Trooping the Colour, 2026

The King's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, live from London on what the news commentator says is "a perfect summer day" there - temperature 68 F:

Bonus, 4 p.m.:  It's 93 degrees here Texas on a beautiful sunny afternoon.  English historian Allan Barton, who styles himself The Antiquary, gives an in-depth explanation of the Trooping and its history, if you can stand it:

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Trooping the Colour, 2025

Now this is how you do a real King's Birthday Parade.  Sky News covers the whole shebang, which took place in London this morning:

Note:  the British monarch and all other European monarchs are the good guys - constitutional monarchs.  Their powers were clipped centuries ago, and now they reign but do not rule, as the saying is.  It is hard for an American mind to grasp the concept of a king with all the glory but very little of the power, but that's the way the British like it.  (They don't think like we do.)  And as the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II amply demonstrated, in a parliamentary democracy a figurehead monarch can be a strong force for good and an anchor of stability amid the to-and-fro of politics and social change.

For background on the evolution of the monarchy in Britain, start with the Bill of Rights 1689, which preceded our own Constitution and Bill of Rights by a century, and was very much in the minds of the Founding Fathers when they were getting our country off the ground.

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Trooping the Colour, 2024

Nobody does it better:  the annual review of troops by His Majesty the King for his Official Birthday, to be followed by a fly-past of the Royal Air Force and the appearance of the King and the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The ceremony on Horse Guards Parade commences with the arrival of the King at precisely 11 a.m., London time (6 a.m. in New York), with the fly-past due around 1 p.m.

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Trooping the Colour, 2022

Live coverage of the first big London event of the four-day Platinum Jubilee celebrations begins at 10 a.m. London time, which is five hours ahead of New York time.  It is thought that the 96-year-old Queen will not take the salute in person on Horse Guards Parade, as is customary, but she may appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards when the Royal Air Force flypast provides the climax to today's festivities.

The Telegraph reports:

Or you can watch Sky News coverage from a different vantage point: 

 

The Queen issued this Jubilee message yesterday:

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions.

I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.

ELIZABETH R.

You can find the schedule of other Jubilee events this week at the BBC website here,

For other information, the official website of the British Royal Family is here.

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Trooping the Colour, 2021

The Queen's official birthday was celebrated earlier today at Windsor Castle with the centuries-old ceremony of Trooping the Colour, the splendid epitome of British pageantry.  The BBC takes us there:

Bonus:  The Queen and other members of the Royal Family hosted the G7 leaders at a dinner yesterday at the Eden Project in rural Cornwall:

President Biden and the First Lady were there; it is remarkable to think that when Her Majesty's reign began in 1952, Harry Truman was in the White House - and Winston Churchill in 10 Downing Street.

As international conferences go, this one has been pretty sedate so far: no chairs have been thrown, and nobody has gotten punched out. Everyone was, thankfully, on their best behavior in the Queen's presence, though I notice that Justin I'm-too-sexy-for-my-shirt Trudeau just had to wear brown shoes to prove he is the King of Cool. Ah, well.

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Trooping the Colour 2018

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Highlights from the ceremonies to mark the Queen's Official Birthday today in London - always a magnificent spectacle.

Sunday Drive: Les Huguenots

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The Queen's Official Birthday was observed in London yesterday with the brilliant pageantry of Trooping the Colour, which this year also marks Her Majesty's 65 years on the Throne - and long may she reign. The march from Meyerbeer's opera Les Huguenots is said to be a particular favorite of the Queen's; here is a clip of it from the 2014 ceremony - watch to see Her Majesty tapping her foot in time with the music:



And for those who may wish to watch, here is the BBC telecast of yesterday's events, including the RAF fly-past after the Royal Family appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace:




The Queen also issued this statement yesterday regarding the recent tragedies that have afflicted the United Kingdom:

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Trooping the Colour, 2016

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The official celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen's 90th birthday began yesterday in London with a service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's cathedral; and as it happens, yesterday was also the 95th birthday of her consort, HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

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Today, the annual Queen's Birthday Parade, also known as Trooping the Colour, took place, with the Queen taking the salute of the Coldstream Guards on Horse Guards Parade, followed by a balcony appearance with the rest of the Royal Family and a splendid fly-past put on by the Royal Air Force. The precision flying of the Red Arrows, seen at the end of the third video below, was surely a breathtaking sight to see.

Trooping the Colour, 2015

The Queen's Official Birthday was observed in London today with the splendid pageantry of Trooping the Colour, as has been the custom since 1748, when King George II was on the throne.

Her Majesty took the salute in person on Horse Guards Parade, then returned to Buckingham Palace for the traditional balcony appearance with the other members of the Royal Family, ending with a flypast by the Royal Air Force. Splendiferous!

First, a brief overview from the BBC via CNN:




And here is the tail end of the day's events, including the flypast and a lovely scene of four generations in the line of succession:




Finally, for those who are interested, a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery:





Update, 6/14: Here is the BBC coverage of the whole magnificent show: