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When you’re a King you need a birthday celebration that is truly fit for one and that is exactly what Charles III will get at Trooping the Colour 2025.
The annual parade to mark the monarch’s birthday is one of the most highly anticipated events on the royal calendar and it is easy to see why.
Trooping the Colour is still one of the few occasions that shows off all of the pomp and pageantry that we associate with royal life.
Here is everything you need to know about Trooping the Colour in 2025 and scroll below to see the best pictures from this year.
What is the purpose of Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour is a royal tradition that dates back to 1748 when it was first performed during the reign of Charles II.
It is held in June each year to officially mark the sovereign’s birthday, even though King Charles was born on November 14, as later in the year is considered far too cold.
The parade’s origins trace back to the battlefield, when an army regiments’ flags, which are called “colours,” signaled a rallying point for soldiers,
Today, Trooping the Colour is an epic military procession, that sees the might of the British military come out on parade to honour its Commander-In-Chief.
What royals will be at Trooping the Colour in 2025?
As the person being celebrated who will take the salute and inspect the troops, King Charles attended Trooping the Colour with Queen Camilla beside him.
Members of the royal family traveled by horse-drawn carriage or on horseback from Buckingham Palace down The Mall in London to Horse Guards Parade at St. James’ Park, before returning appear on the balcony of the palace.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended, along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
While still undergoing chemo in 2024, Princess Catherine made her first public appearance since sharing her cancer diagnosis at last year’s parade.
While the bulk of the extended royal family would appear on the balcony during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, since Charles became King in late 2022, he has invited only working members of the royal family along with their children.
In line with that, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne, will also take part in the parade and gather on the balcony afterward to watch the RAF flypast.
Minor members of the family are invited to join the festivities inside the palace, and watch the planes from a hidden balcony within an internal courtyard.
When is Trooping the Colour in 2025?
In 2025, Trooping the Colour was held on Saturday, June 14.
The festivities take a little under two hours from the time the royals set out.
It kicks off at 10.30am GMT which is 7.30pm AEST, and is set to conclude finish at 9.25pm AEST. The fly-past by the RAF will take place at 1pm GMT (10pm AEST).
In 2025, the Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards trooped their colours for the monarch.
See the best pictures from Trooping the Colour in 2025
Kate paid tribute to Diana
In her new teal coatdress while attending Trooping the Colour, Princess Catherine looked very familiar.
That’s because the outfit has been compared to one worn by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, at the same event in 1988.
Both of the outfits were made by Catherine Walker and feature contrasting cuffs and accents.
Each saw the Princess of Wales match with their second child, in Diana’s case Prince Harry, while Kate and Princess Charlotte co-ordinated.
Kate- and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex- have both worn outfits that are reminiscent of Diana since marrying into the royal family.
The custom is seen as a way that Kate can honour the legacy of Diana through her sartorial choices,
Kate also wore the Bahrain Pearl Earrings, which belonged to Queen Elizabeth II and were previously worn by Diana too.
Cheeky Prince Louis stole the show
Prince Louis’ cheeky antics at public occasions get him a lot of attention and Trooping the Colour was no different.
After a carriage procession down the mall, the 7-year-old joined his family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Thanks to an enthusiastic cheer that rang out through the crowd each time the prince waved, Louis got a little enthusiastic and continued the practice as the rest of the family stood with their hands by their sides.
After noticing, older brother Prince George was quick to give Louis a little nudge on the other arm to signal that he should stop.
Prince William rode on horseback
If you wondered why Prince WIlliam was missing from the carriage ride with his wife and children, there is a very good reason.
The Prince of Williams rode on horseback at Trooping the Colour with his aunt and uncle, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
As the honourary colonel of the Welsh guards, William wore their red uniform along with a leek symbol on the neckline and a traditional bearskin hat with the red and green plume of the regiment.
The prince was also seen still sporting his beard, something that became a major source of contention when Harry did the same in 2018, however the army dress standards have since been relaxed to allow for facial hair which wasn’t approved seven years ago.
King Charles rode in a carriage
For the third Trooping the Colour that has honoured Charles’ birthday since be became King, the sovereign chose to join the procession in a carriage.
The King joined his wife, Queen Camilla, for the journey.
Charles rode in a carriage last year as well, after it was revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer, however he rode on horseback in 2023.
After the procession, Charles took the salute and inspected the troops on parade, before returning to Buckingham Palace to join his family on the balcony.
The RAF flypast goes green
The Raf flypast down the mall over Buckingham Palace is a spectacular sight not to be missed to close off the Trooping the Colour celebrations.
However, this year Red Arrows flypast was a first with the planes using a 40 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel.
With King Charles being a known environmentalist, the change was said to have left his “absoultey delighted.
And that’s probably the best birthday present he could have asked for!
