The British Royal Family united to celebrate The King’s official birthday at the annual Trooping the Colour Parade, showcasing and commemorating the Monarch’s relationship with the Armed Forces.
The King donned the Irish Guards’ tunic, representing the regiment whose Colour was being trooped. The Queen, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, sported her regiment’s brooch. They arrived in the historic Scottish State Coach, while the Princess of Wales and her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—travelled in the Glass Coach.
The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal, and The Duke of Edinburgh participated on horseback, riding Darby, Noble, and Sir John, respectively. Each wore the uniform of their associated regiments: the Welsh Guards, the Blues and Royals, and the Scots Guards.
The parade featured hundreds of military horses and over a thousand soldiers from the British Army’s Household Division. The King’s Birthday Parade, held on the second Saturday in June, is a gift from the Household Division, demonstrating their professional skill and allegiance to the Crown.
Many of the soldiers in the parade are young recruits, aged 18-25, who balance ceremonial duties with their combat training. During the ceremony, the King’s Colour (the regimental flag) is carried through the ranks by a junior officer.
Each year, the honour of Trooping the Colour rotates among the five regiments of Foot Guards. This year, Number 9 Company of the Irish Guards was selected. Founded by Queen Victoria in 1900, the Irish Guards have nearly 125 years of service to the Monarchy. This was the first time one of their Public Duties Companies trooped the Colour on a Sovereign’s Birthday Parade and the first time they did so before The King.
Number 9 and Number 12 Irish Guards Public Duties Companies, established in September 2022, have been deployed 17 times across six countries in the past year. The King serves as Colonel in Chief of the seven Guards regiments.
The Irish Guards are recognisable by the St Patrick’s blue plumes in their bearskins. They draw their ranks from across Ireland, Liverpool, Birmingham, Fiji, the wider Commonwealth, and the UK. Unlike other Household Division units, the Irish Guards have a regimental mascot, an Irish Wolfhound, who led their band and pipes onto Horse Guards Parade.
Following the parade, the Irish Guards marched up The Mall as part of the Royal Procession. After Trooping the Colour, they took over duties as the King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace for the next 24 hours.
Everything that happened in the lead up to Trooping the Colour 2024
Royalists everywhere are hoping to soon see the royal family back together.
Their annual walk to Christmas Day Services on December 25 was the last time the working royals were spotted together.
Of course, it’s understandable after King Charles and Princess Catherine took a step back from royal duties in January. Their long absence followed the announcement that cancer had been detected during their respective scheduled surgeries.
While His Majesty has well and truly returned to public-facing duties, the Princess has yet to make any formal appearances, but she has confirmed she will attend The King’s Birthday Parade.
In a statement shared to the @princessandprinceofwales Instagram in the lead up to Trooping the Colour, the Princess shared that she is looking forward to joining her family over the weekend.
“I have been blown away by all the kind messages of support and encouragement over the last couple of months,” the statement begins.
“It really has made the world of difference to William and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days. On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.
“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.
“I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet.
“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.
“Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.”
This follows a week after the Princess made an announcement that she wasn’t going to perform her role as Inspecting Officer at The Colonel’s Review on June 8.
Over the weekend The Colonel’s Review parade rehearsal took place, seven days prior to Trooping the Colour, and the Princess sent a heartfelt apology letter to The Irish Guards to which she is colonel.
“I wanted to write to you to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour,” the letter started.
“I appreciate everyone trooping the colour this year has been practising for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate.
“Being your colonel remains an honour, and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel’s Review.
“Please pass on my apologies to the whole regiment, I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon.
“Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.
“Quis separabit.
Colonel Catherine.”
In response, The Irish Guards shared a statement via X thanking their Colonel for the letter and wishing her all the best.
It was also confirmed that King Charles will be in attendance at the event. Yet, unlike his 2023 revival of the long-held tradition of riding horseback, he will travel alongside Queen Camilla by carriage.
A statement released by the official British army website in March was behind the speculated June 15 return of Catherine. The site was selling tickets to both The Colonel’s Review and The King’s Birthday Parade and noted the following:
“Trooping the Colour [The Colonel’s Review] reviewed by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is identical to Trooping the Colour [The King’s Birthday Parade] reviewed by His Majesty The King, with the exception that some additional mounted officers ride when His Majesty The King is present.”
Many took this to mean that Catherine would be present at both events. However, not long after, the statement was removed from the website further fuelling public concern at the time.
Princess Catherine has not missed a single Trooping the Colour since she married William in 2011.
