What is Trooping the Colour 2025? How to watch on TV today
Military pomp and pageantry will be on display to mark the King's 'official' birthday but the event will also remember those killed in the Air India plane crash this week.
The King has requested a minute's silence be observed in tribute to the 241 passengers and crew killed, and others affected, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down on Thursday (June 12) in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.
Black armbands will also be worn by the head of state and senior royals riding in the ceremony, also known as the King's Birthday Parade, staged in Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.
This year marks the third Trooping the Colour of His Majesty's reign.
📷 Prince Charles, aged 3, attends his first Trooping the Colour in 1951, riding in a carriage with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and aunt, Princess Margaret.
📷 Prince Charles, held by… pic.twitter.com/prqDeci2Yb
On horseback and wearing the armbands will be the Royal Colonels – Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King requested amendments to the Trooping the Colour programme 'as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy'.
But ahead of the occasion on Saturday morning, what exactly is Trooping the Colour? This is all you need to know.
As the birthday celebrations for the reigning King or Queen usually take place outdoors, Trooping the Colour takes place each June if the member of the royal family in charge wasn't born in the summer months of the year.
The King's official birthday is on November 14, and towards the end of 2025, he will be 77 years old.
Trooping the Colour will see more than 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together in a 'great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark the Sovereign's official birthday,' reports The Royal Family's website.
It adds: 'The streets are lined with crowds waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.
'The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace balcony.'
Additionally, Trooping the Colour will see more than 1,000 servicemen taking part in the military display who when not performing ceremonial duties are fighting soldiers.
The colour – regimental flag – being trooped this year is the King's Colour of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards, a prestigious regiment known as the sovereign's bodyguard which is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year.
For today's event, the Queen, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh are expected to be among the royal party watching the event and royal fans will hope Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will join them as they did in 2024.
Members of the royal family not taking part in the parade and who normally watch events from the Duke of Wellington's former office will not wear black armbands.
Trooping the Colour: The King's Birthday Parade will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 10.30am until 1.10pm.
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The Radio Times summary explains: 'Clare Balding introduces live coverage from London, as the Coldstream Guards troop their Colour on Horse Guards Parade.
'Marking the King's official birthday, this event will culminate with the annual RAF flypast and The Royal Family's iconic balcony appearance.
'Radzi Chinyanganya will be on the ground speaking live to those involved.'
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Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Moment cheeky Prince Louis leaves older brother George giggling during Trooping the Colour parade
Although Trooping the Colour is meant to mark the official birthday of the reigning monarch, it was little Prince Louis who stole the show. The seven-year-old waved enthusiastically to royal fans as he sped down the Mall in an Ascot Landau with his mother Catherine, Princess of Wales, and his siblings Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, ten. Meanwhile, their father Prince William took part in the parade on horseback alongside the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal. Taking a moment to himself while driving by a sea of Union Jacks, Prince George, who is second in line to the throne, placed his hands over his eyes. A toothy Prince Louis reacted by mimicking his older brother's gesture. Cameras captured the sweet moment Prince George responded to his brother's antics with a beaming smile as the younger, more cheeky royal threw his head back with laughter. Before they could get up to more mischief, Catherine led the children inside to prepare for the famed flypast. Both princes wore smart suits with white shirts and striking red ties as they took part in the historic parade which involves over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians. The Wales Family certainly seem to enjoy coordinating their outfits with Charlotte and Catherine sitting opposite the boys in the carriage wearing matching blue dresses. Catherine, 43, looked resplendent in an aquamarine coat dress from her late mother-in-law Princess Diana 's favourite designer Catherine Walker - complete with a wide-brimmed hat by Juliette Botterill. The mother-of-three accessorised with the Irish Guards regimental brooch as well as the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings in a sweet tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. They were crafted from pearls gifted to the Queen and Philip from the ruler of Bahrain at the time of their wedding in 1947. Her mini-me daughter Charlotte also paid tribute to the late monarch by rewearing the Diamond Horseshoe brooch she wore to her great-grandmother's funeral. The brooch, which has been in the Royal Family for generations, had been a gift from her 'Gan-Gan' the Queen, and was a fitting nod to Her Majesty's love of horses. Later on, the Royal Family appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast. As ever, Louis put on a cheeky display for spectators - some of whom had camped overnight in a thunderstorm for a good view of the parade. The Wales children and their mother Catherine ride along the Mall towards Horse Guards Parade on Saturday The youngster, known for his 'window wiper wave', waved excitedly at fans as he showed off his gap-toothed grin. Ever the composed older brother, Prince George gently tried to calm Louis down by placing one hand on his arm. Their father William, 40, who looked handsome in a scarlet military tunic looked down affectionately at his sons. At one point, Louis turned to his grandfather Charles and appeared to make an observation about the fighter jets flying overhead. If Louis once found the proceedings overwhelming, you wouldn't know it from the way he snuck in one final wave before Catherine gently ushered her brood back into Buckingham Palace after the spectacular flypast was concluded. Commenting on the young royal's reluctance to go back inside, Judi James told MailOnline: 'There was a seismic change in royal body language signals on the balcony with Louis suddenly morphing into the most visible and active royal but for all the right reasons. 'Instead of his usual playful activities, he appeared totally focused on the aircraft, only turning to his dad to show off his plane spotting skills, with the affirming nods from William suggesting his younger son is becoming a bit of an aircraft expert 'It was also Louis lingering longer before going back in, to gaze down at the crowds and to keep up the increasingly royal looking waves longer than the rest of the Firm.' The royals watch a flypast involving aircraft including the Red Arrows, Chinook helicopters and a Lancaster bomber The young royals smile as they enjoy this year's Trooping the Colour balcony appearance Taking cues from his father and grandfather, Louis attempted different variations of his royal wave while making sure his siblings were thoroughly entertained throughout their balcony appearance - one of the most eagerly-awaited moments of the day. But there was a more sensible side to Louis as he joined Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh in observing one minute of silence in honour of the 241 passengers and crew killed in the Air India plane crash. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down in the Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday. After the parade, the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a sweet family photograph on their Instagram. 'Another brilliant day at Trooping the Colour for His Majesty's Birthday Parade,' the caption read. 'Thank you to everybody who came, and to all those that took part.'
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- Scottish Sun
Relaxed and joyful royals look as if they've finally put Charles and Kate's cancer troubles behind them
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE royal art of playing the part to perfection was never better illustrated than at yesterday's Trooping the Colour. The slimmed-down monarchy on the palace balcony were brimming with cheer, colour and vibrancy. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The slimmed-down monarchy on the palace balcony were brimming with cheer, colour and vibrancy Credit: PA They all looked relaxed and joyful — as if they had at last put all the troubles of the King and Catherine's cancer diagnoses behind them. It would have been hard not to feel emotional at the minute's silence to honour the victims of the tragic Air India flight bound for Gatwick. The Princess Royal, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales sat stationary on their powerful steeds. Princess Charlotte, a keen rider herself, will have been looking hard at the magnificent number of horses. For once, Queen Camilla didn't have her usual big smile. The wind was giving her trouble holding on to her hat, but she still managed to look the picture of elegance. As head of the Armed Forces, it was an emotional day for the King. But it's something he always enjoys, especially when everyone looks so happy and proud to be there. Prince Louis had the last laugh as he gave a mischievous wave to the crowd. A cheeky end to a cheerful day. 2 Prince Louis stole the show with a wave to the crowd as he departed with the rest of the royals Credit: Getty
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Relaxed and joyful royals look as if they've finally put Charles and Kate's cancer troubles behind them
THE royal art of playing the part to perfection was never better illustrated than at yesterday's Trooping the Colour. The slimmed-down monarchy on the palace balcony were brimming with cheer, colour and vibrancy. They all looked relaxed and joyful — as if they had at last put all the troubles of the King and Catherine's cancer diagnoses behind them. It would have been hard not to feel emotional at the minute's silence to honour the victims of the tragic Air India flight bound for Gatwick. The Princess Royal, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales sat stationary on their powerful steeds. Princess Charlotte, a keen rider herself, will have been looking hard at the magnificent number of horses. For once, Queen Camilla didn't have her usual big smile. The wind was giving her trouble holding on to her hat, but she still managed to look the picture of elegance. As head of the Armed Forces, it was an emotional day for the King. But it's something he always enjoys, especially when everyone looks so happy and proud to be there. Prince Louis had the last laugh as he gave a mischievous wave to the crowd. A cheeky end to a cheerful day.
