It was a special tribute to The King, kept secret from him, to round off Trooping the Colour but it was the Duchess of Edinburgh who seemed most thrilled with the event.
As the flypast over Buckingham Palace came to an end after the first Sovereign’s Birthday Parade for Charles III, planes formed a ‘C R’ in the skies above London.
His Majesty looked touched and almost overcome by the tribute which was sprung on him at the end of formalities for his official birthday. However, it was Sophie who really seemed to embrace the moment.
The Duchess of Edinburgh couldn’t stop smiling as the planes flew past in the shape of the Monarch’s initials.
She gestured to her husband, the Duke, who was stood next to Queen Camilla in the centre of the balcony and kept her eyes firmly on the formation before clapping.
The special tribute came at the end of an extended flypast held to mark the start of His Majesty’s reign.
Earlier, The King had ridden out at the head of the parade which has marked the official birthday, the first time a Monarch has been on horseback for the ceremony in over thirty years.
The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal rode behind him.
Queen Camilla, The Princess of Wales and the Duke of Kent watched the parade from a dais on Horse Guards. The Duchess of Edinburgh was with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis on a balcony overlooking the parade ground for the ceremony.
Trooping the Colour has marked the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade for over 260 years.