What is Trooping the Colour and how you can watch historic royal event
The annual royal event falls on the monarch's birthday each year
Trooping the Colour is a huge annual event on the calendar for the British Royals. The celebration marks the official birthday of the monarch, King Charles.
The 76-year-old will officially celebrate his milestone at the historic event, which includes a remarkable military ceremony, the well-known RAF flypast and, of course, the Buckingham Palace balcony appearance from members of the family.
But what is it and who will be attending? Let's take a look at all the finer details below, as well as how you can tune in for the historic 2025 event this weekend, set to take place in London on Saturday, June 14.
What exactly is Trooping the colour?
The Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years, dating back to as early as the 17th century. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June to mark the monarch's official birthday, with King Charles now at the helm for the second year running as monarch.
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. The display closes with an RAF fly-past, observed by the family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
According to the Household Division, the British Army's regimental flags were historically described as 'colours' because they display the uniform and insignia of the soldiers from different military units. The army used these flags so that soldiers could easily spot their unit when they were on the field in battle.
Officers would regularly march up and down in front of soldiers, known as 'trooping,' with their flags on display which was known as 'colours' so that everyone would know which ones would belong to which regiment.
What takes place?
Once The King has arrived at Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, he is greeted by a royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.
Last year King Charles travelled by carriage alongside Queen Camilla amid his cancer treatment, although the late Queen Elizabeth would usually travel on horseback herself before her own mobility declined.
After the military bands have performed, the escorted Regimental Colour, or flag, is processed down the ranks of soldiers. The King is then later joined by other members of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force. A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the occasion.
Who will attend and how to watch?
Claire Balding will be presenting the live coverage, which will be held in London on Saturday, June 14, with the procession route from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade. The event will kick off at 10:30am until 1:10pm and will air on BBC One.
The King and Queen will be in attendance at the ceremony, alongside senior members of the Royal Family, likely to include the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal, are also expected to be in attendance. Immediate members of the working Royal Family attend alongside their spouses, as well as most of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In previous years, we've seen Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis make their debuts at the event, alongside their cousins, Savannah and Isla Phillips.
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