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Queen Camilla appeared relaxed and happy as she joined other senior royals at Trooping the Colour on Saturday.
The event, one of the most significant in the royal calendar, marks the official birthday celebration of the monarch (though 76-year-old King Charles’ actual birthday is on November 14).
Waving at the assembled crowds, who’d lined the streets of The Mall in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the famous family, Camilla, 77, looked vibrant and stylish in an all-white ensemble.
The Queen regularly sports creations by Anna Valentine, and once again, she opted for a piece crafted by the designer: a white silk crepe dress with silver embroidery.
She made a statement with her large white hat, designed by Philip Treacy – who was once dubbed ‘perhaps the greatest living milliner’ by Vogue. Camilla pinned a Grenadier Guards brooch to her dress.
The striking brooch features a crown over the Royal Cypher mirrored within the blue Royal Garter bearing the words: ‘Shame on he who thinks ill of it’ – the motto of the Order of the Garter.
Charles joined his wife in a carriage, wearing his Coldstream Guards uniform.
His outfit had a sombre addition: a black armband, worn in remembrance of those killed in the Air India plane crash on Thursday.
Queen Camilla (pictured) donned a white silk crepe dress with silver embroidery by Anna Valentine with a hat by Philip Treacy as she made her way for today’s festivities
It was revealed ahead of today’s event that His Majesty had requested a minute’s silence in tribute to the 241 passengers and crew killed in the Air India plane crash on Thursday, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Charles requested amendments to the Trooping the Colour programme ‘as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy’.
Before today’s event, it had been reported that Charles will no longer ride during the parade, due to his ongoing cancer treatment, which is why he rode in the carriage.
As a former polo player, and one of the Royal Family’s most accomplished equestrians, the monarch rode for years in the parade – both for his mother’s official birthday celebrations and then for his own.
However, it is understood that he will not ride at the parade again.
Reports say his illness have curtailed the ‘monarch in the saddle’ tradition that he briefly revived in 2023 – the first time the monarch had appeared on horseback at the event since Queen Elizabeth in 1986.
The late Queen rode her trusty mare Burmese until the horse was retired.
She then began travelling in a carriage until her final appearance in 2022, where she took the salute from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Like other senior royals , at the direction of the King, Camilla donned a black armband, in remembrance of those killed in the Air India plane crash on Thursday
King Charles passes republican demonstrators calling for the abolition of the monarchy in central London on Saturday morning
Queen Camilla smiles gently at the crowd while King Charles salutes as they ride through the procession
The King was admitted to hospital for treatment to an enlarged prostate in January 2024 and shortly after was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer.
It meant that he travelled with Queen Camilla in a carriage at last year’s parade to be safer and more comfortable.
This came a year after what is now known to be his last appearance on horseback for the celebration, which did not go particularly smoothly for Charles.
He was riding Noble, a black mare which appeared unsettled throughout – at one point even breaking into a canter in the Mall.
One television commentator described Noble’s behaviour as ‘if it was going into the starting stalls at Newmarket’.
While today’s carriage ride was less eventful, it was not totally free of issues: the royal couple were greeted by many well wishers en route, but they also passed some republican demonstrators calling for the abolition of the monarchy, holding placards that said: ‘Not My King’.
Unlike her brother, the Princess Royal did take to the saddle today, marking the first time she has ridden in public after being hospitalised following a suspected horse injury last year
Anne, 74, rode in the parade this year in her role as gold stick, the colonel of the Blues and Royals, alongside the Prince of Wales as colonel of the Welsh Guards and the Duke of Edinburgh as colonel of the Scots Guards and London Guards.
The royal pair beam and wave at the swathes of gathering supporters, while more than 400 musicians play
The Queen looked radiant in her white ensemble, pairing her Anna Valentine frock with a statement hat by milliner Philip Tracy
The King and Queen took centre stage when it came to watching the flyover from the Buckingham Palace balcony (pictured with Prince Louis)
Camilla and Charles appeared to share a moment while on the balcony at Buckingham Palace
The royal has often worn pieces by Anna Valentine, and once again, she opted for one of the designer’s pieces for Saturday’s event
LAUGHTER: Camilla appeared to be in peals of laughter at one point, as she spoke with the Princess of Wales
Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old tradition that marks the Sovereign’s official birthday.
It dates back to the 17th century and is rooted in battlefield custom, when regimental flags, or ‘colours,’ were trooped in front of soldiers to ensure they could be recognised amid the smoke of combat.
Last week a full-dress rehearsal, known as The Colonel’s Review, took place serving as the final run-through before the King’s official celebration.
This year, the honour of trooping the Colour falls to the Coldstream Guards, who will officially present their regimental flag, known as the Colour, to King Charles.
Following the Trooping ceremony, all eyes were be on the royal balcony to see who King Charles invites to wave to the crowds.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were front and centre on the balcony to watch the Red Arrows flypast.
They were joined by Prince William, 42, the Princess of Wales, 43 and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, 70, were also there.
The flyover is always a focal point of Trooping the Colour, and this year appeared no different, as they royals watched the planes above
As royal watchers gathered below the palace, members of the Royal Family waved at the assembled crowds
The King and Queen appeared pleased to be greeting the crowds who had come to the event to see the royals
Prince Edward, 61, and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, 60, joined them.
But they were not joined by their daughter Lady Louise, 21, or their son James, the Earl of Wessex, 17.
The Duke of Kent, 89, was also among the royals on the balcony, with the Duke of Gloucester, 80, and his 78-year-old wife Birgitte, the Duchess.
As expected, Prince Harry, 40, and his wife Meghan Markle, 43, did not attend this year’s celebrations.
Having chosen to walk away from being working royals, they have not been present at Trooping the Colour since 2019.
Prince Andrew, 65, who remains exiled from public royal events amid the fallout from his relationship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and the claims made by late accuser Virginia Giuffre – claims he denies – was also absent.
His daughters Princess Beatrice, 36, and Princess Eugenie, 35, also did not attend.
