Sergeant Donald C Todd, UK MOD © Crown copyright 2022

King Charles III will preside over his first Trooping of Colour as Sovereign on June 17th 2023. What is this historic ceremony held every year? 

Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old ceremony where a specific regiment presents its colours to the Monarch. The colours, the regiment’s flag, were historically a rallying point for troops when in battle. Each year, one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division is chosen. 

The Monarch will travel from Buckingham Palace down the Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade in Whitehall accompanied by an escort drawn from the Household Cavalry. They then receive a royal salute and proceed with inspecting the troops. The Household Division will march past the Sovereign. 

The first recorded Trooping ceremony, also known as the King’s Birthday Parade, in Britain was during King Charles II’s seventeenth-century reign. However, it was not until 1748, during King George II’s reign, that it was revived. 

King George III chose to make it an annual event. However, it was not until King Edward VII’s reign that it moved to its current spring timing. Edward chose to have Trooping in May or June to take advantage of the nicer weather. This means that the monarch’s official birthday, Trooping, is celebrated separately from their personal birthday. (In rare cases it does overlap. In 1936, King Edward VIII’s only Trooping ceremony was held on his actual birthday.)

Queen Victoria only participated once in Trooping the Colour during her reign. However, subsequent monarchs did take a more involved role. Queen Elizabeth II rode on horseback for Trooping until 1986, riding one of her favourite horses, Burmese, from 1969 to 1986. From 1987 onwards, she rode in a carriage. 

Queen Elizabeth II also included Trooping the Colour as part of her Jubilee celebrations in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022.