TODAY history is being made as King Charles celebrates his first Trooping the Colour as reigning monarch – and the royals are suitably dressed to the nines.
The Princess of Wales paid a touching tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana with her outfit.
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The royal mum-of-three, who sat alongside Queen Camilla in the carriage procession, could be seen wearing a pair of earrings that once belonged to the Princess of Wales.
Along with his mother’s stunning sapphire engagement ring, William also gave Kate some earrings after he proposed in 2010.
The precious earrings were a favourite of Princess Diana’s as they perfectly matched her engagement ring.
The double drop pair was originally given to Diana as a wedding gift as part of a suite of jewels from Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia.
In a special “letter of wishes” included in her will, Princess Diana wrote: “I would like to allocate all my jewellery to the share to be held by my sons, so that their wives may, in due course, have it or use it. I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion.”
Kate, 41, rarely puts a fashion toe out of line, and today is no different with her in a stunning Andrew Gn emerald dress.
She finished off the look with an elegant Philip Treacy hat.
Philip’s hats have certainly earnt the royal seal of approval over the years, and 36 hats at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011 were his designs.
Kate was joined in a carriage by Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Queen Camilla as the jubilant crowd cheered.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales, 40, looks smart in his red military uniform, which he had teamed with the traditional bearskin hat, with numerous medals on his chest.
William’s horse, named Darby, was a gift to the late Queen from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The much-beloved horse also led the emotional funeral procession for his grandmother last year.
Trooping the Colour commemorates King Charles’ official – but not actual – birthday.
The ceremonial event takes place every year and dates back to Charles II in the 17th century when regiment colours trooped in front of soldiers so they could recognise their unit in battle.
At the start of it, the monarch is greeted by a Royal salute and the National Anthem.
The parade then commences and concludes with a second Royal salute.
His Majesty and other members of the Royal Family gather on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force.
Each year the Royal family appear on the Palace balcony.
The first recorded royal balcony appearance was made by Queen Victoria in 1851, during the opening celebrations of the Great Exhibition.
It has since become an established tradition and a rare opportunity to see the Royal Family together in one place.
The King traditionally has two birthdays, his actual birthday on November 14 and an official birthday marked every summer by the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The “official” celebration takes place on the second Saturday in June despite monarchs originally celebrating on the second Thursday, since the date was changed in 1959.
The reason this odd tradition began is typically British: namely, the UK’s temperamental weather.
It was started by George II back in 1748 – because the weather was too bad to hold his Birthday Parade on the actual date in November.
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