Trooping the Colour 2026: Royals gather on Buckingham Palace balcony for Red Arrows flypast as crowds cheer

The royal family gathered on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a spectacular Red Arrows flypast and greet well-wishers as the nation celebrated the King’s official birthday.

The annual Trooping the Colour ceremony drew thousands of spectators to The Mall as a day of pomp and pageantry brought together the country’s most famous military regiments to mark Charles’ anniversary.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were all smiles with their children as the flypast took place following the parade.

Left to right: The Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, Prince George, and Prince Louis watch the flypast (PA)

Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, appeared visibly excited, chatting with their parents, William and Kate, throughout the display.

After the flypast, members of the royal family waved to wellwishers from the Buckingham Palace balcony and were met with loud cheers.

However, chants of “not my King” could be heard during the flypast as protesters from campaign group Republic gathered in the crowds.

Earlier, crowds were treated to the sight of a royal carriage procession along the famous route as the King, Queen and the Princess of Wales, joined by her children, were guarded by a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Saturday’s spectacular Red Arrows flypast over central London on Saturday (AFP via Getty Images)

Kate, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore a blue outfit by Catherine Walker, paired with a hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards brooch.

The Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence travelled together ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the Trooping the Colour carriage procession, with all four seen smiling and waving to the crowds gathered along the route.

The King and Queen followed in their own carriage, with Charles wearing the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, while Camilla wore a red silk crepe guards-inspired dress by Fiona Clare.

Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace (PA)

Riding in the formation were the royal colonels – the Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards; the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Edinburgh as Colonel of the Scots Guards.

William rode Darby, Anne was on Noble, while Edward’s horse was called Sir John.

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.

The national celebration is one of the highlights of the royal calendar and featured the royal family assembled on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the traditional fly-past of RAF aircraft.

The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis in the Ascot Landau carriage travelling to the Trooping the Colour (PA)

The colour – regimental flag – being trooped this year is the King’s Colour of the Grenadier Guards presented by the King earlier this week during a Buckingham Palace ceremony and it was being escorted during Saturday’s spectacle by guardsmen from the King’s Company.

The new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis was among the spectators with other senior cabinet members, including the Prime Minister, after his predecessor John Healey quit on Thursday over a dispute about long-term funding for the military.

The Grenadier Guards were raised in 1656 in Bruges, Belgium, by the exiled King Charles II to protect him during the period Olive Cromwell ruled England.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla being escorted to the Trooping the Colour ceremony (PA)

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.”

Earlier on Saturday, police told anti-monarchy protesters they must stay in a designated area on The Mall during the Colour ceremony until officers and stewards allow the public to proceed down the route.

Republic demonstrators were also instructed not to display flags or use noise-making equipment until people are allowed to move forward.

The Metropolitan Police said the restrictions were intended to ensure the event “passes off without serious disruption and with minimal disturbance to horses”.

Grenadier Guards marching down The Mall towards the Horse Guards ahead of the Trooping the Colour ceremony (PA)

Republic said it planned to protest “right outside Buckingham Palace” when the royal family assembles on the balcony.

Its chief executive Graham Smith said the restrictions were “contemptible” and would keep demonstrators in an area “where we won’t be seen by the royals”.

He said the main message of the protest is to hold the royal family to account over what they knew about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s friendship with paedophile American financier Jeffrey Epstein.

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