Thousands gathered in central London for Trooping the Colour, the annual parade marking King Charles III’s official birthday, watching the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace and along the route to Horse Guards Parade.
The ceremony — one of the year’s biggest royal and military spectacles — ended with a Red Arrows flypast viewed from the palace balcony. On the balcony with the King and Queen Camilla were the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. Eight‑year‑old Prince Louis, who has previously been a crowd favourite, was calm and chatted to his parents as the jets passed overhead. The balcony scene underlined continuity, with the King standing alongside the future monarchs, Prince William and Prince George.
In bright sunshine the King and Queen travelled in an open Ascot Landau carriage, an historic vehicle purchased during Queen Victoria’s reign. The procession moved down The Mall past thousands of spectators. Trooping the Colour takes its name from the regimental “Colours” — the flags that represent units of the British Army — and this year the Grenadier Guards’ colours were trooped.
The parade involves more than 1,400 service personnel, about 200 horses and roughly 400 musicians. The Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh, all royal colonels, rode on horseback as part of the military display. Catherine, Princess of Wales, travelled in a carriage with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Other senior royals in carriages included the Duchess of Edinburgh with Vice‑Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The King wore the Grenadier Guards uniform, bearing the cypher of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and displayed ten medals including the Coronation Medal (1953) and the Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022). Queen Camilla, who is Colonel of the Grenadiers, wore a red Grenadier Guards uniform dress by Fiona Clarke with a black beret topped by a white plume and a cap detail by Philip Treacy.
Second Lieutenant Alec Goschen served as the Ensign, carrying the regiment’s flag on Horseguards; he stood out because of his height, recorded at 6ft 7ins and appearing much taller in his bearskin. After the parade the King received a royal salute followed by a 41‑gun salute from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, inspected the troops, and led the guards back to Buckingham Palace where a further salute took place.
There was a note of sadness amid the celebrations. Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, who should have taken part, died after a fall from her horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Troops and the artillery unit have paid tributes to her in recent weeks.
The Red Arrows flypast was specially notable: while the RAF announced plans to reduce most displays to seven aircraft to preserve an aging fleet, the nine‑jet formation was retained for Trooping the Colour and for the upcoming US 250th anniversary celebrations in July.
Spectators ranged from devoted royal fans to first‑time attendees. One visitor from Seattle said he admires the Royal Family’s public work; a local eight‑year‑old, Sophie Moore, represented Hertfordshire Brownies and was excited to take part. There were also anti‑monarchy protesters from the group Republic along The Mall and briefly in front of the palace balcony; they were confronted by some in the crowd and moved on by police.
Trooping the Colour remains a focal point of the royal year when military precision and the appearance of unity at the palace balcony draw wide attention.