It has been confirmed that the Royal Family’s showpiece event, Trooping the Colour, will definitely go ahead as planned on June 15 – but it may look a little different to last year’s
After days of uncertainty it has finally been confirmed – Trooping the Colour will go ahead as planned.
The huge event, which sees the Royal Family out in force to celebrate the King’s official birthday, has been hanging in the balance after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to call a snap General Election. However, the Army, which organises the parade, has now confirmed it will definitely be happening as planned on June 15.
Last year was King Charles’ first Trooping the Colour as monarch and there were some changes to previous ceremonies under the late Queen. However, with the Royal Family enduring a rocky 12 months since last year’s parade, it appears several elements of the event might change again this year…
King’s carriage ride
At last year’s Trooping the Colour, Charles proudly joined the procession on horseback riding his trusted steed called Noble. It was the first time in over 35 years that a monarch had taken an active part riding in the ceremony.
However, with the King receiving a diagnosis for an unspecified type of cancer in February and still undergoing treatment, Charles may not take to his horse this year. According to The Times, he is likely to ride in a carriage from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade and back again.
Previously, Buckingham Palace said that any future engagements involving the King “will be adapted where necessary” to accommodate his recovery. A source told the publication: “The King is most likely to be taking part in Trooping via carriage this year but a final decision is yet to be made.”
Balcony moment
The highlight of Trooping the Colour for most royal fans is when members of the Firm appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the conclusion of the event to watch the RAF flypast.
In the reign of the late Queen, nearly all members of the family, including extended relatives, would all pack onto the balcony for the exciting moment. But at the last Trooping the Colour of her reign and other balcony appearances since Charles ascended to the throne, only those who are working royals have been allowed to appear.
This means the likes of Princess Beatrice and Eugenie as well as Zara and Mike Tindall and Peter Phillips have not been seen on the balcony in recent years. However, recently, the royal cousins were called on to support Prince William when he hosted a palace garden party for his father – and went around chatting to the assembled guests.
And according to The Telegraph, this poses a question for the King ahead of the much-anticipated balcony appearance. Its royal editor Hannah Furness writes: “The Prince of Wales would be keen to extend similar invitations again, in the spirit of including the wider family, as his grandmother once did.
“The King, too, has seemed visibly buoyed by the company of his nieces and nephews, rarely looking happier than he did clasping Zara Tindall in a hug at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this month on his way back from cancer treatment. He must now decide what to do for this year’s Trooping the Colour, in which the state of the Royal Family will be captured in that all-important ‘balcony moment’ displaying who is in and who is out.”
Changed guestlist?
All members of the Royal Family are invited to Trooping the Colour – and it’s usually one of the rare public appearances made by young royals Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
However, with the Princess of Wales revealing her cancer diagnosis in March and undergoing preventative chemotherapy treatment, it is unclear if she will attend the event. It also comes as the regiment of which she is colonel, the Irish Guards, are trooping their colour this year.
Flypast change?
Another big change could be on the cards, although it’s one that’s outside King Charles’ control.
The end of Trooping the Colour always sees a range of aircraft, including the much-loved Red Arrows, fly over Buckingham Palace to salute the monarch. Among the planes that take part in the flypast are the Battle of Britain Memorial flight made up of vintage RAF aircraft.
However, the flight is currently grounded amid an investigation into the death of a pilot in a Spitfire crash last weekend. Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. An RAF spokesperson said a temporary pause is in place while an investigation into the incident is ongoing. It is unclear if the Battle of Britain Memorial flight will be flying again when Trooping takes place.
After the tragic incident, the Prince and Princess of Wales said on their Kensington Palace X account: “Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby. Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family. W & C.” William was Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby from 2008 to August 2023, when he handed the role over to Kate.
