The Princess of Wales looked resplendent as she arrived with her children at the traditional parade for this year’s Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday. The historic day was the first time King Charles took part in the event as monarch.
Princess Kate was every inch the doting mother as she sat with her children, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis in the horse-drawn carriage. They were also seated with Queen Camilla, who looked regal in a red silk coat dress paired with a Philip Treacy hat.
Prince George was seen waving to crowds, with Prince Louis sitting calmly between his two older siblings. It is not the youngsters’ first experience of a royal carriage procession, with the trio waving to crowds from a landau during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year, and when they travelled in the first carriage behind the Gold State Coach during the 6 May coronation.
For the occasion, Princess Kate looked gorgeous in a rich apple green dress by Andrew Gn featuring a rounded neckline, long sleeves, a structured design and opulent crystal embellishment. A gold brooch was fastened to the tailored piece which was a fresh, vibrant addition to her Trooping the Colour archive.
A coordinating green, wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy perched atop her head and held her chocolate locks into place. Her enviable mane was styled into a smart low bun, which complemented her dewy beauty glow.
The Princess of Wales attended Trooping the Colour for the first time just months after her royal wedding in 2011. Since their marriage, we’ve seen William and Kate’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, all make their debuts at the parade.
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.
The parade travelled from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and finished with an impressive Royal Air Force fly-past.
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. Charles was joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children and other family as he acknowledged the spectators with a wave.
One of the highlights of the flypast above Buckingham Palace saw 18 Typhoon fighter jets spelling out the King’s monogram “CR” for Charles Rex.
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.
Not only will this be a momentous occasion for her father-in-law Charles, but this year the Princess of Wales is also marking another royal first. It’s the first Trooping the Colour since Kate has become the new Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role previously held by her husband Prince William.
The King and the Prince of Wales rode on horseback during the display, while other members of the royal family watched from carriages before appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
After the celebrations, Prince William and Kate took to social media to release images and thanked all those involved. The heartfelt message read: “Thank you to everyone involved in this year’s Trooping the Colour. We loved seeing you all!”
Trooping the Colour has marked the monarch’s official birthday for over 260 years. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians took part in the display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare.
For the first time since 1989, all five regiments of Foot Guards – the Welsh, Scots, Irish, Coldstream and Grenadier – were on parade together for Trooping. The colour, or regimental flag, that was trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers was the King’s Colour of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
King Charles celebrates two birthdays: his actual birthday on 14 November and his official birthday on the third Saturday of June at Trooping the Colour. Historically, official celebrations to mark a sovereign’s birthday have often been held on a day other than their actual birthday.
This is usually true when their actual birthday does not land in the summer months. The reason comes down to the weather. In order to properly celebrate the monarch’s birthday with the Trooping of the Colour ceremony and birthday parade, good weather is a must, and so the decision was taken to hold the celebration in June hoping royal watchers will be lucky with the weather.
The Trooping of the Colour parade is a military parade which provides the monarch with a chance to inspect their personal troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade in London.
