Incredible photos show Trooping the Colour rehearsals after major King Charles update
Rehearsals for June's Trooping the Colour 2024 are in full swing as Buckingham Palace announces King Charles's major adaptation for the event.
To ensure smooth running by the minute, rehearsals are underway on the Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, London, for King Charles's official birthday parade on June 15, 2024.
Trooping the Colour 2024 will go ahead as planned despite the July General Election, the army confirmed on Tuesday. Last year, Charles marked his first Trooping as King on Saturday, June 17, riding onto Horse Guards in Whitehall as the nation's head of state six weeks after his Coronation.
This year, in a major change, the King will inspect the soldiers from a carriage, instead of on horseback. Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, is expected to conduct the review of troops on June 15 from an Ascot Landau carriage with Queen Camilla by his side.
On May 30, rehearsals were in full swing as all seven regiments of the Household Division and their Regimental Bands took part in the "khaki rehearsal".
This included the regiments of the Foot Guards: the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (made up of The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals), the mounted band of the Household Cavalry, and the massed Foot Guards bands.
Express.co.uk shares pictures from the Trooping the Colour 2024 rehearsals:
Trooping the Colour has traditionally been held on a Saturday in June since 1959. In 2018, it was held on June 9, and in 2019 on June 8, while during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the ceremonies were modified and scaled back, taking place at Windsor Castle instead. In 2022, the Trooping the Colour ceremony was held on Thursday, June 2 as it coincided with the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Last year, Charles marked his first Trooping as King on Saturday, June 17.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The British Army announced that almost 1,000 soldiers and around 240 horses from the Household Division will perform a "khaki rehearsal" of the Trooping parade in London on May 30.
The rehearsal will take place on the Horse Guards Parade in front of an audience of more than 1,000 people as a test for soldiers and horses who have yet to rehearse publicly.
Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw, the Brigade Major of the Household Division, will confirm the troops are of the required standard before they perform at The Major General's Review on Saturday, The Colonel's Review on June 8 and Trooping the Colour on June 15.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The Army said the Number 9 Company, Irish Guards, has been chosen to troop their colour, which means the regiment will march its ceremonial flag through the ranks at the King's official birthday event.
The Band of the Irish Guards with the Pipes and Drums will march the troops onto the parade ground, led by regimental mascot Turlough Mor, an Irish Wolfhound also known as Seamus.
The music is set to have a "distinctly Irish theme", including Celtic folk tunes and new music composed for the parade.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
On June 15, at the start of the ceremony, Charles will be greeted by a royal salute on Horse Guards Parade and a 41-gun salute fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Green Park.
His Majesty will then inspect his troops before the Massed Bands of the Foot Guards perform a musical "troop" and the trooped flag is carried through the ranks of the Foot Guards.
The regiment will then march past Charles before the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry ride past.
Charles will then finally head back to Buckingham Palace. He will join other members of the Royal Family on the balcony to watch a fly-past performed by the Royal Air Force.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
The King is set to attend this year's celebrations on June 15, however, he will most likely break a beloved royal tradition.
Charles, who is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, is expected to travel by carriage instead of riding on horseback.
Even though he was given the clear to return to public duties in April after a short break, the Palace said that any future engagements involving the King "will be adapted where necessary" to accommodate his recovery.
Last year, Charles became the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback.
(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)