Trooping the Colour live updates: Prince William to play starring role as senior royals including Kate Middleton celebrate King Charles' official birthday

By CIARAN FOREMAN

Published: 08:46 BST, 14 June 2025 | Updated: 09:13 BST, 14 June 2025

Trooping the Colour – the military ceremony celebrating King Charles’ official birthday – takes place on London’s Horse Guards Parade this morning.

Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the parade which is traditionally followed by the annual RAF flypast and the Royal Family’s iconic balcony appearance.

King Charles, who will mark his third event as monarch, will likely travel in a carriage for the procession from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade while he receives weekly treatment for cancer.

Prince William is poised to play a starring role this year as he rides on horseback along with fellow royals Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh also expected to be mounted.

Live updates below

Which regiment are Trooping their Colour this year?

By Harry Howard, History Editor

The honour to Troop their Colour rotates between five regiments of the Foot Guards.

This year it is the turn of Number Seven Company of the Coldstream Guards.

It will mark the first time that the Coldstream Guards have trooped their colour in front of the King.

And it is fitting given that His Majesty presented new Colours to the Coldstream Guards only yesterday to mark the regiment’s 375th anniversary.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: Soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Battalion (Number 7 Company) the Coldstream Guards display the King's Colour at Windsor Castle on June 14, 2025 in Windsor, England. One of the new Colours will be carried by Number 7 Company in the Trooping of the Colour at The King's Birthday Parade in London on Saturday. (Photo by Henry Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Pictured: The Mall decked out in Union flags, the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle – and Charles with a big smile on his face

Some fantastic images are coming into us now as things begin falling into place for today’s celebrations.

First up we’ve got The Mall decked out in Union flags, followed by some extraordinary pictures of The Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle.

Then we’ve got some images of King Charles looking joyous as he inspects the Guards as they line up in west London.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock (15355823c) The Mall decked out in Union flags ahead of Trroping the Colour celebrations on 14 June Seasonal Weather, London, United Kingdom - 13 Jun 2025

Members of The Coldstream Guards march during ceremony to present new Colours to the 1st and 2nd Battalion (Number 7 Company) the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle, west of London, on June 13, 2025. One of the new Colours will be carried by Number 7 Company in the Trooping of the Colour at The King's Birthday Parade in London on Saturday June 14, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Britain's King Charles III, Colonel in Chief of the Coldstream Guards inspects the regiment during a ceremony where he presents new Colours to the 1st and 2nd Battalion (Number 7 Company) the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle, west of London, on June 13, 2025. One of the new Colours will be carried by Number 7 Company in the Trooping of the Colour at The King's Birthday Parade in London on Saturday June 14, 2025. HENRY NICHOLLS/Pool via REUTERS

What is Trooping the Colour?

Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years.

It was decided in 1748 that the parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the monarch and became an annual event after King George III acceded to the throne in 1760.

Over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each year in a display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark the occasion.

Thousands of spectators line the streets to watch the parade which is traditionally followed by the annual RAF flypast and the Roya Family’s iconic balcony appearance.

The streets are lined with crowds waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.

The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace balcony.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave alongside Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince George of Wales on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

King Charles orders royals to wear black armbands for Trooping the Colour as mark of respect for Air India crash victims

King Charles has ordered royals to wear black armbands in rememberance of those killed in the Air India plane crash for Trooping the Colour today.

The monarch has requested a minute’s silence in tribute to the 241 passengers and crew killed when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down on Thursday in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.

Black armbands will be worn by the head of state and senior royals riding in the ceremony to mark the King’s official birthday.

The King issued a written message soon after the plane crash saying he was ‘desperately shocked by the terrible events’ and expressed his ‘deepest possible sympathy’.

Welcome to MailOnline’s Trooping the Colour LIVE Coverage

Welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of Trooping the Colour.

Anticipation is building as the military ceremony celebrating King Charles’ official birthday takes place on London’s Horse Guards Parade this morning.

Thousands of spectators are expected to watch the parade which is traditionally followed by the annual RAF flypast and the Roya Family’s iconic balcony appearance.

Troops are expected to form up on Horse Guards Parade from around 9.15am today.

So, stick with us and we’ll bring you the latest as it happens.