Royals put on patriotic sartorial display for Trooping the Colour
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King Charles and Queen Camilla led His Majesty’s annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour.
The celebration kicked off with the royal family out in full force as they headed down The Mall in London, under sunny skies after days of rain and cold temperatures.
King Charles and Queen Camilla kicked off Trooping the Colour with the royal family out in full force along The Mall in London. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
The monarch was dressed in uniform and his wife was similarly in a red and black “military dress”, made by the Queen’s go-to designer, Fiona Clare.
It was worn with a black Philip Treacy hat and a diamond brooch from the late Queen Elizabeth, given to Camilla when she became Colonel of the Grenadier Guards in 2023.
The Princess of Wales opted for a light blue coat dress with white trim by Catherine Walker and a matching Philip Treacy hat as she rode in the Ascot Landau carriage with her three kids.
Kate, the Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore a regimental brooch on her outfit and accessorised with a pair of Cassandra Goad pearl earrings, which she’s worn previously for several major royal occasions.
The Princess of Wales sat alongside her youngest son Prince Louis in colour co-ordinated ensembles. Getty Images
The patriotic sartorial display of red, white and blue, matching the Union Jack flag, continued with sons Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, 8, who wore matching light blue ties, while Princess Charlotte donned a white dress.
Their dad, Prince William, joined his aunt Princess Anne and uncle Prince Edward in uniform and on horseback for the annual event, which took place at Horse Guard Parade.
Prince William, Prince of Wales was riding horse Darby in his full ceremonial Guard Order of the Welsh Guards, symbolising his role as Colonel.
The Duke of Edinburgh, the Colonel of the Scots Guards, was also in full ceremonial garb as he rode Sir John, a horse presented to his late mother in 2016 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte were in the Ascot Landau alongside their mum and younger brother. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Prince William, Prince of Wales (left) was riding alongside uncle Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (right) during Trooping the Colour. Getty Images
Princess Anne, Colonel of The Blues and Royals, rode on Noble, a horse given to her brother King Charles in 2023, the year of his coronation.
His Majesty rode Noble in the Trooping the Colour parade that same year, however, since his cancer diagnosis in 2024, he has been seated in a carriage for the annual parade.
The outfit colour co-ordination continued across the wider royal family, with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh also opting for a white dress and hat.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence during Trooping The Colour Getty Images
While husband Edward, Duke of Edinburgh rode his horse, the duchess travelled in a carriage alongside Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, who like the Wales kids donned a light blue tie.
After the official duties were done, the whole family made their way back to Buckingham Palace were they appeared for the RAF flypast.
The event, signalling the end of the parade, is an annual highlight and one the young royals especially marvel over - and Prince Louis didn’t disappoint, gasping in awe.
Senior working members of the royal family gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast, a highlight of the day's events. Getty Images
Prince Louis still gave us some stand out moments during the RAF flypast as he looked on in awe. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Joining the King and Queen on the balcony were senior working members of the royal family along with William and Kate’s kids, who are at the top of the line of succession following from their dad.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh stood alongside Princess Anne and her husband to one side of Their Majesties.
While the Prince and Princess of Wales stood on the other side of the monarch with their children in the pared-back display.
In previous years, we’ve seen dozens of extended members of the family out on the balcony for the iconic annual moment.
King Charles and Queen Camilla seemed in a bit of a hurry to get back inside it seemed at one moment, with the pair starting to turn around before hearing the national anthem start to play.
They promptly turned back around with a little giggle as flags waved in the crowd during the chorus from the thousands packing in behind the palace gates.
Trooping The Colour is a ceremonial military parade which began in the 17th century and is used as a celebration of the official birthday of the British Monarch.
It was while standing that we got to see just how grown up the kids are, with George almost as tall as his mum. Getty Images
Celebrating the monarch’s birthday in the UK’s summer months was a tradition started by King George II, who like King Charles III, had a birthday in November, which is a colder month in the UK.
King George II also was the monarch to combine the celebratory with the annual summer military parade.
Trooping the Colour this year featured more than 1400 soldiers of the Household Division and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and also included 200 horses and more than 300 musicians from the Massed Bands.
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