Key takeaways:
- King Charles III celebrated his first official birthday parade as sovereign, known as “Trooping the Colour”
- The parade began with a 41-gun salute in Green Park, followed by a march-past of troops from the Household Division in Whitehall
- The event marks a significant milestone in the reign of King Charles III, and has been an annual event since 1760
On Saturday, King Charles III of Britain celebrated his first official birthday parade as sovereign, reviving a centuries-old tradition that honors the official birthday of the British sovereign. The parade, known as “Trooping the Colour,” was held in central London and featured soldiers marching in scarlet coats and bearskin fur hats accompanied by music played by military bands.
For the first time in more than three decades, Charles revived a royal tradition by riding on horseback during the ceremony, flanked by royal colonels: his son, Prince William, and his grandson, Prince George. The 260-year-old tradition marks the birthday of a reigning monarch, the technical head of the British Armed Forces.
The parade began with a 41-gun salute in Green Park, followed by a march-past of troops from the Household Division in Whitehall. The King then inspected the troops from the balcony of Buckingham Palace before the parade moved to Horse Guards Parade, where the King took the salute.
The parade concluded with the King riding back to Buckingham Palace, accompanied by the royal colonels. The event marks a significant milestone in the reign of King Charles III, who was crowned on May 6, 2021. It’s different than 74-year-old Charles’ own birthday, which is Nov. 14.
The Trooping the Colour ceremony has been an annual event since 1760, and is a time-honored tradition that celebrates the birthday of the reigning monarch. Saturday’s parade was a special occasion for the King and the British people, as it marked the first official birthday parade of King Charles III’s reign.
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