What is Trooping the Colour? Meaning of King's birthday parade, key timings and timetable

Trooping the Colour is just days away and royal fans will be waiting with anticipation for one of the highlights in the royal calendar. The major event, which marks the official birthday of the monarch, features an impressive display of pomp and pageantry down London's iconic Mall.

Military bands in full regalia also perform at the spectacular event, with thousands gathering to catch a glimpse of the ceremony. Senior members of the Royal Family take part in the occasion, with some participating on horseback and others parading in horse-drawn carriages. The highlight of the day comes when the Firm steps out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Red Arrows whizz overhead.

Trooping the Colour is a tradition that dates back centuries - but why did it first start and what does it mean? Here the Daily Express takes a closer look, including the timetable and key timings.

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 in 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 14.

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. The event takes place in the summer in the hope it is greeted by warm sunshine.

Trooping the Colour also coincides with the publication of the Birthday Honours List.

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 turns leading the parade.

This year, the Coldstream Guards will have the honour of trooping the colour. It will mark the first time the regiment has trooped its colour in front of the King.

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 Guards Parade.

A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the occasion.

What is the timetable and key timings of Trooping the Colour?

Trooping the Colour will start place from just after 9am on Saturday, June 14, and will last until about 1pm.

• 09:15am: Troops will start forming on Horse Guards Parade.
• 10:45am: The King and other members of the Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace escorted by the Household Cavalry.
• 11:00am: The King arrives on Horse Guards Parade to take the Royal Salute. The King then reviews His Guards riding down the ranks of foot guards and cavalry. During the parade, The Colour is Trooped through the ranks before the Foot Guards march past The King. Members of the Royal Family watch from the Duke of Wellington’s office overlooking Horse Guards. Then the Household Cavalry and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery rank past.
• 12:20pm: The King, at the head of His Guards, returns up The Mall to Buckingham Palace. At the gates of Buckingham Palace, the King watches the parade march past in salute.
• 12:52pm: The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires a 41 41-gun salute in The Green Park to celebrate The King's Official Birthday.
• 12:55pm: The King and other members of the Royal Family make a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace.
• 13:00pm: Fly Past by the Royal Air Force.