Summary

  • King Charles is inspecting soldiers and military personnel at Trooping the Colour - watch live above

  • The annual event marks the sovereign's official birthday - thousands have lined the streets to see the royals

  • The King wears the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, the regiment trooping the colour today - Queen Camilla wears a red, silk crepe uniform dress

  • The colour is carried through the ranks of foot guards and is being marched past the King

  • Later, the King will be joined by members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for a Red Arrows flypast

  1. Friends turn out to celebrate 'wonderful' Royal Familypublished at 11:43 BST

    Friends Emma McCarthy, from Swindon, and Sarah Fuller, from New Malden, are watching Trooping the Colour on The Mall.

    Emma says the spectacle is one of her favourite days of the year.

    "It is a day to celebrate our wonderful Royal Family, and the highlight is seeing the Wales children on the balcony.

    "We come every year and stand in the same spot."

    Friends Emma (left) and Sarah (right)Image source, Supplied
  2. King watches Trooping the Colour ceremonypublished at 11:37 BST

    The King looks towards the Queen during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The Princess of Wales can be seen sitting behind himImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The King looks towards the Queen during Trooping the Colour

    Troops stand on display in their red uniforms and bearskin hats as they take part in the Trooping the Colour. They are seen holding their riflesImage source, Reuters

    The Trooping the Colour ceremony is in full swing at Horseguards Parade, with the King and prime minister among those watching on.

    The bands have been on full display, carefully keeping formation as they change direction, all while simultaneously playing their drums and horns.

    A slow march has also been taking place across the square as the colour is handed over to an escort, who then parades it through the ranks.

    Some of the guards have been standing still for 51 minutes as the ceremony takes place.

    Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer sit in the crowd during the Trooping the Colour ceremonyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer

  3. Colour trooped through regimentpublished at 11:30 BST

    Foot guards of the Grenadier Guards stand as a flag is carried passed them

    The colour, or flag, of the Grenadier Guards regiment is being trooped (carried) through the ranks of foot guards.

    Next, the foot guards will march past the King followed by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry.

    The King will then lead his guards back to Buckingham Palace, where a further salute will take place before the troops return to barracks.

  4. Eight-year-old Sophie is 'loving the ceremony'published at 11:23 BST

    Eight-year-old Sophie Moore, from Letchworth, won a ballot to represent Hertfordshire Brownies at Trooping the Colour today.

    Proud dad Aidan says: "She's so excited to be seeing the King and Royal Family.

    "It's her first experience of marching bands and she is loving the ceremony.

    "If she could meet the King she plans to ask him what kings have for breakfast."

    Eight-year-old Sophie smiling at the camera dressed in Brownies uniform and a busby hat that's covering her eyesImage source, Supplied
  5. Public cheers and waves as troops march pastpublished at 11:15 BST

    Tinshui Yeung
    Live reporter, at The Mall

    The Grenadier Guards match along The Mall holding swords in their red uniforms ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremonyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Grenadier Guards on The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour

    "Gosh there are so many horses!" one woman exclaims to her children next to me.

    As troops and horse-riders march from Buckingham Palace, the public cheers and waves to them.

    Many others simply stay silent and film the action.

    The real winners are those who came prepared, bringing their own stools to stand on.

    "You're not recording," a woman tells a child perched on a man's shoulders.

    The screen of his phone still has a red circle instead of a square.

    The child tries to flip his phone - and it promptly falls on the man's head.

  6. King Charles inspects the troopspublished at 11:12 BST

    The King and Queen travel in a carriage passed lines of soldiers at Horseguards Parade, London.

    The King has been greeted by a royal salute at Horseguards Parade.

    He is now inspecting the troops.

    Then the Trooping the Colour parade will get under way.

  7. The easy-to-spot soldier who carries the flag of the Grenadier Guardspublished at 11:09 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Chief royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    Second Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards, Alec Goschen, has been chosen as The Ensign today - the solider who will carry the colour (the flag) of the Grenadier Guards.

    He is 6ft 7in tall but reaches 8ft 6in when wearing his bearskin.

    He is easy to spot, towering over his fellow soldiers.

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  8. Princess of Wales smiles and waves as royals travel down The Mallpublished at 11:00 BST

    The Princess of Wales smiles as she sits next to her son Prince Louis in a carriage on The MallImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis smile at crowds

    The Princess of Wales is waving to royal watchers alongside her three children in an open carriage along The Mall.

    Catherine is wearing a pale blue jacket designed by Catherine Walker with a hat by Philip Treacy, as well as an Irish Guards brooch.

    Large crowds have gathered to try and catch a glimpse of the Royal Family, with many holding their phones up and waving at the procession.

    Prince George and Princess Charlotte sit in a horse-drawn carriageImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Prince George and Princess Charlotte sit opposite their mother

  9. Prince of Wales rides on horseback alongside Princess Royal and Duke of Edinburghpublished at 10:55 BST

    The Prince of Wales, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne salute and ride on horseback as they head along The MallImage source, EPA/Shutterstock
    Image caption,

    Prince William rides alongside his uncle and aunt, Prince Edward and Princess Anne

    Crowds are being treated to the sight of a royal carriage procession along The Mall.

    The King, Queen and the Princess of Wales, who is joined by her children, are guarded by a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

    But the Prince of Wales is not sitting in the carriage with his family.

    Instead, Prince William is riding in the formation of royal colonels alongside his aunt and uncle - Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, and her brother Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.

    Prince William is travelling on a horse called Darby, Princess Anne is on Noble, and Prince Edward is on Sir John.

  10. King and Queen leave Buckingham Palacepublished at 10:48 BST

    King Charles and Queen Camilla travelling in a horse-drawn carriageImage source, Reuters

    King Charles and Queen Camilla are making their way along The Mall.

    They are travelling in an Ascot Landau carriage, which was purchased during the reign of Queen Victoria.

    The King is wearing the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, which is the regiment trooping the colour today. His uniform features the cypher of Queen Elizabeth II as he was personal aide-de-camp to his mother - the honorary position is only held by members of the Royal Family with military rank.

    The King is also wearing a number of medals - ranging from Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Medal (1953) to the Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022).

    Queen Camilla is wearing a red, silk crepe, grenadier guards uniform dress designed by Fiona Clarke, along with a black beret featuring a white plume and Grenadier Guards cap badge designed by Phillip Treacy, and a grenadier guards brooch.

  11. Royal procession: Who's travelling with who?published at 10:44 BST

    Duchess of Edinburgh and Sir Tim Laurence travel in a carriageImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The Duchess of Edinburgh and Sir Tim Laurence travel in the first carriage

    The first carriage travelling in the procession today is carrying the Duchess of Edinburgh, wife of the Duke of Edinburgh, and Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, husband of the Princess Royal.

    The second carriage includes the Duke of Gloucester, first cousin to Queen Elizabeth II, and his wife, the Duchess of Gloucester.

    Next will be the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh, all on horseback.

    The Princess of Wales will follow in an Ascot Landau carriage.

    Lastly will be King Charles and Queen Camilla, in another Ascot Landau carriage.

    The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester travel in the second carriageImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester travel in the second carriage

  12. Festivities begin on The Mallpublished at 10:37 BST

    Tinshui Yeung
    Live reporter, at The Mall

    Royal watchers hold their phones up as they watch the beginning of Trooping the Colour.Image source, Tinshui Yeung/BBC

    The festivities have begun.

    Troops are marching on The Mall to the sound of military music, while people raise their mobile phones as if saluting the flags and soldiers.

    Children are shouting, with a few lucky ones perched on their parents’ shoulders.

    Some adults have climbed on to the railings for a better view.

    In front of me, two women with Union Jacks around their necks sit quietly and watch.

  13. In pictures: Parade about to get under waypublished at 10:34 BST

    Members of the Household Division march outside Buckingham Palace.Image source, Reuters
    The Prince and Princess of Wales in a car, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte also visible.Image source, Wire Image
    Crowds take photos of a member of the Royal House Artillery riding on horseback during the parade.Image source, Getty Images
    Members of the Household Division march during the Trooping the Colour paradeImage source, Reuters
  14. The BBC's live TV coverage begins - you can watch herepublished at 10:33 BST

    The BBC's live television coverage of Trooping the Colour is getting under way now with correspondents along The Mall and outside Buckingham Palace.

    You can watch all the action on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, or click watch live at the top of this page.

  15. Prince and Princess of Wales arrive at Buckingham Palacepublished at 10:24 BST

    The Prince and Princess of Wales can be seen in a car arriving at Buckingham Palace. The back window is wound down and Princess Catherine is looking out, wearing a blue hat and jacket.Image source, Getty Images

    The Prince and Princess of Wales have been pictured arriving at Buckingham Palace ahead of the parade.

    They are accompanied by their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

  16. Ideal weather for Trooping the Colourpublished at 10:20 BST

    Simon King
    Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

    The weather looks ideal for Trooping the Colour, with lots of sunshine developing in central London through Saturday morning and temperatures rising to 21C.

    Trooping the Colour hasn’t been cancelled due to the weather since 1948 when severe storms were forecast - but never materialised - and so we’ve often seen the parade take place regardless of pouring rain or scorching heat.

    An RAF flypast is more susceptible to weather conditions where cloud, wind and poor visibility can result in certain aircraft not taking part in a scaled-down formation.

    However, weather won’t be a problem for the RAF this year.

  17. Families travel cross-country to see royals and flypastpublished at 10:15 BST

    Tinshui Yeung
    Live reporter, at The Mall

    TIm and his children, one in a push chair, wear union shirts and stand near the barricade to watch the parade.Image source, BBC/Tinshui Yeung
    Image caption,

    Tim and his family have travelled from Leicester for the event

    "It's important to bring him and her and show them what's going on," Tim from Leicester tells me, pointing at his two young children.

    He says that for him, the Royal Family means a lot, and he is glad he can see them today.

    "Historically, they are very important to us," he says. "It's much better than having a president."

    Owen stands behind a barricade at the palace in a beige T-shirt. he is a boy of about 12.Image source, BBC/Tinshui Yeung
    Image caption,

    Owen came with his family from Hertfordshire - he's most excited for the flypast

    Meanwhile, Owen's family from Hertfordshire have also brought him all the way to Buckingham Palace for the event.

    He tells me he is a "big fan" of the Royal Family, but his heart also soars for aviation.

    "I like Spitfires and Lancaster bombers," he says.

    The moment he is most looking forward to - no surprises here - is when the Royal Family appears on the balcony for the flypast.

  18. What's the latest on the King's cancer treatment?published at 10:08 BST

    As a reminder, both the King and the Princess of Wales have received cancer diagnoses in recent years.

    In January last year, Catherine revealed she was in remission after being diagnosed in 2024 and temporarily stepping back from public life.

    Earlier this month, she visited a specialist cancer unit in Manchester and was seen hugging a young mother who had completed her course of chemotherapy.

    King Charles, meanwhile, shared back in December that his treatment would be reducing this year following an early diagnosis and "effective intervention".

    The types of cancer they were diagnosed with have not been publicly revealed.

  19. Fourth official birthday parade for King as monarchpublished at 10:05 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Chief royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    This will be the fourth official birthday parade for the King as monarch.

    He attended his first Trooping the Colour when he was three years old in 1951.

    He no longer takes part on horseback as he did for decades as Prince of Wales.

    The King is now 77 and living with cancer so we will see him today travelling in a carriage with Queen Camilla.

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  20. BBC's first live broadcast of Trooping the Colour was in 1926published at 10:01 BST

    Trooping the Colour will be broadcast live on BBC One from 10:30 BST.

    The ceremony's official website, citing the Radio Times, says the BBC first broadcast the event live on radio in 1926.

    The first live BBC television broadcast of Trooping the Colour was in 1939 and the second in 1947.

    Since 1949, the BBC has broadcast the event annually - with the exception of 1955, when the parade was cancelled due to a railway strike.