Britain13 June, 20263 min read
King Charles III Leads Trooping the Colour Parade From Buckingham Palace Balcony in London
“Kate's sweet nod to Princess Diana”
“The balcony moment remains a reminder of royal continuity”
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Royal family attended Trooping the Colour parade in London for Charles III's birthday. Red Arrows flypast culminated the ceremony, observed from Buckingham Palace balcony.
Trooping the Colour in London
Britain’s King Charles III marked his official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with the royal family gathering in London for the annual ceremony culminating at the Buckingham Palace balcony. The BBC said the parade is one of the biggest royal and military spectacles of the year, featuring more than 1,400 members of the armed forces and 200 horses and 400 musicians, with this year’s trooped colours being those of the Grenadier Guards. The Associated Press photo gallery showed Kate Princess of Wales riding in an open top carriage with Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George during Trooping the Colour, while Prince William sat on his horse wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards outside Buckingham Palace.
“It features more than 1,400 members of the armed forces as well as 200 horses and 400 musicians.”
ABC News described the day’s procession and balcony moment as the royal family watched the Royal Air Force flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla standing together as the aircraft passed. The BBC also said the King and Queen travelled in an open-top carriage driving past thousands of people lining the route from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, before the colours were trooped through the ranks of foot guards.
Kate’s Diana nod and Harry
Princess Kate paid homage to Princess Diana at Trooping the Colour, with USA Today saying she wore a pale blue and white outfit for the official birthday parade of King Charles III. USA Today reported that Kate’s powder-blue coat was designed by Catherine Walker and was “an almost exact replica to a design Diana wore in 1987,” while the same article said Saturday’s celebrations marked the 45th anniversary of Diana’s first-ever Trooping the Colour ceremony in 1981. People said Prince Harry appeared via video at the 2026 Invictus Germany Sports Festival on Saturday, June 13, as the royal family made a public appearance in London, and it quoted Harry telling attendees: “It is an honor to be sending this message as you all gather in Düsseldorf for another Invictus sporting title.”
The BBC described the balcony flypast moment as the royals watched the Red Arrows from Buckingham Palace, with Prince Louis “chatting to his parents as the aircraft flew overhead,” and it framed the scene as a reminder of royal continuity with King Charles standing with Prince William and Prince George. People added that Buckingham Palace restricted the balcony appearance to working members of the royal family once King Charles’ reign began, and it said this year’s Trooping the Colour was no exception.
Armed forces, salutes, and protests
The BBC said after the parade the King was greeted by a royal salute and a 41-gun salute fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, before he conducted an inspection of the troops and the colour of the regiment was “trooped”, or carried, through the ranks of foot guards. The BBC also reported there was “some sadness for the armed forces taking part,” noting that Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan “should been riding in this year’s Trooping the Colour” but died after falling from her horse during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. In the crowd, the BBC said anti-monarchy protesters from Republic were demonstrating along The Mall, and it quoted the group’s shouts as the royal carriage procession passed, including “Down with the Crown” and “You are not
The Independent described the day’s culmination as a Red Arrows fly-past over Buckingham Palace, with Prince Louis appearing keen to catch a glimpse of his grandfather as the aircraft flew overhead. The Independent said the event unfolded on Horse Guards Parade with thousands of spectators and that stands around the parade ground were filled with approximately 8,000 family members of the guards and officers.