King Charles.Photo:Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty
Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty
King Charlesis the guest of honor atTrooping the Colour!
On Saturday, the 74-year-old King was celebrated at the first Trooping the Colour of his royal reign in London. The epic display of military precision has marked the British monarch’sofficial birthdayfor over 260 years.
For the event, King Charles wore the tunic of the Guard of Honour Order, the Welsh Guards. The sovereign wears the uniform of whichever Regiment’s Colour is being trooped. He added the traditional bearskin hat with a Blue Garter Sash. The uniform of the monarch bears the cypher of their predecessor — therefore, King Charles' uniform featured the cypher of his mother,Queen Elizabeth.
The King saddled up on a horse named Noble for his ceremonial role as Colonel in Chief of the seven regiments of the Household Division of the British Army,a first for a British monarch in 37 years. Queen Elizabeth last rode during Trooping the Colour in 1986 on her beloved horse Burmese and opted to take a carriage in the years that followed.
King Charles.Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty
Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty
King Charles first attended Trooping the Colour at age 3 when it celebrated his grandfather, King George VI.
For his debut, the little royal rode in a carriage with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and his aunt, Princess Margaret. His mother, the then-Princess Elizabeth before acceded the throne the following year, was riding horseback in the procession!
About 1,500 soldiers, 300 horses and 400 musicians came together for the first Trooping the Colour performed in King Charles’ honor.
Trooping the Colour 2023.Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty
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King Charles and Queen Camilla’s appearance on the terrace will be just the second of the new reign after theirhistoric coronationon May 6. The newly crowned King and Queengave a wavefrom the balcony after the church service at Westminster Abbey to greet the cheering crowds below.
Although King Charles will actually turn 75 in November, it’s normal for the parade to not take place around the monarch’s birthday. According to theBritish Army, the ceremonial presentation of the military’s regimental flags, called “colours,” was first performed under King Charles II, who ruled from 1660 to 1685. The event was formally linked to the monarch’s birthday during the reign of King George II in 1748 — and there was a practical reason for the event not being celebrated on the monarch’s actual birth date.
“With a November birthday being too cold for a celebratory parade, he tied his celebrations in with the annual Trooping the Colour military parade,” Royal Museums Greenwichstates, and monarchs since have continued the practice of holding the festivities during the warmer weather months.
DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
Trooping the Colour got a permanent spot on the annual royal calendar following the accession of his grandson King George III in 1760 and has continued ever since.
source: people.com
