Global Courant
King Charles III rode on horseback on Saturday to take part in his first Trooping the Color ceremony as monarch, inspecting hundreds of soldiers and horses in a spectacular annual military display at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
74-year-old Charles, the Commander-in-Chief, received the royal salute and watched as the most prestigious regiments of the British Army paraded to celebrate his official birthday.
It was the first time in more than 30 years that a British monarch had taken part in the ceremony on horseback.
Previously, Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, and the King’s siblings, Prince Edward and Princess Anne, also rode in procession from Buckingham Palace on horseback. All the royals were dressed in red and gold tunics and black bearskin top hats to match the uniforms worn by many of the 1,400 participating soldiers.
Others in the royal family, including Queen Camilla, Kate, the Princess of Wales and her three young children, rode in horse-drawn carriages as thousands of people crowded the Mall, the grand avenue outside Buckingham Palace, to watch the pageantry.
Here are some things to know about the colorful spectacle:
BIRTHDAY PARADE
Trooping the Color is essentially a grand birthday parade in honor of the reigning monarch. The annual ceremony is a tradition that dates back more than 260 years.
Huge crowds flock to the display every June, which begins with a procession of horses, musicians and hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial uniform from Buckingham Palace. The monarch then inspects their troops, including foot and horse guards. Gun salutes and a massive military flypast over the palace typically round off the festivities.
Charles’s actual birthday is November 14, 1948. But British monarchs traditionally celebrate two birthdays – their real and one official – to ensure that public celebrations can take place in warm summer weather.
Charles’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, used to hold the Trooping the Color birthday parade in June, while she celebrated her actual birthday privately with family in April.
“THE COLOR”
The central part of the parade features a battle flag – or the “color” – being displayed and marching past troops and the monarch.
This is a ceremonial reenactment of the way regimental flags were once displayed for soldiers on the battlefield to provide a critical rallying point if they became disoriented or separated from their unit.
The flags were traditionally described as “colors” because they displayed the uniform colors and insignia worn by soldiers of different units.
A different flag is raised every year. This year the “colour” was the king color of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
KING ON HORSE
Saturday was the first time a monarch had ridden a horse at the event since Elizabeth did so in 1986.
The Queen rode her favorite horse, named Burmese, to 18 Trooping the Color ceremonies until the black mare was retired in 1986. Afterward, she decided to use a carriage for the event instead.
Charles also rode horseback for the spectacle last year when, as heir to the throne, he inspected the troops on behalf of his mother. Elizabeth passed away last September at the age of 96.
BONUS MILITARY AIRPLANE
The birthday parade usually reaches its climax when, at the end of the military procession, the royal family line up on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a spectacular flyby.
The Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team, the Red Arrows, usually stun crowds as they fly in formation, leaving behind plumes of red, white and blue vapor trails.
This year’s flyby was even more impressive, as a similar display on Charles’s coronation day in May had to be scaled back due to bad weather. About 70 aircraft took part on Saturday, including Spitfire and Hurricane fighters from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Eighteen Typhoon fighter jets flying in precise formation spelled “CR” – “Charles Rex” – in the sky as the royal family and thousands of spectators cheered.
