Summary

Media caption,
Watch: Royals watch spectacular Red Arrows flypast
  1. In Pictures: Royals gather on palace balcony for flypastpublished at 13:54 BST

    Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace to get a glimpse of the Royal Family appear on the palace balcony.Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family

    Members of the Royal Family wave from the balconyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The King and Queen waved to the waiting crowd

    Members of the British military watch the Red Arrows perform a flypastImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Members of the military watched the Red Arrows perform a flypast

    Prince Louis learns to his left as he gets a better view of the flyover. The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince George are also seen watching onImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Prince Louis leaned to his left to get a better glimpse of the flyover

  2. Who did we see on the Buckingham Palace balcony?published at 13:41 BST

    Members of the Royal Family (left to right) the Duke of Gloucester, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, the Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and the Duke of Kent on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view the flypast following, the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London, as King Charles III celebrates his official birthdayImage source, PA Media

    Several members of the Royal Family gathered to watch the military flyover of Buckingham Palace.

    From left to right, the members on the balcony were:

    • Duke of Gloucester (a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II)
    • Duchess of Gloucester (the wife of the Duke of Gloucester)
    • Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Edward)
    • Duchess of Edinburgh, Sophie (the wife of Prince Edward)
    • Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (husband to Princess Anne)
    • The Princess Royal (Princess Anne)
    • Queen Camilla
    • King Charles III
    • The Prince of Wales (Prince William)
    • Catherine, Princess of Wales
    • Princess Charlotte
    • Prince George
    • Prince Louis
    • Duke of Kent (a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II)
  3. Protesters spell out 'Stop The Reign' with umbrellas during national anthempublished at 13:28 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Senior royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    As the national anthem was played a group of 12 anti monarchy protesters in front of Buckingham Palace opened up yellow umbrellas that spelled out "Stop The Reign" while shouting “not my King” and “down with the crown".

    Police officers ushered them away as the crowd, at times, loudly booed them.

    As we reported earlier, protesters from the anti-monarchy group, Republic, have been demonstrating at the event - as it has in previous years.

  4. Red Arrows leave trail of red, white and blue above Buckingham Palacepublished at 13:11 BST

    Buckingham Palace is pictured with the Red Arrows flying overhead, leaving a trail of red, white and blue.Image source, PA Media

    The national anthem is played outside Buckingham Palace as members of the Royal Family wave from the balcony.

    Moments earlier, the Red Arrows soared overheard sending trails of red, white and blue vapour across central London.

    Four fighter jets followed the Red Arrows as part of the special formation to mark the occasion.

    The Red Arrows send trails of red, white and blue through the air followed by four fighter jets in a diamond shape
  5. Red Arrows 'will not be alone' during special display, teases flypast directorpublished at 13:04 BST

    Military aircraft are soaring above The Mall and Buckingham Palace as the Royal Family watches from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

    Earlier, the flypast director teased that the Red Arrows, who will conclude the ceremony, will be flying in a special formation and will not be on their own during the event.

    Sqn Ldr Dan Wilkes told the BBC that 31 aircraft are taking part in the flypast - the same number as in previous years.

    He explained the Red Arrows can be as far as 90 miles away from Buckingham Palace when the first aircraft pass over The Mall, and that the challenge is trying to get everyone in the right place at the right time.

    Sqn Ldr Wilkes described how The Mall and Buckingham Palace are a "pretty late spot" for the pilots, who have to rely on the bend in the Thames and some of London's skyscrapers to make sure they are in the right position for the display.

    "If you are on the right hand side of the bend on the river you will hit the palace at some point," he says. "It all happens pretty quick."

    Military planes, including a pair of Typhoons, fly over The Mall and Buckingham Palace
  6. King and Queen appear on the balcony at Buckingham Palacepublished at 12:59 BST

    The Royal Family appears on the Buckingham Palace balconyImage source, Getty Images

    The King and Queen have joined other members of the Royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for the flypast display.

  7. Gun salute takes place in honour of Kingpublished at 12:55 BST

    Smoke rises from a series of guns as a 41 gun salute takes place in central London

    The first shots of the 41-gun salute are being fired near Buckingham Palace.

    Clouds of smokes are seen as the guns rotate, taking turns to shoot.

    The sound of the gunfire can be heard across The Mall and St James' Park.

  8. This flypast will be one of the last Red Arrows shows with nine aircraftpublished at 12:48 BST

    Red Arrows in flight, showing nine aircraft flying in formation leaving vapour trails of red, white and blue.Image source, PA Media

    Crowds are now waiting for the Red Arrows flypast, which will happen at 13:00 BST.

    This will be a historic occasion for the Red Arrows, who are officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.

    In May, it was announced that they would begin flying with fewer aircraft for the majority of their displays in a bid to preserve the ageing fleet.

    However, the nine-aircraft formation will be preserved for today's events as well as next month's 250th anniversary of the US.

    After that, the Red Arrows will fly with only seven aircraft.

    The current fleet of Hawk T1s - which have been flown by the Red Arrows since 1980 - is due to be retired in 2030.

  9. Royals await King and Queen on palace balconypublished at 12:41 BST

    Members of the Royal Family gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony. (Left to right: Sir Tim Laurence, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester and the Duchess of Gloucester).Image source, Getty Images

    Members of the Royal Family are awaiting the King and Queen's return to Buckingham Palace.

    Among those on the balcony is the Duke of Kent (centre), a grandson of King George V and first cousin of Elizabeth II.

    Those pictured to the left in the picture above are Sir Tim Laurence, the husband of Princess Anne, and the Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward's wife.

    The couple on the right is the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; the duke, Prince Richard, is another first cousin of Elizabeth II.

  10. Crowds rush along The Mall to try and catch an extra glimpse of the Kingpublished at 12:35 BST

    Tinshui Yeung
    Live reporter, at The Mall

    Royal watchers hold their phones up as the King and Queen pass by on The Mall

    As I’m watching a child blasting a horn (not sure if it's a real one) to the tune of military music, a crowd suddenly rushes towards me - or so I think - but they simply dash past.

    Then it clicks. They’re chasing after the royal carriage. The King has just swept by in front of them.

  11. In pictures: A day of pomp and sun for the Royal Familypublished at 12:33 BST

    Members of the Royal Family are centrestage as they celebrate the King's official birthday.

    The King and Queen are travelling in an Ascot Landau carriage, which was purchased during the reign of Queen Victoria.

    Meanwhile, Prince William is on a horse called Darby, while Princess Anne is on Noble, and Prince Edward on Sir John as they make their way back along The Mall.

    The Princess of Wales and her three children are travelling in an open carriage, smiling and waving to crowds along the procession route.

    The King waves as he arrives at the Trooping the Colour. In his background Queen Camilla can be seen next to him also smiling. Both of them are in full military attireImage source, Getty Images
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    King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at the Trooping the Colour

    The Princess of Wales and her three children sit in a carriage during the Trooping the Colour. Catherine is seen wearing a pale blue jacket and hatImage source, EPA/Shutterstock
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    The Princess of Wales and her three children sit in a carriage during Trooping the Colour

    A close up photo shows the Prince of Wales wearing his military attire and bearskin hat during the Trooping the ColourImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Prince William

    The Princess Royal watches the Trooping the Colour. She is wearing a grand hat decorated with red feathers and gold leaves on the sideImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Princess Anne

  12. A difficult chapter for the royalspublished at 12:30 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Chief royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    It has been a turbulent year for the Royal Family.

    Since the last Trooping the Colour, we have seen the scandal around the King's brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor widen and more questions being asked around royal properties and finances.

    But today is very much the traditional display of royalty - showcasing pomp and ceremony and the role of the King as head of the armed forces.

  13. Protesters chant 'not my king' louder as troops go pastpublished at 12:28 BST

    Tinshui Yeung
    Live reporter, at The Mall

    A group of protesters holding up signs saying 'Not My King' and 'Down with the Crown' can be seen in the crowds on The Mall

    Some protesters are holding bright yellow placards reading "Not My King" - and that's also what they're chanting.

    When the troops pass by, they seem to shout louder.

    They're also holding up photos of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the King's brother, who was stripped of his royal titles over his connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

  14. Anti-monarchy group protests at Trooping the Colourpublished at 12:25 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Chief royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    Protesters hold placards showing the former Prince Andrew and late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during the Trooping the ColourImage source, Getty Images

    The anti-monarchy group, Republic, is protesting at Trooping the Colour today as it has in previous years.

    The group says it is a public event and it has every right to peacefully protest in front of Buckingham Palace.

    The Metropolitan Police say they have a policing plan in place to ensure Trooping the Colour passes off safely and peacefully, including minimising disturbance to horses taking part.

    And the police also say they are "working with protesters to ensure we can balance these needs with their right to lawfully protest”.

  15. Royals start heading back to Buckingham Palacepublished at 12:18 BST

    King Charles and Queen Camilla travel back in their carriage to Buckingham Palace along the MallImage source, Reuters

    The King and Queen are now leading a procession back up The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where a further salute will take place.

    Then at 13:00 BST, members of the Royal Family will watch the Red Arrows flypast from the balcony at the palace.

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates. You can also watch proceedings by clicking watch live at the top of this page.

    The Princess of Wales travels in a carriage with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince LouisImage source, PA Media
  16. Some sadness today, amid the celebrationpublished at 12:05 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Chief royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    There is some sadness today too.

    Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan should have been riding this year at Trooping the Colour, but she died after falling from her horse during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.

    In recent weeks, soldiers of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery have paid tribute to her during a number of events and preparations for today.

    Ciara Sullivan is pictured in uniform riding a horseImage source, Ministry of Defence
    Image caption,

    Ciara Sullivan was described as an "outstanding soldier" by her commanding officer

  17. Mounted troops next to paradepublished at 12:00 BST

    The King's Troop Royal Horse artillery take part in the parade

    We've seen the foot guards parade, now it's the turn of the mounted troops.

    Pictured above are the King's Troop Royal Horse artillery.

    Then come the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry.

    Two guards ride horses while playing the drums
  18. Princess of Wales has a prime view of proceedingspublished at 11:50 BST

    Daniela Relph
    Senior royal correspondent, reporting from The Mall

    Princess Catherine sits beside the King and Queen.Image source, Getty Images

    King Charles is sitting on a platform to view the ceremony.

    To his right is Queen Camilla, and the Princess of Wales sits to his left.

    As the future Queen, she gets a prime seat - especially now that she is well enough to attend after her cancer treatment.

    And, as an honorary colonel of the Irish Guards, she has a military interest in the parade.

  19. Friends turn out to celebrate 'wonderful' Royal Familypublished at 11:43 BST

    Friends Emma McCarthy, from Swindon, and Sarah Fuller, from New Malden, are watching Trooping the Colour on The Mall.

    Emma says the spectacle is one of her favourite days of the year.

    "It is a day to celebrate our wonderful Royal Family, and the highlight is seeing the Wales children on the balcony.

    "We come every year and stand in the same spot."

    Friends Emma (left) and Sarah (right)Image source, Supplied
  20. King watches Trooping the Colour ceremonypublished at 11:37 BST

    The King looks towards the Queen during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The Princess of Wales can be seen sitting behind himImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    The King looks towards the Queen during Trooping the Colour

    Troops stand on display in their red uniforms and bearskin hats as they take part in the Trooping the Colour. They are seen holding their riflesImage source, Reuters

    The Trooping the Colour ceremony is in full swing at Horse Guards Parade, with the King and prime minister among those watching on.

    The bands have been on full display, carefully keeping formation as they change direction, all while simultaneously playing their drums and horns.

    A slow march has also been taking place across the square as the colour is handed over to an escort, who then parades it through the ranks.

    Some of the guards have been standing still for 51 minutes as the ceremony takes place.

    Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer sit in the crowd during the Trooping the Colour ceremonyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer