For over 260 years Trooping the Colour has marked the Sovereign’s birthday with an impressive display of pageantry that showcases military precision, horsemanship, and top-tier musical talent.
This year, tens of thousands of onlookers lined the streets of London to see the spectacle for themselves, and of course wave to the royal family as they proceeded down The Mall to Buckingham Palace.
Every year, Trooping the Colour is one of the most anticipated events on the royal calendar given it is one of the few public events where the entire family congregates together in public, and 2024 was no exception.
Which royals attended Trooping the Colour in 2024?
A day prior to the annual event, The Princess of Wales confirmed in a statement that she would be attending the parade, despite her ongoing battle with bowel cancer.
She was joined by her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a carriage, and then on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, while her husband rode in full military uniform in the parade.
Prince William was joined in the military procession by his uncle Prince Edward and aunt Princess Anne.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence also made an appearance alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise.
In June 2023 for his first Trooping the Colour since becoming King, Charles saddled up on a stunning black mare for his ceremonial role as Colonel in Chief of the seven regiments of the Household Division of the British Army.
It was the first time since 1986 that a monarch had ridden on horseback for the parade. While the move was applauded at the time, in 2024, the King rode in a traditional Ascot Landau carriage alongside his wife Queen Camilla to avoid any risk to his health.
What is Trooping the Colour?
Traditionally, the monarch travels down The Mall (a ceremonial route and roadway) via horseback towards Buckingham Palace in a royal procession alongside infantry troops with differing colours that distinguish one regiment from another via horse.
The procession includes Irish Guards, the 1st Battalion, and over 1200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division as well as Army musicians and hundreds of horses.
After the procession, the monarch receives a royal salute and inspects their troops, and the Royal Horse Artillery before selecting one guard to ‘troop its colour’ through the ranks.
There is then a 41-gun salute and a flyover of Buckingham Palace by the Royal Air Force flypast that marks the end of the parade.
