An early birthday celebration! King Charles IIIThe first Trooping the Color is due to take place five months before his 75th birthday.
The former Prince of Wales has unveiled preliminary plans for his first Trooping the Color as monarch in December 2022, revealing that the celebrations will take place on June 17, 2023. The parade traditionally marks the official birthday of Britain’s sovereign, but in Charles’ case, the day is months away from the actual date, which is 14 November.
His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, also held her respective parade on a date other than her actual birthday. The late monarch’s birthday was in April, however, so was his Trooping the Color
The origins of the parade date back to the 17th century, while the tradition of marking the sovereign’s birthday with a parade began in 1748 during the reign of King George II. During Elizabeth’s reign, over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians took part in the event, which followed a route from Buckingham Palace through The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back again. At the end of the parade, the royal family gathers on the balcony of the palace to watch the Royal Air Force fly-past.
The Queen’s final Trooping the Color took place during her Platinum Jubilee, which celebrated 70 years on the throne. Several members of the royal family joined her on the balcony to watch the fly-past, including Charles. queen camilla, Prince William And princess kate, The Queen’s great-grandsons Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were also in attendance.
500 soldiers, 300 horses and 400 musicians will take part in the historic celebration for Charles’ upcoming parade. The King’s first Trooping the Color comes six weeks after his historic coronation. While Charles was crowned the new monarch shortly after his mother’s death in September 2022, his official coronation took place on 6 May.
Less than a week before the scheduled date of Trooping the Colour, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles would ride a horse in his upcoming birthday parade – a tradition that hasn’t been done in the past three decades. Queen Elizabeth last rode in the procession in 1986 and has since opted to ride in a carriage.
During the parade rehearsal, the Prince of Wales was seen on horseback as he conducted a formal review of the Welsh Guards for the first time, acting as colonel of the regiment.
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