Everything you need to know about King Charles III’s Trooping the Color Parade

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An early birthday party! King Charles III‘s first Trooping the Color takes place five months before his 75th birthday.

The former Prince of Wales unveiled initial plans for his first Trooping the Color as monarch in December 2022, revealing that the celebration will take place on June 17, 2023. The parade traditionally marks the British sovereign’s official birthday, but in the event of Charles, the day falls months away from the actual date, which is November 14.

His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, also held her respective parade on a different date than her actual birthday. The late monarch’s birthday was in April, but her Trooping the Color was

The origins of the parade date back to the 17th century, while the tradition of marking the sovereign’s birthday with the parade began in 1748 during the reign of King George II. During Elizabeth’s reign, more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians took part in the event, which followed a route from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back again. At the end of the parade, the Royal Family gathers on the palace balcony to watch a Royal Air Force fly-past.

The Queen’s final Trooping the Color took place on her Platinum Jubilee, commemorating her 70 years on the throne. Several members of the royal family joined her on the balcony to watch the flypast, including Charles, Queen Camilla, prince william And Princess Kate. The Queen’s great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were also in attendance.

For Charles’ upcoming parade, 500 soldiers, 300 horses and 400 musicians will take part in the historic celebration. The King’s first Trooping the Color comes six weeks after his historic coronation. While Charles was crowned the new monarch immediately after his mother’s death in September 2022, his official coronation took place on May 6.

Less than a week before the scheduled date of Trooping the Color, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles will ride on horseback in his upcoming birthday parade – a tradition not done for three decades. Queen Elizabeth last rode in the procession in 1986 and chose to ride in a carriage in subsequent years.

During a rehearsal for the parade, the Prince of Wales was seen on horseback leading the formal assessment of the Welsh Guards for the first time as he serves as the regiment’s colonel.

Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about Charles’ first Trooping the Color: