Earlier this year, the Duke of York was relieved of his role as colonel in the Grenadier Guards following his legal battle with Virginia Giuffre over allegations of sexual assault. As a Colonel in the Grenadier Guards, Prince Andrew played a key role in the ceremony during the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in 2018 and 2019, riding alongside the Queen and representing the regiment in the parade.
It was expected that the Queen would appoint a new Colonel before Trooping of the Color took place.
However, the Queen, who has held the title herself in the past, will not appoint a new royal colonel to avoid the Duke’s embarrassment, the Times reported.
Instead, the Grenadier Guards are represented by Major General Roland Walker.
Major Walker is a senior officer in the British Army and currently serves as Deputy Chief of Defense Staff.
He is an Afghanistan veteran and former commander of the regiment.
Prince Andrew’s legal battle with Ms Giuffre ended in a multimillion-pound settlement in February.
During the negotiations, Andrew denied the allegations against him.
Trooping of the Color, which will take place on June 2nd, is a parade of various regiments from the British and Commonwealth Army to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday.
However, a news report claimed that this may not be the first time the Queen has been able to take the salute at Horse Guards Parade during her reign.
The monarch, who is celebrating her platinum anniversary, continues to suffer from “episodic mobility issues” and her attendance at events depends on her day-to-day health.
The Grenadier Guards, which traditionally take part in the parade, are an infantry regiment of the British Army.
It can trace its lineage back to 1656 when Lord Wentworth’s regiment was raised in Bruges to protect the exiled Charles II.