Trooping the Colour 2023 - live: King Charles on Buckingham Palace balcony for military flypast
King Charles enjoyed a military flypast on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after becoming the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in the Trooping of the Colour on horseback today.
It was the first time a reigning monarch has ridden at Trooping the Colour since Queen Elizabeth’s horse Burmese carried her during the 1986 ceremony.
Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force took part in a six-minute military flypast following the procession around Horse Guards Parade.
The aircraft took off from 15 locations across the UK before meeting in the south-east of England to fly across London.
The flypast also saw 18 Typhoon fighter jets spelling out the King’s monogram “CR” for Charles Rex.
The event ended in the traditional show of red, white and blue from the pilots of the Red Arrows.
The King appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony with members of the Royal Family to watch the flypast, including Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and Queen Camilla.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not attend.
Key Points
King Charles rides on horseback for Trooping the Colour
King Charles rides on horseback for Trooping the Colour
11:07 , Sam Rkaina
The King has becomec the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback as he rides in his inaugural Birthday Parade.
Charles will take the royal salute as Colonel in Chief of the Household Division’s seven regiments during the ceremony, staged on Horse Guards Parade, as members of the royal family and 8,000 spectators watch.
The colour, or regimental flag, that will be trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers will be the King’s Colour of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
It will be the first time a reigning monarch has ridden at Trooping the Colour since Queen Elizabeth’s horse Burmese carried her during the 1986 ceremony.
Burmese, a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was the Queen’s favourite steed for ceremonial occasions and she rode it for 18 years until its retirement in 1986, and decided to use a carriage for Trooping rather than train another charger.
When the King rides from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards, he will be joined on horseback by the royal Colonels – Prince of Wales, Colonel, Welsh Guards and the Princess Royal, Gold Stick in Waiting and Colonel, The Blues and Royals.
The Duke of Edinburgh will also be riding during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards, formed last year.
The senior royals on horseback will be joined by a carriage expected to be carrying the Queen and the Princess of Wales and her children.
Soldiers lined up on Horse Guards Parade
11:08 , Sam Rkaina
Soldiers have lined up on Horse Guards Parade as the first Trooping the Colour of the King’s reign kicks off today.
The regiments, in red ceremonial dress, were led in by a marching band.
The King himself is taking part in today’s ceremony, becoming the first monarch in more than 30 years to do so.
Charles will take the royal salute as Colonel in Chief of the Household Division’s seven regiments as his family and thousands of spectators watch on.
The King has left Buckingham Palace followed by royals
11:09 , Sam Rkaina
The King has left Buckingham Palace on horseback as Trooping the Colour gets underway in London today.
Queen Camilla, who is colonel of the Grenadier guards, followed behind in a carriage with the Princess of Wales, princes Louis and George and Princess Charlotte.
Prince George was seen waving to crowds, with Prince Louis sitting calmly between his two older siblings.
Ahead of the King were the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, as well as the Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
What is the Trooping of the Colour?
11:19 , Chris Stevenson
The King has received the official birthday wishes of the nation during his first Trooping the Colour ceremony as monarch.
Pomp and pageantry are on display during the military spectacle where the most prestigious regiments in the British Army honoured their Colonel in Chief by parading to mark his anniversary.
Charles had deputised for Queen Elizabeth II at last year's event, also known as the Birthday Parade, but now rode onto Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall as the nation's head of state.
So what makes up the Trooping of the Colour? Watch here to find out.https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/trooping-the-colour-meaning-king-b2359379.html
Prince George and Louis wave to crowds
11:21 , Martha Mchardy
Prince George and Prince Louis were joined by their sister Princess Charlotte as they waved to crowds at the ceremony.
The three children rode in a carriage Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla during the procession on Horse Guards Parade.
The two princes are wearing suits with red ties.
The King’s two birthdays
11:24 , Chris Stevenson
King Charles will not have his birthday until November, but the Trooping of the colour marks some official birthday wishes.Find out more about the King having two birthdays here:
Why does King Charles III have two birthdays and when are they?
King Charles salutes as he rides of horseback
11:25 , Martha Mchardy
The King has received the official birthday wishes of the nation during his first Trooping the Colour ceremony as monarch.
King Charles saluted as he became the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback today.
Queen Camilla, who is colonel of the Grenadier guards, followed behind in a carriage with the Princess of Wales, princes Louis and George and Princess Charlotte.
King Charles III inspects the Guards as he rides on horseback at Trooping the Colour parade
11:28 , Martha Mchardy
King Charles III inspected the Guards as he rode on horseback at the Trooping the Colour parade.
Trooping the Colour is a social as well as a ceremonial occasion and in the stands overlooking the parade ground were around 8,000 wives, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.
The event featured around 1,500 soldiers in total and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by King, who will be joined by the mounted royal Colonels, including the Queen and Kate in a carriage.
Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla and Royal children ride on carriage
11:30 , Martha Mchardy
The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla were joined by Prince George and Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte as they took part in the procession during Trooping the Colour today.
Watch: How the UK looked when a King last oversaw Trooping the Colour
11:35 , Martha Mchardy
King Charles has become the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback today.
He was seen saluting to crowds as he left Buckingham Palace for the procession.
Queen Elizabeth was the last monarch to ride on horseback at Trooping the Colour in 1986.
The last time a King took tor salute was in 1950 when King George VI was monarch.
11:40 , Martha Mchardy
The Princess of Wales is wearing a green outfit. while Queen Camilla is wearing Lady Diana’s earrings.
The Princess’ dress is a tribute to the Irish Guards.
Queen Camilla is the Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, while the Princess of Wales is Colonel of the Irish Guards.
Trooping the Colour parade in pictures
11:49 , Martha Mchardy
Troops march in formation past King
11:53 , Martha Mchardy
Soldiers are marching past the King, who salutes them while remaining on horseback.
A variety of well-known military tunes are playing while this happens, including “Men of Harlech”, often associated with the Welsh Guards, which describes Welsh soldiers defending Harlech Castle against a siege in the 15th century.
The significance of Queen Camilla’s hat at King’s first Trooping the Colour
11:54 , Martha Mchardy
King Charles III’s first Trooping the Colour is underway at the House Guards Parade, as the new monarch is joined by the royal family to commemorate his “official” birthday.
This year’s ceremony marks the first time a monarch has joined the parade, featuring hundreds of soldiers, on horseback since the late Queen Elizabeth rode on her favourite horse Burmese in 1986.
Charles is accompanied by the Prince of Wales William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward on horses gifted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Maanya Sachdeva reports:
The significance of Queen Camilla’s hat at King’s first Trooping the Colour
12:00 , Martha Mchardy
The Ensign to the Colour has carried the regimental flag among the ranks of the Welsh Guards.
The parade marks the monarch’s official birthday.
The ceremony dates back to at least the early eighteenth century when the colours of the battalion were carried down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
Watch: Strange royal traditions around the world
12:06 , Martha Mchardy
King Charles III celebrates his first Trooping the Colour since ascending to the throne on Saturday, 17 June, in Whitehall, London.
It will mark the first military parade for someone other than Queen Elizabeth II in seven decades.
Around the world, 25 other royal families have their own celebrations and traditions.
With Charles’s birthday parade approaching, The Independent takes a look at the weird and wonderful royal traditions from across the globe.
National anthem played as King Charles tries to settle his horse
12:10 , Martha Mchardy
Soon after the King arrived on the parade ground the national anthem was played as a mark of respect and Charles had to steady his horse but it would not settle and a groom stepped forward to help.
The King began the ceremony by inspecting the lines of guardsmen on the parade ground, casting a critical eye over the soldiers, formed in two lines, as he rode past.
William, Anne, and Edward rode behind Charles while Camilla and Kate were in a carriage - a symbolic image of the royal family supporting their King as another milestone was reached.
The Queen and the princess wore contrasting outfits, with Camilla in a red silk dress that took inspiration from her regiment, the Grenadier Guards, while Kate was in a striking green dress by Andrew Gn and matching hat by Philip Treacy in honour of her Irish Guards.
The pair later took their seats on a dais with the Duke of Kent, Colonel, Scots Guards, to watch the march past of the troops - a first for the royal women - while the King and the other royal colonels remained on horseback alongside.
Royal Family return to Palace
12:17 , Martha Mchardy
Charles and the rest of the Royal family are now heading back to Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour procession.
Prime minister among guests
12:20 , Martha Mchardy
Prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty were among the guests at the Trooping the Colour ceremony today.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and senior military figures were also in attendance.
The King has became the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback during the ceremony today.
King set to enjoy military flypast
12:23 , Martha Mchardy
Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will take part in the six-minute military flypast today as part of the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The aircraft will take off from 15 locations across the UK before meeting in the south-east of England to fly across London.
The event will end in the traditional show of red, white and blue from the pilots of the Red Arrows.
The King will appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with members of the Royal Family for the event.
It comes after a flypast scheduled to take place on Coronation day had to be scaled back due to bad weather.
Prince of Wales on horseback
12:47 , Martha Mchardy
The Prince of Wales was joined by the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh as they followed the King in the Trooping the Colour procession.
Members of Royal Family gather on the balcony
12:54 , Martha Mchardy
Members of the Royal Family including the Duchess of Edinburgh have begun gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the military flypast.
41 gun salute begins in Green Park
13:01 , Martha Mchardy
The Royal Horse Artillery have started to fire a 41 Gun Salute in nearby Green Park.
21 of the gun salutes will mark the monarch’s birthday, with another 20 signifying it is taking place in a Royal Park.
It is expected to take six minutes, with the commanding officer giving the order to fire every ten seconds.
A further 62 volleys will be fired from the Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company.
Flypast happening now as King appears on balcony
13:03 , Martha Mchardy
Aircraft are flying over Buckingham Palace now to mark the King’s official birthday as Charles appears on the balcony with other members of the Royal Family.
Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace balcony
13:09 , Martha Mchardy
Senior members of the Royal Family have now left the Buckingham Palace balcony after a military flypast to mark the King’s official birthday.
King Charles was joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children and other family members as he acknowledged the spectators with a wave.
A few seconds later the first element of the extended fly-past - a contingent of helicopters - thundered overhead.
Thousands filled The Mall after the Trooping the Colour ceremony ended and greeted the King with cheers and applause as he led members of the royal family onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
During the ceremony, 18 aircraft flew overhead forming the initials CR - for Charles Rex, in a surprise for the King.
Watch: The Royal Family stand on Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour flypast
13:14 , Martha Mchardy
Trooping the Colour flypast in pictures
13:20 , Martha Mchardy
Members of Royal Family pictured on Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour flypast
13:26 , Martha Mchardy
Members of the Royal family including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Anne, Princess Royal appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace today to mark the King’s official birthday.
The family gathered to watch a military flypast over Buckingham Palace which saw 18 aircraft fly overhead forming the initials CR - for Charles Rex, in a surprise for the King.
As the planes roared overhead Kate encouraged Prince George to wave to the crowds and she smoothed down Prince Louis’ hair and ushered him to turn and face the spectators.
The finale was precision formation flying from the Red Arrows who trailed red, white and blue smoke over the capital.
In pictures: Members of Royal Family wave to crowds on Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour flypast
13:31 , Martha Mchardy
Watch: Prince Louis salutes crowds from Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour flypast
13:44 , Martha Mchardy
Prince Louis was spotted giving a salute to the thousands waiting at Buckingham Palace, as he joined his family on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour flypast today (17 June).
The youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales regularly steals the show at engagements, and has been spotted throughout today’s event covering his ears at the noise of aircraft and fidgeting with his hair.
It echoes his behaviour during last year’s Trooping the Colour for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Watch the video here:
Prince Louis salutes crowds from palace balcony during Trooping the Colour flypast
Watch: What is the Trooping The Colour?
14:10 , Martha Mchardy
Why does King Charles III have two birthdays and when are they?
14:30 , Martha Mchardy
Being a monarch comes with many responsibilities, of course, but you also get a crown, multiple homes and the privilege of never having to do a food shop. Another major perk is that the king or queen get two separate birthdays each year.
While King Charles will officially celebrate his 75th birthday on 14 November later this year, he will receive an early celebration this weekend (Saturday 17 June) at Trooping the Colour, also known as the King’s Birthday Parade.
Ellie Muir reports:
Why does King Charles III have two birthdays and when are they?
Why does King Charles III have two birthdays?
14:50 , Martha Mchardy
The reason monarchs have two birthdays is simply down to the British weather. The event is typically celebrated with outdoor events, so it makes more sense to throw the celebration in the summer months when the weather is expected to be better. If a monarch doesn’t have a summer birthday, then they will have a second one in June.
How Prince Louis stole the show again at King Charles’ first Trooping the Colour
15:10 , Martha Mchardy
Prince Louis has once again emerged the star of royal engagements after King Charles’s first Trooping the Colour on Saturday 17 June.
After watching the Royal Air Force flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with his family, Louis saluted the crowd gathered outside.
The young royal also brought back his long, slow and double-handed wave, that he first debuted at the King’s coronation.
The youngest son of William and Kate was photographed pinching his nose, pulling funny faces, and playing with his hair while en-route to the military parade commemorating his grandfather’s first “official” birthday as sovereign.
Maanya Sachdeva reports:
How Prince Louis stole the show again at King Charles’ first Trooping the Colour
Typhoons surprise King at Trooping the Colour flypast with impressive ‘CR’ formation
15:30 , Martha Mchardy
During the Trooping the Colour flypast, King Charles III was unexpectedly surprised by 18 typhoon jets with an addition to the parade no one expected.
To mark the start of his reign, and his first Trooping the Colour as monarch, the jets arranged themselves into the formation of his initials, ‘CR’.
The Duchess of Edinburgh clapped as the King looked on, impressed at the display.
Meanwhile, it all proved a bit too much for young Prince Louis, who covered his ears to escape the noise.
Click below to watch the video:
Typhoons surprise King at Trooping the Colour flypast with impressive ‘CR’ formation
How Kate’s all-green outfit pays tribute to Diana
16:00 , Martha Mchardy
The Princess of Wales picked an all-green outfit for Charles’s first Trooping the Colour parade as King, subtly paying tribute to Diana’s legacy.
Both Camilla and Kate’s outfits were chosen to reflect their new military titles since December 2022. The Queen, who was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, wore a red dress and black hat that “reflects the heritage” of the infantry regiment.
Meanwhile, Kate opted for an emerald green dress designed by Singapore-born designer Andrew GN as a nod to her being appointed honorary Colonel of the Irish Guard.
She accessorised with a gold, Cartier shamrock brooch, which Kate previously wore during St Patrick’s Day celebrations with the Irish Guards this year.
Kate’s outfit was just as much a tribute to the regiment as to her mother-in-law.
According to a report by People, Diana also wore green during her first Trooping the Colour ceremony as Princess of Wales in 1982.
Maanya Sachdeva reports:
How Kate’s green Trooping the Colour outfit pays tribute to Diana
Trooping the Colour in pictures
16:30 , Martha Mchardy
Prince Louis steals the show at Charles’ first Trooping the Colour as monarch
17:00 , Martha Mchardy
The King completed his first Trooping the Colour as sovereign with a Buckingham Palace balcony appearance where a boisterous Prince Louis stole the limelight yet again.
Charles and the Queen acknowledged with a wave the thousands of wellwishers in The Mall who sang the National Anthem and gave three cheers after his official birthday was celebrated with a display of pomp and military pageantry.
The King and Camilla were surrounded by the family’s core working royal including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Louis.
The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence also joined her brother the King on the balcony, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.
But all eyes were on the King’s five-year-old grandson, Louis, who rose to the occasion by saluting during the traditional Trooping flypast, which was extended because the coronation aerial display had been cut back in May due to bad weather.
The young royal, whose antics during some of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year endeared him to many, also seemed to pretend to ride a motorcycle or bike with his arms outstretched.
Watch: Red Arrows take part in fly past during King Charles III Trooping the Colour ceremony
17:30 , Martha Mchardy
ICYMI: The significance of Queen Camilla’s hat at King’s first Trooping the Colour
18:00 , Martha Mchardy
King Charles III’s first Trooping the Colour as the new monarch took place today as he was joined by the royal family to commemorate his “official” birthday.
This year’s ceremony marked the first time a monarch has joined the parade on horseback in over 30 years. The last time was when the late Queen Elizabeth rode on her favourite horse Burmese in 1986.
According to the BBC, Camilla’s red silk dress “reflects the heritage of the Grenadier Guards” – one of the most senior infantry regiments in the British empire.
She was appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards last December, taking over from the disgraced Prince Andrew.
BBC presenter Huw Edwards noted Camilla’s dress was designed by Fiona Clarke and was inspired by the uniform of the Grenadier guards.
She completed the outfit with a hat by Philip Treacy, a node to the guards’ bearskin “with a grenade forming up to the feather plume”, Edwards added.
Watch: Prince Louis’ best moments from Trooping the Colour
18:30 , Martha Mchardy
In pictures: Members of the Royal Family attend Charles’ first Trooping the Colour as monarch
19:00 , Martha Mchardy
Watch: Strange royal traditions around the world
19:30 , Martha Mchardy
Royal fans line streets for Trooping the Colour
20:00 , Martha Mchardy
ICYMI: Typhoons surprise King during Trooping the Colour flypast with impressive ‘CR’ formation
20:30 , Martha Mchardy
Military flypast in pictures
21:00 , Martha Mchardy
Prince Harry recalled ‘yawning silence’ that followed Meghan Markle’s joke after first Trooping the Colour
21:30 , Martha Mchardy
Prince Harry reflected on the awkward silence that followed a joke made by Meghan Markle after she attended her first Trooping the Colour, the late Queen’s official birthday celebration.
The Duke of Sussex recalled the incident in his memoir Spare, in which he remembered how he and the Duchess of Sussex attended the official June celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday for the first time together in 2018, shortly after their royal wedding.
As noted by Harry in the book published in January, the couple had just returned to the UK from their 10-day honeymoon in the Mediterranean, and would be making one of their “first public appearances as newlyweds” at the ceremony.
During the royal event, the couple rode together in a carriage, before gathering with the rest of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the crowd of well-wishers.
In photos from the occasion, the royal family appeared in high spirits, with Meghan seen smiling as she stood between her husband and her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.
However, according to Prince Harry, who confirmed that “everyone present was in a good mood, upbeat” during the Trooping of the Colour, the festive mood allegedly changed after Meghan made a joke about the event to Kate, after she’d asked Meghan what she’d thought of the celebration.
“But then: Kate asked Meg what she thought of her first Trooping the Colour. And Meg joked: Colourful,” Harry wrote. “And a yawning silence threatened to swallow us all whole.”
Chelsea Ritschel reports:
Harry recalled ‘yawning silence’ that followed Meghan’s Trooping the Colour joke
ICYMI: Prince Louis salutes to the crowd from Buckingham Palace balcony during flypast
22:00 , Martha Mchardy
23:07 , Natalie Crockett
That concludes our live coverage of this story for today. You can read all the highlights here.
