Prince William Steps Out Solo Before Royal Family Reunion at Trooping the Colour

Prince William is undertaking a very royal duty before appearing with his family at Trooping the Colour.

On June 11, the Prince of Wales, 42, did the honors of presenting medals at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Investiture ceremonies are events at which recipients of royal honors receive their awards from a member of the royal family in special ceremonies held at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.

The heir to the throne did the honors of presenting insignias to a group including actress Anne-Marie Duff, Chanel CEO Leena Nair, Everton F.C. soccer club manager David Hoyes (formerly of West Ham United) and Dawn Astle, founder of The Jeff Astle Foundation. The foundation raises awareness around brain injury in sport, and Astle was recognized for services to soccer players with dementia. 

Prince William was the perfect royal to present the soccer honors, as he is a vocal fan with a passion for Aston Villa and the patron of the Football Association, soccer's governing body in England. 

His team recapped the investiture on social media after, posting a few photos from the ceremony at the castle.

"Congratulations to all those receiving honours at Windsor today. Your hard work, dedication, and service have truly set you apart," Prince William's office wrote.

The Windsor investiture didn't take William far from home, as the Prince of Wales lives nearby with his wife, Kate Middleton, and their kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. The royal duty marked his second public engagement of the week following a trip to Monaco and a solo outing before a banner event on the royal family's calendar.

On Saturday, June 14, the royal family is expected to emerge in full force to attend Trooping the Colour in London. The military parade organized by the Household Division of the British Army celebrates King Charles' official birthday as sovereign and doubles as something of a family reunion, as all the working royals almost always attend.

Related Stories

Meet the British Royal Family: A Complete Guide to the Modern Monarchy

Royal Family's Best Trooping the Colour Moments Over the Years — Including Prince Harry's Cheeky Face!

Continuing tradition, Prince William is expected to horseback ride in the procession as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, with his aunt Princess Anne and uncle Prince Edward expected to saddle up as well. PEOPLE previously confirmed that the King, 76, will travel by carriage (instead of horseback riding) like he did last year, as his treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer continues.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

The King follows precedent set by his late mother Queen Elizabeth by opting to appear in a carriage at Trooping the Colour. While the Queen pursued her horseback riding hobby privately well into her nineties, she swapped her Trooping transport from a horse to a coach in 1987 when she was 60.