The royal kids’ ‘main character moments’ at Trooping the Colour, ranked

Is there anything more annoying than being upstaged at your own birthday party? 

Trooping the Colour is here again, and while it marks the official celebration of the monarch’s birthday, King Charles never manages to be the main character. That title falls to the royal children, who have a long history of stealing the spotlight at the event.

Each June, the royals assemble to enjoy the festivities – a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guard’s Parade, involving almost 2000 soldiers and musicians, which concludes with a Royal Air Force flypast.

The most famous photos are of the family gathered on the palace balcony, watching the planes fly overhead – and, inevitably, trying to keep the littlies in check. 

Evidently, no amount of pomp, ceremony or royal blood is enough to stop children getting into mischief when they shouldn’t.

From Prince Harry poking out his tongue to Prince Louis… well, being Prince Louis, here’s our ranking of the royal kids’ best ‘main character moments’ at Trooping the Colour over the years.

6. Prince William, 1984

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All eyes were on Prince William as he made his first Trooping the Colour appearance, effortlessly upstaging everyone else on the balcony.

The two-year-old, decked out in a powder blue suit, alternated between sitting in his parents’ arms and standing at the railing with his cousins.

It was a debut high on cuteness but low on mischief, which explains its lower ranking here.

5. Princess Charlotte, 2018

There was tough competition for the ‘main character’ title at Trooping the Colour 2018 (more on that in a moment), but Princess Charlotte warmed hearts with one particularly cute moment.

Cameras caught the three-year-old watching her grandmother Queen Elizabeth waving to the crowds, then following suit with her own royal wave.

Mum Catherine also noticed the moment, turning to the late Queen to acknowledge it. 

4. Prince George, 2015

Before he’d even set foot on the balcony for his Trooping the Colour debut, George was the highlight of the day.

The royal tot, sitting in the royal nanny’s arms, peeked through a palace window at the crowds below, adorably clapping and poking out his tongue. 

He then joined his family to view the flypast, wearing the same outfit dad Prince William wore for his own debut at the event 31 years earlier.

3. Savannah Phillips, 2018

The moment a seven-year-old delivered a masterclass in ‘finding the lens’.

Forget the Wales kids – in 2018, Savannah Phillips reigned as Mischief MVP.

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Peter Phillips’ eldest daughter was irrepressible on the balcony, goofing around with her cousins and ‘conducting’ the orchestra, but the highlight came during the singing of God Save the Queen. 

Clearly tired of Prince George’s vocals, Savannah clamped her hand over his mouth while deadpanning straight down the lens, The Office-style.

Given there were likely hundreds of cameras on site, we’re not sure how she managed it, but we bow down.

2. Prince Harry, 1988

The original, and still one of the best.

Long before Prince Louis was winning hearts with his cheeky antics, it was Prince Harry who earned the royal rascal title with displays like this – poking his tongue out for the photographers.

Mum Princess Diana looks quietly mortified here, but from what we know of her sense of humour, we bet she loved it too.

1. Prince Louis, 2022

What more is there to say?

Prince Louis is always a crowd favourite, but he was in full flight in 2022, getting up to all kinds of antics and pulling an array of faces on the balcony.

The photo of the little prince blocking his ears and screaming as the late Queen stands serenely beside him is one for the ages.