King Charles’ first official birthday parade confirmed for next year
The date of the King’s first official birthday parade has been confirmed for next summer, with the Queen Consort and other members of the family stepping up for military ceremonial roles.
King Charles will continue the tradition of having a summer Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and it will be held on 17 June in central London. His actual birthday is on 14 November.
The display of military pageantry involving the Regiments of the Household Division takes place on Horse Guards Parade, along the Mall and in front of Buckingham Palace.
The monarch is Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiments of the Household Division but the palace has announced that other female members of the family are taking on new roles as colonels for some of the regiments.
Camilla gains the ceremonial post of Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. The title was taken from Prince Andrew and returned to the late Queen when he was stripped of his royal titles earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales will become Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role previously held by her husband Prince William, who will take the Colonel of the Welsh Guards title from his father.
There will be no change to the existing colonelcies of the other regiments within the Household Division, the Palace said.
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The King and the Prince of Wales will ride on horseback during Trooping the Colour, while other members of the Royal Family, including the Princess of Wales and the Queen Consort, will watch from carriages and the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Trooping has marked the monarch’s official birthday for more than 260 years with over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians taking part.
This year’s event will come just weeks after the King’s coronation which is due to be held on 6 May.