The King and Queen have celebrated his official birthday with a ceremony showcasing the British Army’s ceremonial prowess.
Charles took part in the famous Trooping the Colour event where military pomp and pageantry were on display in the heart of the capital.
The Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence travelled together ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the Trooping the Colour carriage procession, with all four seen smiling and waving to the crowds gathered along the route.
The King and Queen followed in their own carriage, with Charles wearing the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, while Camilla wore a red silk crepe guards-inspired dress by Fiona Clare.
Mounted on horseback, the Prince of Wales rode Darby, the Princess Royal was on Noble, while the Duke of Edinburgh’s horse was called Sir John.
The Princess of Wales travelled separately with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis could be seen waving to the crowds lining the route with their mother, the Princess of Wales.
Kate, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore a blue outfit by Catherine Walker, paired with a hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards brooch.
The King’s actual birthday is on November 14, but monarchs traditionally also have an official birthday in the summer, so outdoor celebrations like the Trooping the Colour are less likely to be impacted by poor weather.
Trooping the Colour is as much a social occasion as a ceremonial event and stands around Horse Guards Parade were filled with about 8,000 family members of the guards and officers on parade.
Crowds were treated to the sight of a royal carriage procession, guarded by a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskin caps will deliver a display of precision marching on Horse Guards Parade, honed over weeks of practice and part of their ceremonial duties when not fighting soldiers.
The national celebration is one of the highlights of the royal calendar and will feature the royal family assembled on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the traditional fly-past of RAF aircraft.
The colour – regimental flag – being trooped this year is the King’s Colour of the Grenadier Guards presented by the King earlier this week during a Buckingham Palace ceremony and it will be escorted during Saturday’s spectacle by guardsmen from the King’s Company.
The Grenadier Guards were raised in 1656 in Bruges, Belgium, by the exiled King Charles II to protect him during the period Olive Cromwell ruled England.
Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, visited his King’s Company at their barracks in Aldershot on the eve of Trooping and wished them “great success” for the big day.
He told the company: “Since Easter you’ve been practising rigidly and I can hear from Buckingham Palace the sound of the drums thumping away regularly so I know you’re all marching up and down trying to get ready for the parade.”
The King went on to say: “…ever since the last 370 years of your existence you have made us all in this country so incredibly proud of your effort, your service and your sacrifice over all those years and I feel very proud and privileged to be here.”
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