See the best pictures from Trooping the Colour – as King pays tribute to plane crash victims | Ents & Arts News
The King has marked his official birthday at the Trooping the Colour parade, wearing a black armband in tribute to those killed in the Air India plane crash.
More than 1,300 soldiers took part in the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall. The event has marked the official birthday of the UK monarch on the second Saturday of June for more than 260 years.
The King previously said he was “desperately shocked” at the aviation disaster that claimed the lives of 270 people, including more than 50 British nationals.
The 76-year-old King will lead the nation in a minute’s silence, with black armbands worn by senior royals, including the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Princess Charlotte and the Princess of Wales ahead of the ceremony. Pic: Reuters
Pic: PA
Prince Louis (L) and Prince George (R) ahead of Trooping the Colour ceremony. Pic: PA
A little later the princess became more animated. Pic: Reutuers
Ever expressive Prince Louis. Pic. Reuters
The Queen, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh were among the royal party watching the event with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and his wife, Victoria watched the event, as did singer-songwriter Matt Goss, who rose to fame in the mid-1980s.
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King and Queen wave to cheering crowds
The Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal. Pic: PA
Members of the King’s GuardTrooping the Colour. Pic: Reuters
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King requested amendments to the Trooping the Colour programme “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy”.
In 2017, Trooping was held a few days after the Grenfell Tower blaze and the loss of life was marked by a minute’s silence, a decision taken by Queen Elizabeth II.
Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the Trooping the Colour parade. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
Away from performing ceremonial duties, the soldiers taking part in the military display are fighting soldiers.
The stands around Horse Guards Parade were filled with around 8,000 wives, girlfriends and the parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.
The colour, or regimental flag, trooped this year was the King’s Colour of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards, a prestigious regiment known as the sovereign’s bodyguard. It celebrates its 375th anniversary this year.
Pic: Reuters
The Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal. Pic: PA
Members of the King’s Guard stand on duty along the route. Pic: Reuters
The day ended with the royal family gathering on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the gun salutes in Green Park and the traditional RAF flypast.
Led by the Red Arrows, this year for the first time, the flypast used more sustainable aviation fuels for its tricolour smoke trails in red, white and blue.
The Red Arrows – using more sustainable aviation fuels for the first time
Royals on the balcony look to the sky. Pic: Reuters
The thousands-strong crowd cheered “Hooray” as the King waved to the crowd.
The King’s real birthday is on 14 November.