Charlotte pays subtle tribute to Queen Elizabeth at Trooping the Colour
The brooch, steeped in royal history and affectionately tied to the Queen's well-known love of horses, was pinned to the front of Charlotte's light blue dress as she participated in the King's official birthday celebration.
At the time of Queen Elizabeth's funeral, an Instagram user under the name @historyfamousjewels noted: 'At the funeral of QEII, Princess Charlotte of Wales wore a small diamond horseshoe brooch. The BBC states that it was a gift from HM QEII to the Princess. Fellow poster, Franck @britishroyalfamilywealth, recognized that it is a brooch worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in the 1920s.'
The post further added, 'Franck also noted that Leslie Field stated the brooch was given to QEQM (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother) by Queen Mary. I would like to pay tribute to the composure of the young Princess during what must have been an overwhelming experience.'
Matching her daughter in style and sentiment, the Princess of Wales wore a striking blue coat dress by Catherine Walker, paired with a wide-brimmed hat by Juliette Botterill. She accessorized with the Irish Guards regimental brooch and the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings — the latter crafted from pearls gifted to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day by the ruler of Bahrain in 1947.
Ahead of the parade, royal fans gathered along the Mall, many carrying cardboard cut-outs of their favorite royals. A life-sized image of the Princess of Wales, dressed in her iconic red Alexander McQueen dress worn during the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, was seen among the crowd. Others brought cut-outs of King Charles in full military regalia, a show of support as he continues treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
The Wales children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, 7 — remain a favorite among royal watchers. Last year's event featured touching behind-the-scenes footage of the Princess of Wales gently smoothing Charlotte's hair and holding her hand as they prepared to join the procession. Charlotte, who appeared nervous at first, quickly gained confidence with her mother's quiet reassurance.
Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old tradition that celebrates the Sovereign's official birthday. Originating in the 17th century, the custom of 'trooping' regimental flags, or colours, ensured soldiers could recognize their unit's banners during the chaos of battle.
A full-dress rehearsal known as the Colonel's Review took place last week as the final preparation before the King's official celebration. This year, the Coldstream Guards had the honor of presenting their regimental colour to King Charles.
Following the parade, all eyes turned to the Buckingham Palace balcony for the traditional royal appearance during the RAF flypast. King Charles and Queen Camilla were front and center, with senior members of the Royal Family expected to join them, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
Princess Anne, accompanied by her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, was also anticipated on the balcony. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with their daughter Lady Louise, 21, were expected as well. Their son, James, Earl of Wessex, 17, did not attend last year, and his participation remains uncertain.
The Duke of Kent, 89, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also likely attendees.
As anticipated, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, did not attend the ceremony. The couple, having stepped back from royal duties, have not appeared at Trooping the Colour since 2019.
Also absent was Prince Andrew, 65, who remains excluded from public royal events. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, are also not expected to attend, aligning with King Charles' vision for a streamlined monarchy focused on working royals.
As in past years, royal children captivated onlookers during the flypast. In 2023, young Prince Louis delighted fans by mimicking the roar of the jets, playfully pretending to fly a plane while scrunching his face in concentration.
While the official route of this year's flypast has not been confirmed, the Military Air Shows organization published a restricted airspace map indicating a path over the North Sea, East Anglia, Essex, and London. The aircraft were expected to fly over Buckingham Palace at 1 p.m.
This year's event marked a notable change for King Charles, who did not ride on horseback as he has in previous years. Due to his ongoing cancer treatment, the King traveled in a carriage alongside Queen Camilla. It is understood that this change may become permanent, ending the monarch's brief revival of the "sovereign on horseback" tradition, which he resumed in 2023 — the first time a monarch had done so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1986.
The King's last ride, in 2023, was reportedly challenging, with his horse Noble appearing unsettled and breaking into a canter during the procession.
Queen Elizabeth, an experienced equestrian, famously rode her horse Burmese until the mare's retirement. She later transitioned to carriage travel and took her final salute from the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2022.
This year also marked the return of Princess Anne to public riding, following a suspected horse-related injury last year. As Colonel of the Blues and Royals and holding the ceremonial role of Gold Stick, she rode alongside Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Scots Guards and London Guards.
The King, 76, was hospitalized in January 2024 for an enlarged prostate and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer. His modified participation in this year's parade reflects a balance between royal tradition and his ongoing health needs.
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