THE Royal Family today craned their necks to watch the spectacular Red Arrows display, left in awe over the Trooping the Colour.
Adorable Prince Louis excitedly waved to crowds alongside Charlotte, George, his parents and the King and Queen.
Crowds erupted into cheers as the planes soared over their heads.
Meanwhile, the royals watched in awe from the balcony as the nine RAF aircraft tore past.
The King and Queen were front and centre to watch the incredible display, later waving to the thousands gathered below them.
Kate and Will watched from behind their children, craning their necks to see as they discussed the flypast.
Prince Louis was snapped grinning in joy through his adorable gappy teeth at the trail of red, white and blue smoke.
At one point, the excitable prince kept on enthusiastically waving at the adoring fans until his older brother gave him a nudge to watch the flypast.
The King’s Birthday Flypast is particularly special this year, as the Red Arrows used two environmentally friendly fuels.
Earlier, cheers erupted from the crowd as Prince George, 11, with his naughty younger brother Prince Louis, seven, were spotted in the procession.
Mischievous Louis, who often entertains royal fans with his antics, grinned and waved at onlookers at the Trooping the Colour.
A joyous Kate and Princess Charlotte, 10, stunned as they twinned in blue and white outfits.
Prince William had a starring role in today’s celebrations, riding on horseback alongside Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Regal Wills was unrecognisable as he wore the Full Ceremonial Guard Order of the Welsh Guards.
Anne hasn’t ridden in public since she suffered a head injury, thought to be caused by a horse, at her home last year.
It comes as…
- Lip reader reveals the sweet question Louis asked his older brother George
- Princess Kate and Charlotte match in teal as they travel to the parade
- King Charles asks members of Royal Family to wear black armbands for the event
- Hilarious pics show George laughing with Louis in carriage
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis followed the King and Queen at the start of the procession, with other coaches carrying the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Riding behind the King were the royal colonels wearing black armbands.
The Royal Procession was accompanied by the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the sounds of the Band of the Household Cavalry, led by two shire drum horses bearing solid silver kettle drums.
Louis, Charlotte and George later watched from the balcony as their mum and dad participated in the King’s birthday.
Kate took her place next to the King and Queen on the dais, in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards.
This is a symbolic position and one she was unable to take up last year because she was receiving cancer treatment.
The monarch is still undergoing his weekly treatments for cancer so is not on horseback this year.
The Queen sported a white silk crepe dress with silver embroidery by Anna Valentine, a hat by Philip Treacy, and a Grenadier Guards brooch.
Radiant Kate stunned in a dress coat by Catherine Walker, a hat by Juliette Botterill, an Irish Guards Regimental Brooch, and the late Queen’s earrings.
Charlotte wore the same brooch on her blue dress as the one she wore to the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.
King Charles asked royals to wear black armbands in remembrance of those killed in the Air India plane tragedy.
Those wearing the bands were the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Scots Guards.
A palace spokesperson said this is “a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy”.
There was also a minute’s silence at the event following Thursday’s devastating crash which killed at least 241 people.
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 in a decision taken by Queen Elizabeth II.
Trooping the Colour is as much a social occasion as a ceremonial celebration of the King’s official birthday.
The stands around Horse Guards Parade were filled with around 8,000 wives, girlfriends and the parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.
This year is Charles’ third Trooping the Colour parade as monarch.
The parade began at Buckingham Palace, going along The Mall and then around the corner of St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade.
The King’s first duty was to inspect the troops and he was followed by the royal colonels, William, Anne and Edward, as he travelled in a carriage with the Queen, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, past the servicemen.
A minute’s silence was observed when Charles and Camilla returned to the dais, following an announcement to the spectators and a bugler sounding the Last Post.
Camilla is becoming more comfortable in her role as Queen
She said: “The open carriages and the glorious sunshine showed the royals using body language that suggested the worries and clouds of the rifts and health scares are nearly a thing of the past.
“Kate beamed at Charlotte in look of mutual celebration as though to say ‘We did it!’
“With Louis and George now almost totally into an era of well-drilled behaviour Charlotte was almost excused prefect duties apart from ushering an enthusiastically-waving Louis off the balcony at the end of the fly-past.
“Camilla looked more relaxed than usual, chatting happily to Charles and glancing around the balcony as though sliding more comfortably into her role as Queen and family host or leader.”
Commenting on the laughter between Kate and her kids as they rode in the carriage, she added: “This laughter and relaxed sense of fun looks like a victory ritual, which is a mutual celebration, often among a team, for a job well done.
“This is the outing where all the children came of age in terms of royal behaviour. Louis became an avid fan of the royal wave, showing his links with the public remain strong whether he’s entertaining them with his playful antics or adopting a more formal approach as he did today.”
During the pageantry, the Colour was first trooped through the ranks of soldiers before the guardsmen marched past the King, first in slow then in quick time, with Charles acknowledging the command of “eyes right”.
Kate and Camilla stood either side of the King and briefly bowed their heads while Charles saluted as the servicemen marched past.
When Charles arrived at the Horse Guards Parade, the Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41 gun salute in Green Park.
The Coldstream Guards were on display for the world to see, dressed in full military regalia, alongside a huge number of supporting staff.
It is the first time the Coldstream Guards have trooped their colour in front of the King, as the honour rotates between five regiments of the Foot Guards.
The King yesterday presented new Colours to the regiment to mark its 375th anniversary.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted on X this morning: “Sending my best wishes to His Majesty The King today at Trooping the Colour.
“God Save The King.”
Notably, the King’s youngest son and his family are not present today.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited last year either.
The late Queen used to invite the extended Royal Family onto the balcony, but this was later changed so that only working royals are allowed.
Trooping the Colour ceremony
Charles’ official birthday was marked with a display of military pomp and pageantry.
But at the King’s request the event acknowledged the aviation disaster that claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew, including more than 50 British nationals, as well as around 30 people on the ground.
Over 1,400 officers and soldiers, 400 musicians, 200 horses and 10 bands are taking part in the Trooping the Colour event.
The parade today takes place almost five months before King Charles’ actual birthday.
Charles was born on November 14, though the reigning British monarch has two birthdays.
The sovereign’s birthday, which is celebrated through the Trooping the Colour, usually falls in the summer months.
Trooping the Colour dates back to the 17th Century, when it was first held by King Charles II.
The ceremony takes its name from each regiment showing off their battle colours, which made them easier to identify when at war.
