King Charles III marks 77th birthday with Trooping the Colour as Princess of Wales returns to public eye

Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the Mall in bright sunshine to watch the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, the official birthday parade for King Charles III. The King, who turns 78 in November, travelled in an open carriage from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade alongside Queen Camilla, cheered by crowds waving flags and phones.

Royal appearances

In a second carriage rode the Princess of Wales with her three children – Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (11) and Prince Louis (8). Catherine, now 44, wore a light-blue outfit by Catherine Walker and a hat by Irish designer Philip Treacy. It was her return to the full ceremonial calendar two years after making her cancer diagnosis public. She appeared composed throughout.

Heir to the throne Prince William, 43, participated on horseback – riding a horse named Darby – as did the King’s sister Princess Anne (75) on Noble and his youngest brother Prince Edward (62) on Sir John. The other sibling, Prince Andrew, was not seen. The military precision involved more than 1,000 soldiers and bands, this year from the Grenadier Guards regiment.

“We come every year and stand in the same place.”

The ceremony

Trooping the Colour dates back to the reign of George II in 1748. Each June one of the five Foot Guards regiments presents its regimental flag – the “colour” – to the sovereign. After the parade, the royal family returns to the palace and watches an RAF flypast from the balcony. Charles himself first attended the event at age three, during the reign of his grandfather George VI. This was his fourth Trooping as monarch since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

Public mood and dissent

Alongside royal supporters, a small group of republicans held placards reading “Down with the crown,” a rare visible dissent in an otherwise celebratory crowd. Spectators Emma McCarthy and Sarah Fuller told the BBC they attend every year and stand in the same spot, a sentiment echoed by many families with children hoisted on shoulders for a better view.