2 days ago
Where Is Trooping the Colour, One of the Royal Family's Biggest Annual Events?
Trooping the Colour is one of the British royal family's most prominent traditions—and it's happening this Sunday. Also known as the King's Birthday Parade, the celebration will be held in London and most of the royals are expected to be in attendance. Last year, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Catherine participated, as well as all of William's children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.
The celebration takes place in the form of a parade, capped off with a fly-by from the Royal Air Force. Here's everything you need to know about the route and how to watch it live—from London or anywhere else.
Trooping the Colour begins at Horses Guard Parade, the ceremonial parade ground in London's St. James Park. It's the official entrance to St. James's—the high end commercial area—and Buckingham Palace, dating back to the 18th century. Per the Royal Parks, the area was designed by William Kent, the then-Chief Architect to George II.
The parade includes 1,400 officers and soldiers, plus two hundred horses and over four hundred musicians from ten bands, according to the U.K. Household Division. Prince William, who is honorary Colonel of the Welsh Guards, is expected to ride horseback in the parade, alongside his aunt, Princess Anne, and uncle, Prince Edward.
Traditionally, after leaving Horses Guard Parade, the procession continues down the mall, where the King rides his horse to Buckingham Palace, leading all of his troops. Charles led the procession on horseback in 2023 but last year, after his cancer diagnosis, opted to ride in the parade and review the troops from a carriage, alongside Queen Camilla. This year, he will do the same, riding in the parade in a coach.
This change has precedent. According to People, Queen Elizabeth switched from horseback to a carriage back in 1987, when she was 60. Princess Kate, plus her children, usually ride in a coach, as well.
The parade will run alongside St. James Park and end at Buckingham Palace. From there, the troops will return to the barracks and the King will join his family members on the palace balcony, where they will all watch a fly-past from the Royal Air Force.
If you're in London, the public can watch the parade from the stands at Horses Guard Parade by applying for tickets online. Otherwise, the BBC usually livestreams the event on YouTube.
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