King Charles III added a unique touch to his first birthday parade as monarch—he celebrated on horseback.
Charles rode in the annual Trooping the Colour celebration in London on Saturday, becoming the first reigning British monarch to mount a house in the event since his mother Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1986, according to Buckingham Palace. The 74-year-old rode almost a mile from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards Parade at St. James’s Park, where he inspected troops representing the seven regiments of the Household Division of the British Army and received a Royal Salute.
Charles has attended the event since he was a child, first for his grandfather King George VI and then his mother, but Saturday marked the first time following his ascension to the throne in September 2022 and coronation in May.
Charles’ actual birthday isn’t until November 14, but Trooping the Colour is traditionally celebrated in June. It became affiliated with the sovereign’s birthday in 1748, during the rule of King George II.
According to People, around 1,500 soldiers and 400 musicians were scheduled to take part in the ceremony. Three guardsmen fainted because of high temperatures during a rehearsal one week ago known as the Colonel’s Review, which is overseen by Prince William. “A big thank you to every soldier who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job,” William later tweeted.
What’s the Horse’s Significance?
Elizabeth was an avid equestrian and had a beloved horse named Burmese, whom she rode in the annual parade until the mare’s 1986 retirement. Rather than select a new horse to participate, she simply rode in a carriage over the decades that followed.
Still, she passed down her love of horse to members of the royal family, and many have continued to ride on horseback in the event, including Charles, William, Princess Anne, and—until 2019—Prince Andrew. The queen stripped Andrew of his military titles and patronages in January 2022 after he faced a sexual assault lawsuit.
Who Was and Wasn’t There?
All working members of the royal family were expected to attend. Like the king, Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward rode on horseback during the event. Queen Camilla, Princess Kate, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte followed closely behind in a carriage.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex who quit as working royals in 2020, weren’t invited to the event according to the Daily Mail, with a source saying it’s a “reflection of the state of relations” between Harry, his father, and the rest of the family.
Harry and Meghan attended the event last year—Queen Elizabeth’s final Trooping the Colour—but weren’t on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the ceremonial flyover.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
