What is Trooping the Colour? Meaning of King Charles's birthday parade explained
Trooping the Colour will take place on Saturday June 15, but what is the royal event and what does it mean?
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Trooping the Colour takes place annually in London and is one of the most recognisable ceremonial events in the royal calendar.
It features an impressive display of pomp and pageantry, with thousands of troops parading down the capital’s iconic Mall.
The Royal Family comes out in full force for the occasion, parading in carriages and on horseback before stepping out on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF Flypast.
It’s a tradition that dates back centuries - but why did it first start and what does it mean? Here Express.co.uk takes a closer look.
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What is Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour marks the official birthday of the British monarch. It dates back centuries and became an annual event from 1760.
The event is traditionally held on a Saturday in June, but the date is not fixed.
From 1979 to 2017 it was always held on the Saturday from June 11 to 17; however, in 2018 it was held on June 9 and in 2019 on June 8. This year it is scheduled for June 15.
King Charles’s birthday is not on that date however, as he was born on November 14.
But monarchs typically have two birthdays, with one marked by Trooping the Colour.
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What happens at Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour is one of the biggest military ceremonies of the year, featuring around 1,600 parading soldiers, 400 musicians and more than 200 horses.
Each year a different regimental colour (flag) is trooped and members of the five Foot Guards regiments take it in turns to lead the parade.
This year the Irish Guards will have the honour of trooping the colour.
Members of the Royal Family appear either on horseback or in elaborate carriages.
The King and Queen will then lead members of the Royal Family out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF Flypast and wave to the crowds gathered below.
Thousands of people are expected to head to the Mall to catch a glimpse of the parade as it moves from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade.
A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the occasion.
