Trooping the Colour, a traditional parade held to mark the British sovereign’s official birthday, looked very different this year with the attendance of King Charles III and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, despite their ongoing health battles. This marked Kate’s first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis in March. The princess made a grand entrance at The Mall in London, where eager crowds snapped photos of her.
This year also marked the king’s second Trooping the Colour as monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles III, 75, is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Trooping the Colour is an annual event that celebrates the monarch’s birthday, regardless of their actual birthdate.
According to Christopher Andersen, author of “The King,” Trooping the Colour dates back to the 1600s when King Charles II first initiated it. The event was moved to June by King Edward VII in 1901 to avoid the November weather. Over 14,000 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians come together to mark the sovereign’s birthday each year.
The royal family website states that the parade highlights the royal family on horseback and in carriages. Last year, Charles was on horseback alongside Prince William and Prince Edward, but this year, he will be seated in a horse-drawn carriage alongside Queen Camilla. The event concludes with a 41-gun salute fired in Green Park.
The Trooping the Colour event has historically been a way for the monarch to connect with the people. Queen Elizabeth II only missed one parade during her 70-year reign, which was in 1955 due to a rail strike. The event was canceled that year, but she made sure to attend every other year.
While the king, his heir, and Princess Anne will likely wear military uniforms, the royal women will showcase their royal fashion with stylish hats. The Prince and Princess of Wales’s three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis – have captured hearts with adorable moments on the palace balcony in previous years.
Notably, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to Trooping the Colour for the second year in a row after stepping back as senior royals in 2020. Prince Andrew’s appearance at this year’s event remains unclear following his decision to step back as a senior royal in 2019 due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein.
Overall, Trooping the Colour remains a significant event in the royal calendar, bringing together thousands of soldiers, musicians, and members of the royal family to celebrate the sovereign’s birthday in grand style.