Happy Birthday, your Majesty! King Charles arrives with Queen Camilla

King Charles looked thrilled as he waved to crowds gathered to celebrate his birthday as the monarch arrived with Queen Camilla.

Royal fans packed The Mall to show their support for the King after a turbulent year where both he and the Princess of Wales have been forced to step back after being diagnosed with cancer.

Now, in a moment that has thrilled the nation, both will be attending Trooping the Colour today in a vibrant celebration of Charles’ official birthday in a joyful return to the public eye.

The monarch, 75, will break tradition as attends the ceremony in a carriage rather than on horseback in his latest high-profile appearance.

But, as he sat next to his strength-and-stay, Queen Camilla, the royal pair looked resplendent as they observed the parade. 

Riding in the Scottish State Coach in uniform, he regally watched out as the Princess of Wales and her children smiled broadly as they followed behind.

Scotland Yard has a ‘substantial’ policing operation for the event, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound. 

In a post on X today, Republic said: ‘It’s a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest! Join us, outside Buckingham Palace from 9.00am. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy.’ As the king arrived by car the group booed.

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees, with tens of thousands expected.

Organisers have advised the public to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9am, with the parade starting at 10am. Coverage on BBC One begins at 10.30am and concludes after the flypast at 1pm.

Last week the King appeared at a D-Day event in Portsmouth to give his first public speech and most high-profile appearance since his cancer diagnosis. 

A day later he travelled overseas for the first time as he expressed his ‘profound sense of gratitude’ for the men and woman ‘who did not flinch when the moment came to face that test.’

He has now followed the late Queen in his decision to opt to use a carriage rather than riding as he inspects the troops formed up in Horse Guards Parade.

The Scottish State Coach is well-equipped to brave out the rain – as an enclosed, four-horse-drawn coach originally built in 1830 and previously used to transport Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank on their wedding day.

Last year grooms had to step in after he became the first monarch since the late Queen in 1986 to saddle up for the parade.

Noble, a black mare gifted to Charles by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police when he became King, struggled to adapt to the surroundings and they had to step forward to help steady the horse. 

Royal fans lining The Mall were also left thrilled today as they saw the Princess of Wales for the first time in public since she revealed she had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February.

Yesterday, she confirmed she will ride in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession through London.

Later, she is expected to gather with King Charles and Queen Camilla, her husband Prince William and other royals on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the RAF flypast. 

A Palace spokesperson said: ‘His Majesty is delighted that the princess is able to attend tomorrow’s events, and is much looking forward to all elements of the day’. 

William spent a number of weeks with Kate and their children during the Easter holidays before returning to public work in mid-April.

Charles was admitted to hospital just days after Kate, also for a procedure deemed unrelated to cancer.

In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which is not prostate cancer, that was discovered while the King was being treated at the private London Clinic for an enlarged prostate.

In wishing the monarch a full recovery, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said thankfully the cancer had been ‘caught early’. 

Charles initially postponed public-facing duties but resumed at the end of April, speaking of his ‘shock’ at being diagnosed with cancer as he met patients on a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London.

The Queen provided an update on her husband’s health at the Queen’s Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey last Saturday, telling author Lee Child the King is ‘doing fine’ but ‘won’t slow down and won’t do what he’s told’.

The Mail revealed in March that Charles would potentially have to use a carriage to attend the ceremonial event following his cancer diagnosis in February.

It was reported that the monarch, though determined to attend the event despite ongoing treatment for the illness, might have to watch the military spectacular from a podium instead of on horseback as usual, having been driven from Buckingham Palace in a carriage as his late mother used to.

Despite being an accomplished polo player in his younger years, it has been reported that the King does not ride for enjoyment any more.

Dating from the 17th century, Trooping the Colour is one the biggest military ceremonial events of the year, involving more than 1,200 soldiers and musicians plus more than 200 horses.

Usually the monarch rides down from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade via The Mall to inspect the troops.

The sovereign then rides back to the palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the wider Royal Family and flypast by the RAF. 

Charles first attended the ceremony in 1951, aged just two, when his mother took the place of King George VI, who was too unwell to attend.

From 1987, when her horse Burmese retired, the late Queen chose to travel to the event by carriage.