Oldest royal remains absent as King Charles leads family at VE Day service

King Charles and Prince William laid wreaths in Westminster Abbey on Thursday at the culmination of the country's four days of commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

The king and his wife Queen Camilla were also joined by Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence..

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent were also present. 

In an article headlined, "The one royal missing from VE Day service - as she hasn’t appeared in public for 12 years," express.co.uk wrote that the Duke of Kent's wife skipped the event.

At 92,  Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, is the current oldest living member of the British royal family who hasn't publicly attended a royal engagement in 12 years.

Daily Express reported while she has attended family weddings, such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018, she has not attended an official engagement since the annual Trooping the Colour service in 2013.

It said the Duchess did not attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral or committal service in 2022, and was also not present for King Charles's Coronation the following year.

"The last time the Duchess was pictured was in 2024 when the Duke of Kent was honoured by three pipers from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards to mark his 89th birthday outside their home, Wren House, in the grounds of Kensington Palace," Daily Express reported.