KING CHARLES is set to take part in his first Trooping the Colour, also known as the King’s Birthday Parade, as sovereign of the UK on June 17, 2023.
As part of the celebrations, which commemorate King Charles’ official – but not actual – birthday, many roads in London will be covered in sand – and there are several reasons why.
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Why is there sand on the road for Trooping the Colour?
Viewers who watched King Charles’ coronation celebrations in May 2023 were left wondering why some of the capital’s streets were covered in sand.
Luckily, the answer was provided by some knowledgable royal fans.
Taking to social media, many avid royal supporters pointed out that the sand was likely to help the horses that take part in major royal events like the Trooping the Colour.
The sand helps the animals to maintain grip and prevent slipping when walking.
During King Charles’ coronation, one person responding to a query on Twitter about the sand saying: “It’s for the horses. They don’t slip on sand but they do on tarmac.
“It’s easier to clean up horse poo and it muffles the sound of their hooves. Mostly to stop them slipping.”
Another added: “Portions of the procession routes covered with sand to make it easy for the horses to move.”
It has also been suggested that sand is put over grates so the road doesn’t damage the horses hooves or the carriages that are often seen in royal processions.
Royal commentators have also said that sand is used to ensure the King’s carriage is able to move more easily when he is travelling in it.
How many horses take part in Trooping the Colour?
Two hundred horses are expected to take part in the 2023 Trooping the Colour.
In 2022, over 1,400 officers and men joined the animals in the parade, alongside the 400 musicians that also took part in the display.
The 2022 Trooping the Colour was Queen Elizabeth’s final one before her death.
The ceremony was held on June 2 that year, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Queen Elizabeth died just months later, in September, at the age of 96.
Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British monarch for more than 260 years.
King Charles’ actual birthday is on November 14.
During Trooping the Colour the royals wave to the crowds from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
All senior members of the royal family are expected to go to the event, but it had not been confirmed ahead of time whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be attending.
The last time the couple attended Trooping the Colour as working royals was in 2019.
They both went to the event as non-working royals in 2022.