What is Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour is a military parade held in London each June to mark the official birthday of the British monarch. Soldiers march on Horse Guards Parade, and the royal family appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
The ceremony dates back to the 1600s, when regiments displayed their flags, called colours, so soldiers could recognize them in battle. It became an annual birthday celebration for the sovereign in the 1700s.
More than 1,000 soldiers, along with hundreds of horses and musicians, take part. Each year, one regiment of the Household Division troops its colour, carrying it through the ranks.
The royal procession
The monarch travels from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where they inspect the troops and receive a royal salute.
After the parade, the royal family gathers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a flypast by the Royal Air Force. Crowds fill The Mall to watch.
Trooping the Colour is also called the King's Birthday Parade. It is held on a Saturday in June, even though King Charles III was born in November. Tickets to watch from the stands are allocated by ballot.