How King Charles Will Participate in Commonwealth Day as Royal Guest List Confirmed

Queen Camilla and Prince William will lead the way at the church service at Westminster Abbey

King Charles will make a special appearance at the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration next week.

On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced how the King, 75, will be involved in the annual event at Westminster Abbey. The palace said that a pre-recorded message from the monarch, who has postponed public-facing duties while receiving cancer treatment, will play during the service. The event will celebrate the global network of 56 countries with the 2024 theme “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth," and 2,000 guests are expected to attend.

While the King won’t be there in person, plenty of members of his family will be. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Queen Camilla and Prince William will both attend the event.

They'll be joined by Prince Edward, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Prince Richard and Birgitte, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent.

According to Gert's Royals, this will make a rare appearance at the Commonwealth Day service for Queen Elizabeth’s cousins. While the Duchess of Gloucester has only attended the event once before, this will be the first time attending to the Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

Related: Was Kate Middleton's Return to Royal Duty Following Her Surgery Recovery Just Revealed?

Unlike last year, Kate Middleton won’t be part of the contingent. The Princess of Wales, 42, continues her private recovery following abdominal surgery in January, and Kensington Palace has said she was “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.” On Monday, Princess Kate was spotted in a car with her mother, Carole Middleton, in photos obtained by Backgrid. The moment marked the first time the royal had been seen since the procedure. A palace source tells PEOPLE that Princess Kate "continues to be doing well."

King Charles’ virtual participation in the Commonwealth Day Service next week aligns with the latest guidance around his health. On Feb. 5, Buckingham Palace announced that the King was diagnosed with cancer and was advised by his doctors to postpone public-facing duties while receiving treatment. The palace said the diagnosis came after a “separate issue of concern” was noted during the monarch’s treatment for benign prostate enlargement in January, though a spokesman confirmed it is not prostate cancer.

The monarch continues to undertake state business and paperwork behind the scenes, and most recently met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, who is the head of the government treasury, at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.

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As King Charles steps back from public engagements and Princess Kate continues her recuperation, it’s up to Queen Camilla and Prince William to be the face of the monarchy — and their presence at the Commonwealth celebration is an example of just that.

“It is hard with Kate being ill as well, but he will step up,” a source close to the royal household recently said of Prince William.

Although the Prince of Wales, 41, may undertake some duties on behalf of his father, there are currently no plans to appoint Counsellors of State to act on the King’s behalf.

“He wouldn’t want to put that pressure on William,” says the source. “He has always wanted to save his children from having that pressure too early and that will remain. Particularly as William has other priorities [with Kate].”

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Prince William and Queen Camilla have both made several solo engagements and the Queen, 76, is taking a brief break from work this week. Palace sources tell PEOPLE that Queen Camilla regularly schedules a break around this time of year, and her royal respite is not connected to King Charles’ health.

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