As London prepares for the King’s birthday parade this Saturday (June 14), many are remembering a touching moment from last year when King Charles broke royal protocol for a heartfelt reason.
Thousands of people are expected to line the Mall to celebrate the start of King Charles’ birthday festivities this weekend.
The annual event typically kicks off with a grand military parade, followed by the iconic appearance of the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony and the much-anticipated RAF flypast.
Known as Trooping the Colour, this tradition has marked the official birthday of the reigning monarch for over 260 years. It’s a major spectacle involving intricate planning and coordination.
According to the official Royal website, over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians participated in the event. On Saturday, the royal procession is scheduled to depart Buckingham Palace around 10 a.m., with the flypast taking place at 1 p.m.
Although the festivities mark the King’s “official” birthday, his actual date of birth is November 14.
This year marks King Charles’ third time attending Trooping the Colour as monarch. However, it was last year’s parade that stood out to many royal watchers, largely due to an unexpected yet meaningful break from tradition.
At the time, there was uncertainty about whether the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, would be present, as she had been undergoing can/cer treatment earlier in 2024.
Yet during the RAF flypast, she appeared by the King’s side on the balcony, not next to her husband, Prince William, as protocol would typically dictate.
