Trooping the Colour is a parade dedicated to the current Monarch’s birthday, meaning it is now for King Charles. This day involves a huge military parade down The Mall and a flypast over Buckingham Palace.
Discover our latest podcast
Last year’s parade saw little Prince Louis get up to mischief as he pulled a number of funny faces, will the same happen again this year?
This year, King Charles has decided to bring back a tradition that hasn’t been done in 37 years. The late Queen Elizabeth used to take part in this tradition until she decided to stop for a special reason. So what is the new King bringing back?
King Charles will be riding horseback
On Saturday, June, 17 the UK will have its first Trooping the Colour without the late Queen Elizabeth. Instead of celebrating her birthday, it will now be in honour of King Charles’ birthday.
last years trooping the colour, the last with our late Queen. Let’s hope that His Majesty King Charles and Her Majesty Queen Camilla do Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh proud this year ♡. pic.twitter.com/2vsG9J0KYJ
— L. (@louroyalwatcher) June 12, 2023
Most of the parade will be like the previous ones, with the main Royals riding in horse-drawn carriages up The Mall. However, this year, King Charles will not be in a carriage, instead, he will be riding horseback just like his son Prince William and most likely Princess Anne, who rode horseback for her brother’s coronation.
Read more:
⋙ Queen Camilla: The little-known title Her Majesty will receive when King Charles dies
⋙ Lady Louise: Royal expert believes she could be key in helping King Charles and monarchy
⋙ King Charles and Kate Middleton allegedly clash over her children's roles in the Royal Family
A Monarch hasn’t ridden horseback since 1986
As reported by Mirror, a Monarch hasn’t ridden horseback during the Trooping the Colour parade since 1986, which was performed by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth II received a black Police Service Horse (PSH) mare, Burmese, gifted by by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and ridden by the Queen for Trooping the Colour for 18 consecutive years, from 1969 to 1986.
— 🌻Sarahsecret (@sarahdiaryz) March 12, 2023
What was Her Late Majesty's favourite horse?
Burmese. pic.twitter.com/8Zu39JaVFe
Queen Elizabeth used to ride a particular horse, called Burmese, however, when her beloved horse retired, she decided she wouldn’t train a new steed and would be riding in a horse-drawn carriage from then on out.
Prince Philip also rode horseback during the parade until 2003, when he decided it was time to stop and rode in a carriage beside his wife, Queen Elizabeth.
Sources used:
Mirror: ‘King Charles makes major change as he prepares for first Trooping the Colour as monarch’
People: ‘King Charles Is Bringing Back a Trooping the Colour Tradition Not Seen Since 1986’
