All eyes will be on the royal family today for the much anticipated Trooping the Colour.
The ceremonial parade to mark the Soverign’s official birthday will see over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare.
Last year’s event was memorable for many reasons – including some the royal family would probably rather forget. From Prince Louis ‘ pulling a “disgusted” face to an “impatient” Princess Charlotte, the children of Prince William and Princess Kate always steal the show.
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And now Kate has announced she will be in attendance on the balcony alongside her family amid her ongoing cancer treatment, much to fans’ delight.
(Image: PA)
As the Colonel of the Irish Guards, Kate was not present to take the salute at the Colonel’s Review on June 8 but last night, she revealed she was looking forward to attending today’s celebrations.
King Charles III who has also been undergoing treatment for cancer, is said to be “delighted” that the Princess is able to attend and is “much looking forward to all elements of the day.”
But in a change to his usual routine, instead of riding on horseback to inspect the troops, the monarch will travel in an Ascot Landau carriage alongside Queen Camilla.
Kate will travel in a state carriage with her children and will then watch the parade from the Major General’s Office with the rest of the family before joining them on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Ahead of the momentous occasion, the Daily Star has looked back at some of the most memorable moments over the years.
Royal kids
(Image: PA)
The young royals only attend a handful of official events, and fans always delight in seeing them all together.
Last year Prince Louis once again stole the show as he tapped his hands on the balcony, cradled his chin in his hands, and thrusted out his arms as the Red Arrows Aerobatic Team of the Royal Air Force soared overhead.
The children’s mannerisms are often a hot topic on social media with many keen to see what they do this year.
Soldiers fainting
It has been known for soldiers to faint during the rehearsals, known as the Colonel’s Review, after many hours of standing in the same position.
In 2023, three soldiers passed out in sweltering temperatures during the parade run-through as temperatures approached 30C.
All three were taken off on stretchers while one trombonist soldier was whisked off by medical staff after collapsing in the heat.
Lone horse and stage collapse
In 2022, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations were overshadowed by one very odd moment.
One of the hundreds of horses involved in the Trooping of the Colour was seemingly left all on its own – and that includes having no rider on top of it.
And it whipped social media into a frenzy.
One user wrote: “Did anyone else just see the horse with no rider atop just then?!”
“Sooo fabulous – one horse trotting by without his rider,” wrote another.
Prior to the main event that year, two people were taken to hospital after sections of the spectator stands collapsed during the Trooping of the Colour rehearsal.
Queen’s would-be assassin
(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
A man who tried to kill the Late Her Majesty The Queen at the Trooping of the Colour screamed about wanting to be famous.
The event occurred in 1981 as the Queen rode her own horse – 19-year-old Burmese – down The Mall for the ceremony.
Marcus Serjeant, 17, positioned himself on the junction between The Mall and Horseguards Road and, when Her Majesty rode by, and fired off six blank rounds from a starting gun while pointing the weapon directly at her.
The sound of the gun startled her horse but the Queen managed to keep it under control.
(Image: Hulton Archive)
She wasn’t harmed in the incident and neither was the horse, with royal security guards quickly pouncing on the teen.
It is at this point that he is reported to have said: “I wanted to be famous. I wanted to be a somebody.”
Bonus birthday
King Charles III will celebrate his bonus birthday just before the Trooping the Colour, a tradition dating back to the days of King George II.
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trooping the Colour, the annual official birthday event for the monarch, takes place each June on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London, despite King Charles’ actual birthday being on November 14.
According to Royal insiders, other members of the Royal Family are expected to attend, similar to last year when only working family members were present.
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