Since the 17th century, the British monarch’s official birthday is celebrated every year with an impressive military procession during the King’s Birthday Parade – also known as the Trooping the Colour.
While King Charles was born on 14 November, as part of a long-standing tradition dating back to the 18th century, his birthday is publicly celebrated on a different date in June.
The tradition was prompted by Britain’s characteristically unpredictable weather. In 1748, when George II was born in the winter, it was decided his birth would actually be celebrated over the summer, when the weather lent itself to more comfortable outside festivities.
Trooping the Colour has also traditionally been held on a weekend, when His Majesty’s personal troops of the Household Division – the oldest regiments of the British Army – perform on the Horse Guard Parade in London.
The Household Division is sometimes referred to as the King’s bodyguards and have been a part of the monarchy since the English Civil War ended in 1660.
The “colours” were the names given to the flags of each regiment of the Army. And, to ensure every officer knew to which regiment they belonged, officers would march up and down in front of their troops (this is called “trooping”), waving their flags (or “colours”), so everyone could see which colour belonged to which regiment.
Each year, a different regiment’s colour is represented at Trooping the Colour.
These days, over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June to flaunt their military precision and impressive horsemanship.
This year, King Charles has confirmed he is attending the ceremony, despite revealing a cancer diagnosis in February.
Due to his ill health, however, the King will parade in a horse-drawn carriage instead of riding on horseback – as is traditional.
When is Trooping the Colour 2024?
While Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday was held on the second Saturday of June, Charles’s will be held on the third Saturday of the month, on 15 June.
The ceremony will begin at around 10.30am with His Majesty processing down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade.
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He will then be greeted by a royal salute and a 41-gun salute fire from Green Park, after which the King will conduct an inspection of his troops – all of whom will be active soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.
Following the performance by the military bands, the escorted regimental colour, or flag, is processed down the ranks of soldiers. Once the footguards have marched past Charles, he will return back to Buckingham Palace.
At around 1pm, the King will then go out onto the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the fly-past by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.
The pilots will have taken off earlier in the day, travelling down the east coast of England, before heading into central London – where they will fly down The Mall and over members of the Royal Family.
What is the parade route?
Trooping the Colour commences on Horse Guards Parade at 10am and ends at 12.25pm.
The King will process down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade in a royal procession. After receiving his royal salute, he will inspect his troops before returning to the Palace, surveying a further march-past from outside its gates.
He will then make his way to the balcony.
How can I watch the parade in person?
To watch the Trooping the Colour Parade live, in London, you will have to apply for places in the seated stands at the Horse Guard’s Parade, on the Household Division’s website.
Alternatively, if you wish to watch any of the parades for free, you can stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking the Horse Guards Parade. Members of the public are advised to start standing from 9am.
Restrooms and refreshments will be found in St James’s Park.
How can I watch Trooping the Colour on TV?
The event will be broadcast live on BBC One and will also be available afterwards on iPlayer.
Along with the State Opening of Parliament, the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade is one of the biggest events in the ceremonial calendar.
Millions of Britons on the streets of the capital and on television are likely to watch this year’s Trooping the Colour.
Which royals will attend Trooping the Colour?
Alongside King Charles, Queen Camilla will attend the annual event.
While the Palace has yet to confirm the rest of the guest list, we do know Charles is highly likely to invite the heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales, William, his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their three children.
Amid her own cancer treatment, though, Catherine is not expected to take part in the ceremony after her absence was noted from a major rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour.
In March, she revealed that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy, and when a Palace spokesperson was asked about her return to public duties, they said: “The Princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team. She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.”
The Duke and duch*ess of Sussex were reportedly not invited to this year’s Trooping the Colour, with Harry and Meghan not having attended the annual event since 2019.
Other royals who are likely to participate in the event, and stood on the Palace’s balcony last year, include Anne, Princess Royal, her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward and Sophie, the duch*ess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Kent and the Duke and duch*ess of Gloucester.
