Trooping the Colour

This year's event was extra special as it's the first Trooping of King Charles's reign. And the Royals and Service members did not disappoint

On November 14, the actual day of his birth, King Charles III celebrates privately, but yesterday, June 17, he marked his "official" birthday publicly with a parade. It all comes down to the weather: Summer is the only time for a proper parade. The King took centre stage and saluted the 1,400 officers and men of the Household Division as they paraded before their commander in chief while the Welsh Guards “trooped” – or display – their colors for the Head of State. 

The King led the way riding Noble, the gorgeous horse given to him by the Royal Canadian Mountain Police earlier in May. Princess Anne rode Darby, and Prince William rode Sir John.

Prince Edward, in his first Trooping on horseback, rode a horse by the name of George. The Duke of Edinburgh wore his London Guard’s uniform, a Bearskin without a plume, the badge of the London Guards on the tunic collar and five buttons on his cuffs, bearing badges of the five Foot Guards regiments.

Queen Camilla, the Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis arrived in one carriage while the Duchess of Edinburgh rode in a carriage with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence

The Queen wore a red silk coat dress that took its inspiration from the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, the rank insignia of a full colonel is reflected in the epaulettes. Princess Kate wore a bespoke Andrew Gn dress dress which represented her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards. Look at the detail on the back of the Princess’s Philip Treacy' hat. It is finished with a button matching her Andrew Gn coat. This picture has been making the rounds on social media: