This Saturday, June 17th, King Charles of England will join the public festivities to commemorate his birthday by participating in the iconic parade known as Trooping the Colour.
Although the 74-year-old monarch was born on November 14th, it is customary in the British royal family to celebrate the king’s or queen’s birthday in June.
Article summary
This tradition originated during the reign of King Charles II, who ruled from 1660 to 1685.
Changes to Trooping the Colour 2023
In his first participation in Trooping the Colour as King, Charles has decided to make some adjustments to make the celebration a more personal event and move away from the ceremonies imposed by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
According to reports, the king will ride a horse in the procession organized in his honor. This will be the first time since 1986 that a monarch has participated in the parade when Queen Elizabeth II led the celebration in this way.
In addition to King Charles, his sister, Princess Anne, and Prince William are also expected to participate in the procession.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, could play a special role during the event.
As a novelty in this celebration, after 70 years, the hymn “God Save the King” will be sung again.
One of the most notable changes for this occasion is the Prince of Wales’ attire. William will wear a bearskin cap and an elegant red dress uniform as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, an outfit he is wearing for the first time.
Although Princess Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla have taken up military posts following the Queen’s death, both are unlikely to appear in uniform during Trooping the Colour.
What happens during Trooping the Colour?
Buckingham Palace has announced that more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians will join together to create a spectacular display of military precision, horsemanship, and fanfare during Trooping the Colour, in honor of King Charles’ official birthday.
Once the Sovereign has arrived at the majestic Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, he is greeted with a royal salute, and a meticulous inspection of the troops takes place.
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These fully trained and operational soldiers wear the iconic ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.
Following the imposing performances of the military bands, the escorted regimental banner, known as the “color,” is processed through the ranks of soldiers.
The Commanding Officer of the Parade, using over a hundred words of command, precisely directs the several hundred soldiers present at the ceremony.
Once the Infantry Guards have paraded in front of the Sovereign, they return to Buckingham Palace at the head of the procession of soldiers, before again paying homage to the Palace from a special dais.
The Sovereign joins other members of the Royal Family on the iconic balcony of Buckingham Palace to witness an impressive flyover by the Royal Air Force.
As an added touch of grandeur, a 41-gun salute reverberates over Green Park, marking the commemoration of this very special occasion.
How to watch Trooping the Colour 2023
If you wish to witness Trooping the Colour 2023, you have several options to enjoy this magnificent parade in honor of King Charles’ birthday.
According to the royal family’s official website, the event will be broadcast live on the BBC and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
In addition, as with King Charles’ coronation, many news stations will offer the option to watch Trooping the Colour 2023 live on YouTube.
This platform will allow people from all over the world to tune in and witness the events unfolding during the event.
What time is Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour 2023, where King Charles’ first birthday of reign will be honored, will take place on Saturday, June 17th.
As previously reported, full coverage of the event will be provided by the prestigious British broadcaster BBC, which will begin its live broadcast at 10:30 a.m. London time.
In this sense, fans of the royalty in the United States will have to get up early so as not to miss a single moment of this majestic celebration.
