In a change from last year, the Princess of Wales watched Trooping the Colour on the parade ground alongside the King and Queen – and royal expert Jennie Bond says it was highly significant

The Princess of Waleses’ subtle change at Trooping the Colour sent a powerful message about her future, according to a royal expert. After enjoying a carriage ride down the Mall with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Kate watched the military parade in a different position this year.

While George, Charlotte and Louis joined other members of the royal family, including the Duchess of Edinburgh in the former office of the Duke of Wellington, Kate took her place next to the King and Queen on the dais, in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards. Her role with the Irish Guards is a symbolic position and her position on the parade ground was one she was unable to take up last year because she was receiving cancer treatment, and instead watched the ceremony with her children.

The Princess of Wales at Trooping the Colour today(Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)

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And for former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, Kate’s position at the parade was highly significant. She told the Mirror : “I also thought it was highly significant to see Catherine on the dais alongside the King and Queen.

“She was there not only as a very senior member of the Royal Family but as Colonel in Chief of the Irish Guards as they marched by. It was a very powerful image of our next Queen alongside her father-in-law who has made no secret of the respect he has for Catherine, especially after the cancer journey they have shared. It certainly gave you the feeling that royal life is pretty much back on track after the scary past 18 months.”

Another change at Trooping this year was the fact that William stood next to his father King Charles on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast. Last year Kate was invited to stand next to His Majesty.

Kate with the children at Horse Guards Parade today(Image: PA)

And Jennie added: “I think the fact that William stood next to his father on the balcony was a signal that things are returning to normal. Last year was an exception, with the Princess of Wales taking on her first public duty since her cancer diagnosis, and I think the King was showing his special support for her by asking her to stand alongside him. But today it was the correct order and, in a way, that was quite reassuring.

“I’m not sure that George enjoyed the long carriage ride quite as much as his siblings, but he came to life as soon as the flypast began. He’s obviously very keen on aircraft and has already had a flying lesson.

“I thought William, and particularly Catherine, were very careful to watch over the children, tell them what was happening next and make sure there were no embarrassing moments. And there weren’t. Everyone was on their best behaviour and, in the glorious sunshine, it was a treat for the huge crowds who turned out to see the pageantry and the Royal Family on parade.”

She continued: “It was genuinely joyful to see Catherine looking so well, so dazzlingly elegant and so happy with her children in the carriage.

Prince William stood shoulder-to-shoulder with his father on the balcony alongside his family (Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

“Ever the mum, she put a reassuring hand on Charlotte’s knee as the carriage rolled down the Mall from the Palace. But the young Princess also looked full of confidence and smiles, she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the parade.

“Louis was on his best behaviour and George looked rather serious. He seemed rather like a young lad who was thinking ‘been here, done it, got the T-shirt!’

“But he has a whole life of this sort of thing ahead of him, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy it all the more when he’s on horseback escorting his father, or indeed, heading up the parade himself.”