Crowds are set to descend on central London for Trooping the Colour today (Saturday, June 14) – and some eagle-eyed royal fans have spotted what they believe is an error
King Charles appears to have made a Trooping The Colour ‘faux pas’, royal fans claim. The celebration is due to kick off later today (Saturday, June 14) in honour of the monarch’s birthday.
Every year, more than 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses make their way to Horse Guard’s Parade via The Mall in honour of the big day. The festivities are brought to an end each year with an RAF flypast, with senior members of the Royal Family watching from the balcony at Buckingham Palace in front of adoring crowds. Trooping the Colour has been held in June every year for hundreds of years.
Male members of the Royal Family will traditionally wear the uniforms of different regiments of the Household Division, of which Charles is Colonel in Chief. But eagle-eyed royal enthusiasts think they have spotted what they claim is a mistake in King Charles’ uniform from last year’s parade.
Taking to Reddit, one fan said: “There seems to be a faux pas in the King’s uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards at Trooping the Colour today.
“He seems to be wearing the sash of a general officer’s rather than the appropriate colonel’s sash for the regiment.”
Another added: “Good catch! I think that probably is a faux pas. Of course we could retrospectively justify it by saying it’s his army and he can wear what he likes.”
The Royal Family’s Facebook page last year shed light on Charles’ choice of attire, and revealed there was a reason he chose to wear the uniform he selected.
“Members of the family taking part in today’s parade proudly wore uniforms of regiments with which they have special associations,” the post read.
“The King, Colonel in Chief of the Household Division, wore the tunic of the Guard of Honour Order, the Irish Guards. The Monarch always wears the uniform of whichever Regiment’s Colour is being trooped.”
Royal fans previously discovered why King Charles marks his birthday in June, despite being born in November.
According to the official Royal Family website, Trooping The Colour “has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years.”
The celebration is thought to have begun during the reign of King Charles II, who sat on the throne from 1660 until 1685.
“Regimental flags of the British Army were historically described as ‘Colours,'” The Household Division’s website states.
“The principal role of a regiment’s Colours was to provide a rallying point on the battlefield.”
The Household Division explains young officers would march between the ranks of troops, holding the Colours high and giving rise to the parade we know and love today.
“So, what today is a great tradition began life as a vital and practical parade designed to aid unit recognition before a battle commenced.
“In 1748, it was decided that this parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign and it became an annual event after George III became King in 1760,” the website continues.
“Today, this colourful spectacular remains a celebration of the Sovereign’s official birthday.”
George III, like the current monarch, was born in November. However, holding a parade in winter was deemed a risky move thanks to the UK’s reliably unreliable weather.
June was chosen because it is more likely to be warm and dry, offering better conditions for a royal parade.
