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Friday, February 7, 2025
WorldKing Charles' first birthday parade observed by royals

Date:

King Charles’ first birthday parade observed by royals

Since becoming king, King Charles III has participated in one Trooping the Colour.

In recognition of their grandfather’s formal birthday, Princess Charlotte, Princes Louis and George, and other royals gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a flypast.

Aircraft were utilised to spell out the King’s initials, CR, as a surprise tribute.

At Horse Guard’s Parade and the Mall in London, a large crowd observed the event.

The royals watched an extended military flypast after the display on coronation day had to be scaled down due to bad weather.

Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force took part – including aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight, modern Typhoon fighter jets with a red, white and blue finale from the Red Arrows.

A sea of mobile phones were spotted among the crowds, with many holding them up in the air to capture the moment.

List of aircraft making up the military flypast

The Trooping the Colour is part of the annual calendar of big royal events and for the first time, it was with King Charles in the leading role.

There may have been a moment of poignancy for the King too. Just a year ago, at the Platinum Jubilee, it had been his mother on the same balcony, appearing before the crowds.

The King took has part in his first Trooping the Colour as monarch on horseback.

The King’s horse appeared to be a little skittish at the start, but calmed down as the event went on.

It is the first time a monarch has ridden on horseback at the event in 30 years, when the late Queen rode her horse, Burmese, in 1986.

He was joined by the other royal Colonels on horseback – the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal.

The Duke of Edinburgh also rode during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards.

The ceremony started at Buckingham Palace, with the King and senior royals travelling down The Mall towards Horse Guards Parade.

The colour – or regimental flag – was then trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

There was music and marching while the King carried out an inspection of the soldiers – moving slowly along the line as they stand in formation.

After he coursed through the Mall, the King received the royal salute as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Household Division’s regiments.

The senior royals on horseback were joined by the Queen, the Princess of Wales and her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, who travelled in a carriage to support their grandfather.

Thousands have gathered to watch King Charles at the birthday parade
Image caption, Thousands gathered to watch King Charles at the birthday parade
The Princess of Wales wears emerald green
Image caption, The Princess of Wales wore emerald green
Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales ride along in the carriage
Image caption, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales rode along in the carriage
Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Timothy Laurence during Trooping the Colour
Image caption, Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Timothy Laurence during Trooping the Colour
Prince William rides on horseback
Image caption, Prince William rode on horseback
A soldier troops the colour
Image caption, A soldier troops the colour

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was spotted in the crowd, as well as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, along with prime ministers of Commonwealth states and realms.

One royal fan said they were “so happy” to be at Trooping the Colour after missing out on the King’s Coronation.

They said: “We’re so happy about coming today. We’ve been bringing our kids to see all of the pomp and ceremony for years.

“We’ve been exchanging photos, and we’ve got plans for birthday cocktails later.”

Before the ceremony began, the Prince of Wales paid tribute to those took part in last week’s rehearsal in soaring temperatures, which reached 30°C (86F) in London.

An aerial view of the parade
Image caption, An aerial view of the parade captured the scale of the event
Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, is spotted in the crowd
Image caption, Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, is spotted in the crowd
Queen Camilla, the Princess of Wales ride along in a carriage
Image caption, Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales ride along in a carriage
Rishi Sunak is also in attendance
Image caption, Rishi Sunak was also in attendance
A view of the crowds at the event
Image caption, A view of the crowd at the event

The last time a monarch was on horseback was when chart toppers included Wham! and Doctor and the Medics.

Following the parade, troops fired a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the King’s official birthday – while from the Tower of London the Honourable Artillery Company fired 62 volleys.

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