Trooping the Colour: 20 photos as King Charles marks official birthday
At the King’s request, the event acknowledged those killed in the Air India plane crash
(Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
King Charles’ official birthday has been marked with a display of military pomp and pageantry.
The head of state and his wife left Buckingham Palace in a carriage at the head of a procession travelling along The Mall and into Horse Guards Parade where hundreds of guardsmen were on parade this morning (June 14). The appearance of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children sparked cheering when they were spotted in a carriage with their mother, Kate.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis followed the King and Queen, with other coaches carrying the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
At the King’s request, the event acknowledged those killed in the Air India plane crash that claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew, including more than 50 British nationals, as well as around 30 people on the ground, on Thursday (June 12).
Riding behind the King were the royal colonels wearing black armbands – the Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards; the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Edinburgh as Colonel of the Scots Guards.
The Royal Procession was accompanied by the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the sounds of the Band of the Household Cavalry, led by two shire drum horses bearing solid silver kettle drums.