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Major change for King Charles at this year's Trooping the Colour ceremony
Next weekend, the streets of Central London will erupt with the sound of pageantry, as the capital celebrates The King's official birthday but there will be one major change for King Charles this year.
There will be a big change for King Charles at this year's Trooping the Colour due to his ongoing cancer treatments.
Charles was diagnosed with cancer last February following a three night hospital stay at The London Clinic in Marylebone for an enlarged prostate procedure. Subsequent diagnostic tests identified a form of cancer.
Earlier this year the King spoke of the "daunting and at times frightening experience" of receiving a cancer diagnosis, in the most personal reflection of his own battle with the disease. In a written message Charles told of his appreciation for the "profound impact of human connection", observing how "the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion".
Revealing his own feelings of becoming "among those statistics myself", he added: "I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity."
The King, 76, is now 'used to living with cancer' while he continues his weekly treatment for the disease. Encouragingly, senior aides say he is feeling well and up to the task as he continues his pathway.
But, understandably due to his age and health he is unable to do everything his once could. For years King Charles rode in the parade - both for his mother's official birthday celebrations and then for his own. But he will not appear on horseback at the event next weekend and will instead travel in a carriage for the procession from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade and back, according to The Sunday Times.
The last time the King rode at the ceremony was in 2023 which was the first time the monarch had ridden in the parade since Queen Elizabeth did in 1986. He travelled with Queen Camilla in a carriage at last year's parade to be safer and more comfortabl and it is understood that he will not ride at the parade again, reports MailOnline.
And while Charles is not expected to ride at the parade again, this weekend's event will be the first time that the Princess Royal has ridden in public since she was hospitalised following a suspected horse injury last year.
Anne, 74, plans to ride in the parade this year in her role as gold stick, the colonel of the Blues and Royals, alongside the Prince of Wales as colonel of the Welsh Guards and the Duke of Edinburgh as colonel of the Scots Guards and London Guards.
Trooping the Colour 2025, officially known as The King's Birthday Parade, will take place on Saturday, 14 June 2025, in London.
