The Royal Family turned out in style for this year’s Trooping the Colour celebrations in London, with Princess Kate making a striking appearance alongside King Charles, Prince William and the Wales children.
The Princess of Wales, 44, looked elegant in a powder blue Catherine Walker coat dress with white detailing, paired with a matching Philip Treacy hat. Travelling in the royal carriage procession, Kate sat beside her youngest son, Prince Louis, eight, while Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 11, sat opposite.
George looked particularly smart in a dark suit and a blue tie that perfectly complemented his mother’s outfit, while Louis charmed royal fans with his trademark gap-toothed smile during the procession along The Mall.
King Charles, dressed in military uniform, rode in a carriage with Queen Camilla, who wore a red silk crepe Grenadier Guards-inspired dress designed by Fiona Clare. Prince William, serving as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, took part in the parade on horseback alongside Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Thousands of spectators lined Whitehall and The Mall to witness one of the most cherished events in the royal calendar, which celebrates the monarch’s official birthday and showcases some of Britain’s most distinguished regiments.
Later in the day, members of the Royal Family were expected to gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the traditional RAF flypast — a moment that has become one of the highlights of the annual celebration.
This year’s Trooping the Colour featured the King’s Colour of the Grenadier Guards, which had been presented by King Charles earlier in the week.
On the eve of the parade, the King visited the Grenadier Guards and praised their dedication.
“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,” he told the company.
Charles added: “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 celebration came just one week after senior royals gathered for Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling’s wedding in Gloucestershire, with the Princess of Wales once again attracting huge attention from well-wishers.
