King Charles III marks his official birthday celebrations by riding horseback in a military parade — the first time a monarch has done this in almost 40 years. But what is 'Trooping the Color'?
Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire/dpa/picture alliance
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The UK's King Charles III marks his first official birthday celebrations as monarch on Saturday with the prestigious "Trooping the Color" ceremony, also known as the King's Birthday Parade.
The tradition of the annual military parade goes back almost three centuries and has become a staple of the British cultural calendar. The history of the parade is intertwined with that of the British military.
The word "colors" refers to a term historically used to describe the regimental flags of the British Army. It was important that these flags were clear and bright because they acted as a rallying point in battle.
But in order for soldiers — or troops — to recognize these "colors," they had to be displayed regularly before battle. This process became known as "trooping," hence the name of the ceremony.
King Charles presides over the Trooping the Colour for the first timeImage: Charlotte Graham/AP Photo/picture alliance
The specific ceremony of the regiment of the King's Guards is believed to have first been performed in the 17th century during the reign of Charles II. But it was not until 1748 when it was decided that this parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the sovereign, under George II.
Here are five things to watch out for at the 2023 ceremony.
Monarch rides a horse
King Charles, 74, will ride horseback with his soldiers, reviving a tradition that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave up in 1986. The then 60-year-old sovereign decided she would rather be driven in a carriage from then on as her preferred horse, Burmese, had been retired from duty.
Last year's Trooping the Color was one of the final public appearances by the 96-year-old queen, whose Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, was celebrated at the same time with a public holiday. Queen Elizabeth II died in September.
Then Prince Charles joined his mother for her last ceremony in 2022Image: Aaron Chown/empics/picture alliance
Parade in the heart of London
The parade begins at Buckingham Palace in central London and moves down the Mall — the boulevard in front of the palace — to Horse Guards Parade. There, the king will receive a royal salute. He will then inspect the soldiers on parade.
Over 1,400 officers are on display, with 200 horses and 400 musicians. The event on June 17 was preceded by two rehearsals of similar scale, overseen by senior military figures, without the monarch present.
The final rehearsal for Trooping the Colour too place on June 10Image: Malcom Park/Avalon/Photoshot/picture alliance
Eyes on the sky
One of the most visually stunning parts of the ceremony is the military flypast by the famed Red Arrows, the aerobatics team of the British Royal Air Force. The king and members of his family will watch from the balcony on Buckingham Palace.
The flypast scheduled for the king's coronation was shortened and simplified because of poor weather.
10 places to feel like royalty in London
All eyes are on London and King Charles III's coronation on May 6. From Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, join us on a tour of some of the top sights in the city associated with the royal family.
Image: Vuk Valcic/Zumapress/dpa/picture alliance
Buckingham Palace
This iconic palace is at the center of royal celebration and mourning and has held many events over its long history. Since 1837, its been both the monarch's administrative headquarters and official London residence. King Charles III, however, broke from tradition and did not immediately move into the 775-room palace after his mother's death. His coronation ceremony will take place on May 6.
When it comes to the Royal family, this famous church has seen it all — it has been Britain's coronation church since 1066. Queen Elizabeth II was married here and also had her coronation here in 1953 in an event which was broadcast live on TV. Next up is Charles who will become Britain's 40th reigning monarch to be crowned during a ceremony in the opulent hall.
Image: Dan Kitwood/PA Wire/picture alliance
The changing of the guard
The changing of the guard ceremony happens every second day at 10:45 a.m. in front of Buckingham Palace and lasts about 45 minutes. It can be viewed from different angles, but we recommend watching from the Victoria Memorial, where the raised steps give you a view from higher up. Or, if you want to brave the crowds, from the Buckingham Palace Gate. Be sure to get there early for the best view!
Image: Rasid Necati Aslim/AA/picture alliance
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is perhaps London's most iconic building and — surprise, surprise — has many connections to the royal family. In 1886, Queen Victoria's son, future King Edward VII laid the first stone. The bridge is decorated with the royal coat of arms and was painted red, white and blue in 1977 to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Yet, it wasn't until 2010 that a reigning monarch visited it.
Image: Martin Wagner/IMAGO
A royal clock tower: Big Ben
It's so royal that the tower that houses Big Ben was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Located in the Westminster complex, the famous clock was completed in 1859 and was the world's largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock. If you want to visit, be prepared to climb 334 steps in a narrow space. The views are worth it!
Image: Dominic Lipinski/empics/picture alliance
St. Paul's Cathedral
This impressive church is an iconic part of London's skyline but it hasn't always had it easy. The church was distroyed four times over the years, although the current building, designed by famous English architect Christopher Wren, has been standing for three centuries. The church is perhaps best known as the place where Prince Charles and Princess Diana got married in 1981.
Image: David Herraez Calzada/Zoonar/picture alliance
Tea time at Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason department store in Mayfair, London, established in 1707 and beloved for its tea, has a long history with the royal family. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II used to do her annual Christmas shopping there and reportedly drank a cup of the brand's Earl Grey tea with breakfast every morning. You can book a reservation for afternoon tea there to treat yourself like royalty.
Image: Li Ying/Xinhua News Agency/picture alliance
Hampton Court Palace
A bit out of the center of London in the quiet borough of Richmond upon Thames, you'll find Hampton Court Palace. It was the home of Henry VIII who used to throw lavish banquets and events which characterized the royal opulence of the Tudor era. These days, however, the palace and its 60 acres of gardens can be visited by the rest of us common folk.
Once royal property, the gardens and their greenhouses now comprise the Royal Botanic Gardens and are open to the public. Their origins date all the way back to the 18th century, to 1759 when Princess Augusta, mother of King George III, founded a nine-acre (36,421 sq meter) botanic garden at Kew. The grounds and spectacular collection of plant species is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Image: Ian Murray/imageBROKER/picture alliance
Windsor Castle
You can't miss Windsor Castle if you follow the royals' footsteps even if you have to leave London to visit it. The origins of the castle go back in the 11th century when William the Conqueror had it built to guard part of London. Since then, 40 monarchs have called the palace home, including the late Queen Elizabeth II. It's the largest occupied castle in the world, and it can also be visited.
Image: Steve Parsons/PA Wire/picture alliance
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The whole family … mostly
Charles' son, Prince William, is in attendance, along with Charles' equestrian sister Princess Anne and several other members of the family. Notably absent are Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who moved to the United States in 2020, having retired from their royal duties.
In May, Harry attended his father's coronation without Meghan or his children. Reportedly, none of them received an invitation to this ceremony.
Fainting soldiers?
Soaring temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit) in the UK saw several soldiers faint at one of the rehearsals earlier in the month, overseen by Prince William. Officials will be hoping that nothing of the kind will happen this Saturday.
Several soldiers fainted at the rehearsalImage: Alberto Pezzali/AP Photo/picture alliance
The reason the event takes place at this time of year is to make the most of the good weather. German-born monarch George II was the first to introduce the second summer birthday in 1748; his real birthday was October 30. Charles' actual birthday is November 14, and the palace has confirmed that the official birthday will be celebrated on the third Saturday in June for the duration of his reign.
Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier
King Charles' coronation in pictures
In Britain's first coronation in nearly 70 years, traditions dating back centuries took center stage.
Image: Dan Charity/AP/picture alliance
It's official
Charles has been officially crowned with St Edward's Crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury while he sat in the 700-year-old oak Coronation Chair. Such extravagant ceremonies have been held to crown British monarchs for more than 1,000 years. Charles, 74, was the 40th sovereign to be enthroned in Westminster Abbey, and the oldest.
Image: Jonathan Brady/PA/REUTERS
The crown
The solid gold St Edward's Crown was made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661. Bedecked with more than 400 precious stones, it is only ever allowed to be used to crown a new monarch.
Image: Kirsty Wigglesworth/REUTERS
The chair
The Coronation Chair, which was once gilded, has a sacred slab known as the Stone of Scone — kept in Scotland nowadays — placed under the seat for the ceremony. Scottish kings were crowned on the same slab.
Image: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire/picture alliance
The venue
Westminster Abbey has been the royal coronation church since 1066. More than 2,000 guests have been invited to the ceremony of King Charles III's coronation.
Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
The queen
Charles' wife is now officially known as Queen Camilla, not "queen consort." The title does not change her role as a royal, but marks a milestone in the 75-year-old's road to rehabilitating her image — from someone once seen as "the other woman" in Charles' first marriage to Princess Diana. In a break from tradition, Camilla did not wear the crown sporting the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Image: Gareth Cattermole/REUTERS
The balcony
The newly crowned king and queen returned to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony, where they appeared on the balcony with other royals to applause and chants from thousands of supporters. Prince Andrew, Charlers' brother, and Prince Harry, the king's younger son, were not on the balcony.
Image: Leon Neal/AP Photo/picture alliance
The heir
Prince William, who is next in line to be king, knelt before his father and pledged his loyalty as his "liege man of life and limb."
William's three children are second, third and fourth in line to the throne.
Image: Yui Mok/AP Photo/picture alliance
The spare
Prince William's younger brother, Harry, arrived at the ceremony alone. It had been previously announced that his wife Meghan, battling with British tabloid papers along with her husband, would remain at home in California. May 6 is their son Archie's fourth birthday. Harry waited outside the abbey while Charles and other royals joined a military procession after the ceremony.
Image: Andy Stenning/REUTERS
The brother
Charles' younger brother Prince Andrew has been sidelined in recent years amid a backlash over his friendship with the late convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The 63-year-old has also come under fire for sexual abuse allegations by one of Epstein's victims, which was settled out of court. Andrew was reportedly booed as he headed to Westminster Abbey.
Image: Roland Hoskins/AP/picture allaince
The exes
Liz Truss, the last prime minister to serve under Queen Elizabeth's reign and the first under Charles', was among the attendees, as well as her predecessor Boris Johnson. Johnson's acrimonious exit provided the soundtrack for the last weeks of Elizabeth II's rein, Truss' economic mismanagement was the mood music only for a vanishingly brief period of Charles' tenure.
Nick Cave is just one of the many musicians and artists invited to the coronation. Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Lionel Richie were also seen at the ceremony. Celebrity publications reported in the run-up to the ceremony that a number of prominent artists, including Sir Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Adele and Robbie Williams, declined invitations, albeit citing prior commitments.
Image: Jane Barlow/PA/AP/picture alliance
The fans
Thousands of people gathered to celebrate Charles' coronation, with some royal fanatics camping out on The Mall for days to secure a spot for the event. Crowds chanted "God Save the King" and waved the Union Jack flags. Around 7,000 troops marched at Buckingham Palace.
Image: Bruce Adams/AP Photo/picture alliance
The anti-monarchy protests
Not everyone is a fan of the royals. Anti-royal protesters waved flags that read, "Abolish the Monarchy" and "Not my King." The demosntrators demanded an elected head of state, saying there was no place for a royal family in a modern constitutional democracy, and that the monarchy was staggeringly expensive to maintain — especially amid the current cost-of-living crisis.
Image: Piroschka van de Wouw/AP/picture alliance
The police
London police arrested several of the protest organizers and reportedly seized hundreds of their placards shortly before Saturday's ceremony. The British government had earlier this week rushed into law new powers new anti-protest powers.