The Royal Family have highlighted their close bond in heartwarming behind-the-scenes footage from Trooping the Colour today.
King Charles led a slimmed-down contingent of senior royals, including Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales, on the Buckingham Palace balcony as London was painted red, white and royal blue to mark the monarch’s official birthday.
Shortly after the spectacular Red Arrows flypast rounded out the celebrations, Prince William and Catherine shared an intimate video of the family laughing and larking about to mark the joyous occasion on Instagram.
Typically stoic Anne, 75, was captured in fits of laughter while Charles appeared delighted by something his daughter-in-law Catherine said, as the video was captioned: ‘All set for The King’s Birthday Parade!’
Prince William, 43, who joined the procession on horseback, could be heard asking an aide ‘How are you?’ before mounting his horse, Darby.
The future King confirmed he was also feeling ‘good’ ahead of the parade, before the clip cut to his children, Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 11, enjoying their carriage ride.
Other sweet moments included King Charles and Camilla’s lighthearted conversation moments before departing for Horse Guards Parade and well-wishers, wearing T-shirts with the Union Jack flag printed on them, waving excitedly for the cameras.
‘Beautiful family,’ one Instagram user commented, while a royal fan who travelled to The Mall said it was ‘such a delight’ to see them in person.
Typically stoic Anne, 75, was captured in fits of laughter in behind-the-scenes footage from Trooping the Colour today
The Princess of Wales, 44, looked ethereal in a sky blue Catherine Walker coat dress
The Prince of Wales smiling as he stands with Prince George and Prince Louis
King Charles and Queen Camilla joined senior royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Trooping the Colour parade to celebrate the monarch’s official birthday.
Standing by His Majesty’s side was the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were accompanied by their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
Alongside the Waleses was the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, 90, whose wife the Duchess of Kent died in September 2025, also made an appearance on the balcony for the Red Arrows flypast after missing the royal carriage procession.
Trooping the Colour was once an affair that saw the palace balcony brimming with at least 44 royals as more distant relatives were invited.
But over the last few years, only working royals – and the Waleses’ children – have attended the event in line with the King’s slimmed-down monarchy approach.
Earlier in the day, the royals attended the monarch’s official birthday at Horse Guards Parade in London as throngs of fans flocked to The Mall to witness the stunning display of military pomp and pageantry.
Kate, 44, putting on a typically elegant display in a Catherine Walker light blue and white coat dress and a matching Philip Treacy hat, was sat next to her youngest Louis, eight, when travelling in the royal carriage procession.
King Charles and Queen Camilla captured during a lighthearted conversation before leaving for Horse Guards Parade in a royal carriage
Charles looking completely engrossed during a conversation with his daughter-in-law Catherine
The Prince of Wales atop his horse Darby
Royal fans carrying the Union Jack flag waving for the cameras
From left to right: Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis
Prince William pointing up at the sky as Red Arrow jets fly over Buckingham Palace
Over the last few years, only working royals – and the Waleses’ children – have attended the event in line with the King’s slimmed-down monarchy approach
Prince William smiling at his son, Prince Louis, eight, as Charlotte watches the flypast
King Charles smiles at the crowds as all three Wales children join Kate in waving at royal fans gathered outside the gates of Buckingham Palace
Louis put on a very animated display – who has come to be known for his cheeky antics at royal events
Future heir to the throne George exchanging a smile with the Princess of Wales
Charlotte, 11, and George, 12, looking smart in a suit and a tie that matched his mother’s ensemble, were placed opposite the pair in the open-top coach.
The King, meanwhile, wore his military uniform, with Queen Camilla wearing a red silk crepe Grenadier Guards uniform dress, designed by Fiona Clare, as the two travelled from Buckingham Palace to the parade grounds.
It was a family affair for the Firm as the Prince of Wales rode on horseback while wearing the Full Ceremonial Order of the Welsh Guards. He was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal as they flashed a salute on their way to Buckingham Palace.
Highlighting the strong bond between Kate and her children, they were all dressed in complementary outfits – from George and Louis’s ties that were the exact shade of Kate’s dress to Charlotte’s printed cream dress with hints of blue.
Known for his cheeky antics, Louis flashed his gap-toothed smile at the crowds that eagerly held up their phones to try to snap a picture of the Royal Family during a spectacular display of military pomp and regalia.
The future heir to the throne, George, 12, was confident as he waved at well-wishers while seemingly joking and chatting with his younger sister, Charlotte.
Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskin caps delivered a display of precision marching on Horse Guards Parade, honed over weeks of practice and part of their ceremonial duties when not fighting soldiers.
Prince Edward (on the far right), the Duke of Kent, 90, whose wife the Duchess of Kent died in September 2025, also made an appearance on the balcony
Camilla wore a red silk crepe Grenadier Guards uniform dress, designed by Fiona Clare, as she joined Charles in greeting thousands of fans who watched the ceremony
The Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of Gloucester on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Louis pulled funny faces as he watched today’s flypast, while his older brother George seemed momentarily distracted
A rare sighting of the Duke of Kent (on the right) while Louis sits next to Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, moments before the Royal Family’s balcony appearance
Louis and Charlotte peeking out of a window at Buckingham Palace
The national celebration is one of the highlights of the royal calendar, and features the Royal Family assembled on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the traditional flypast of RAF aircraft.
The colour – regimental flag – trooped this year was the King’s Colour of the Grenadier Guards.
Charles presented the new colour to the regiment during a ceremony in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on June 9.
The Grenadier Guards were raised in 1656 in Bruges, Belgium, by the exiled King Charles II to protect him during the period Oliver Cromwell ruled England.
Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, visited his King’s Company at their barracks in Aldershot on the eve of Trooping and wished them ‘great success’ for the big day.
He told the company: ‘Since Easter you’ve been practising rigidly and I can hear from Buckingham Palace the sound of the drums thumping away regularly so I know you’re all marching up and down trying to get ready for the parade.’
The King went on to say: ‘…ever since the last 370 years of your existence you have made us all in this country so incredibly proud of your effort, your service and your sacrifice over all those years and I feel very proud and privileged to be here.’
The King’s Birthday Parade this year comes exactly one week after the royals gathered in Kemble, Gloucestershire, for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s ‘intimate’ wedding.
Catherine looked the picture of poise as she arrived at All Saints Church in a Roland Mouret £750 dress and Jane Taylor hat, alongside her husband William, 43.
The future Queen was met with the sounds of cheers from crowds of well-wishers who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal guests.
George and Charlotte on the carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade
Highlighting the strong bond between Kate and her children, they were all dressed in complementary outfits
Little Louis looking serious during today’s royal outing
Kate donned a pair of floral pearl earrings to complete her ensemble
Kate stroking Louis’s hair as the carriage returned to Buckingham Palace
Princess Charlotte running to catch up with her brothers and father, Prince William, before they joined the King on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Kate put her best foot forward as the princess gracefully walked back inside the palace
Camilla, 78, stepping off the carriage
The Prince of Wales rode on horseback while wearing the Full Ceremonial Order of the Welsh Guards
The future Queen beamed as she joined the parade in an open-top royal carriage
Kate’s regal wave as she flashes her famous sapphire engagement ring
Like mother, like Louis! Kate and her eight-year-old look towards the crowds at The Mall
Prince George has perfected his regal wave
Kate looked typically elegant as she greeted well-wishers with a smile
Kate was all smiles during the parade, alongside a more serious-looking Louis
Prince George during today’s procession
Kate and Louis smiling at members of the public, who waited eagerly for a glimpse of the royals
The future Queen with her three children, Prince Louis (next to Kate), and Prince George and Princess Charlotte sat opposite
The King smiling at Kate during today’s parade
Charlotte, who recently turned 11, was poised as she smiled gracefully at royal fans
George looked dapper in a smart suit and blue tie, which matched his mother, the Princess of Wales’s ensemble
Charlotte, who loves to wear bows in her hair, accessorised her printed cream dress with the accessory
Prince Louis looking up at Kate during their carriage ride to Buckingham Palace
The King during today’s parade as it left Buckingham Palace
The youngest Wales child, Louis, eight, flashing his gap-toothed grin
Prince William put on a dapper display in his military outfits
From left to right: The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal
The Duchess of Edinburgh alongside Princess Anne’s husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence
Sophie smiling during the procession
The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for Trooping the Colour
Kate looked typically stunning in a blue and white ensemble as she arrived for the occasion
The Princess completed her elegant look with a pair of floral pearl earrings
The Princess of Wales travelled to Horse Guards Parade with the Prince of Wales, Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Trooping the Colour is a military ceremony that dates back to the 18th century and is one of the most high-profile royal events of the year.
It is rooted in battlefield custom, when regimental flags, or ‘colours,’ were trooped in front of soldiers to ensure they could be recognised amid the smoke of combat.
The honour of trooping the Colour today fell to the Grenadier Guards, the British Army’s most senior infantry regiment, which is celebrating its 370th anniversary.
This year marks the fourth Trooping the Colour of His Majesty’s reign, after the death of Queen Elizabeth on September 8, 2022.
Charles attended his first Trooping the Colour in 1951, aged three, riding in a carriage with his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and his aunt, Princess Margaret.
The King first rode in the parade as Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 1975.
Sophie opted to wear a chic cream ensemble with a matching hat as she accessorised the outfit with a diamond brooch
The Duke of Gloucester and his wife Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, ride in an open-top carriage
Prime Minister Keir Starmer with his wife Victoria
Crowds held up their phones ahead of the Royal Family departing Buckingham Palace
Musicians from the Massed Bands of the Household Division parade during Trooping the Colour
The Colours being trooped today were presented to The Regiment by The King in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, June 9.
Trooping the Colour was once the largest public gathering of royals of the year, with more than 40 members of the Firm jostling for position on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the flypast.
Now, the sparse group is made up of working royals only, including the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
They were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent, now the oldest working royal at the age of 90, while the King’s estranged son, Montecito-based Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, were notably absent.
The daughters of disgraced former prince Andrew, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie did not attend today’s Trooping the Colour, which they last attended in 2022.
They were last seen on the palace balcony with the late Queen Elizabeth in 2019, after they arrived at the Horse Guards Parade riding in an open-top carriage accompanied by Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Prince Edward.
