army website had listed Kate, 42, as scheduled to "review" the traditional military parade on June 8, displaying a large photo of her from last year's event. Tickets were being sold for the public to watch the Princess "inspect" the troops.
However, the reference to Kate's involvement was subsequently deleted from the website listing, which now simply refers to the event as "The Colonel's Review" with no mention of who will be attending.
Kensington Palace, the residence of Kate and husband Prince William, declined to comment on the website confusion. The British Defence Ministry also did not provide clarification, redirecting queries back to the palace.
The uncertainty comes as Kate has been absent from official royal duties for weeks after undergoing abdominal surgery in January. The palace said she would not resume her role until after Easter at the earliest, prompting speculation about the nature and severity of her condition.
With King Charles III also cutting back some engagements due to a recent cancer diagnosis, questions remain over who will represent the royal family at the iconic Trooping the Colour parade celebrating the monarch's official birthday.
The annual event features 1,400 soldiers on parade along with 400 musicians. Last year, Kate joined Queen Camilla and the Duke of Kent in inspecting the troops. Whether she will be well enough to attend this year's festivities on June 8 remains unclear amid the mixed signals from official sources.