King Charles and Queen Camilla on their Coronation Day, May 6, 2023. Getty
Trooping the Colour, the centuries-old parade that officially commemorates the King’s birthday will take place on Saturday, June 15, in London.
Trooping the Colour is an annual extravaganza that has marked the official birthday of the British sovereign for over 260 years. While King Charles' actual birthday isn't until November 14th, this annual celebration is known as The King's Birthday Parade.
Simply put, the decision was made to hold the celebrations during Summertime to ensure that there is less of a chance that the day will be spoiled by the weather.
Last year marked His Majesty's first Trooping the Colour as King and crowds witnessed a historic moment when he took part on horseback the first time a sovereign had done so since Queen Elizabeth II’s last outing in 1986.
What happens during Trooping the Colour?
Over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare.
The streets are lined with crowds waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to the Horse Guard's Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.
The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Once the Sovereign has arrived at Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, they are greeted by a Royal salute and carry out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.
After the military bands have performed, the escorted Regimental Colour, or flag, is processed down the ranks of soldiers. Over one hundred words of command are used by the Officer in Command of the Parade to direct the several hundred soldiers.
Once the Foot Guards have marched past the Sovereign, they ride back to Buckingham Palace at the head of the soldiers, before taking the salute again at the Palace from a dais.
The Sovereign is then joined by other Members of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force. A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the occasion.
This year The Horse Guards Parade is scheduled to begin at 10:20 am (GMT) on Saturday, 15 June, although members of the public wishing to watch from The Mall or St James’s Park are advised to arrive from 9 am (GMT).
Weather dependent, a fly-past led by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows will pass across the skies above Buckingham Palace shortly after 1 pm (GMT).
Comments