It was a day steeped in pageantry, emotion, and a strong sense of tradition as Queen Camilla and King Charles led the British Royal Family at this year’s Trooping the Colour.
Despite recent personal challenges, the King and Queen appeared calm and collected, waving to thousands gathered along The Mall for one of the biggest royal events of the year.
Though the celebration officially marks King Charles’ birthday, the monarch was born in November—so this June parade is more of a ceremonial occasion steeped in history than a birthday bash.
Camilla Shines in White with a Touch of Royal Flair
Queen Camilla, 77, looked both radiant and relaxed as she arrived in a white silk crepe dress by Anna Valentine, complete with delicate silver embroidery.
Known for her loyalty to British designers, she finished the look with a bold white hat designed by Philip Treacy, often hailed as one of the world’s greatest milliners.
Her outfit was topped off with a brooch bearing the Grenadier Guards insignia—adding a symbolic edge to her ensemble.
She shared a carriage with King Charles, who wore his Coldstream Guards uniform and, poignantly, a black armband in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the tragic Air India plane crash earlier this week.
A Somber Tribute in the Midst of Celebration
Before the ceremony began, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had requested a minute of silence to honor the 241 passengers and crew who died in the Air India crash near Ahmedabad, India.
The act added a solemn note to the otherwise joyful display of military precision and royal tradition.
A palace spokesperson said the tribute was a “mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and the communities affected by this awful tragedy.”
Charles Now Watches from the Carriage, Not the Saddle
While many remember King Charles as an avid horseman—especially during his polo-playing days—he no longer rides in the parade.
This year, as part of ongoing treatment for cancer, he viewed the event from the comfort of a royal carriage beside Camilla.
In fact, it’s widely understood that his horseback appearances are now a thing of the past.
His last attempt in 2023 didn’t go too smoothly, with his horse Noble proving a little too energetic for the occasion.
A commentator even quipped it was behaving as though “heading into the starting stalls at Newmarket.”
Princess Anne Returns to the Saddle After Injury
Despite Charles sitting out the ride, Princess Anne, 74, was back in the saddle, her first public ride since being hospitalized with a horse-related injury.
She took part in her role as Gold Stick and Colonel of the Blues and Royals, alongside Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, and Prince Edward, Colonel of the Scots and London Guards.
Their participation kept the tradition alive, riding proudly through the historic route from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade.
Crowds, Cheers—and Some Protests
While the majority of the crowd gathered in full celebration mode, waving flags and hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family, the King and Queen did pass by republican demonstrators holding signs like “Not My King.”
Still, the event went off smoothly, and the energy remained festive.
All Eyes on the Balcony for the Royal Line-Up
As always, attention shifted to the Buckingham Palace balcony for the final act—the flypast by the Red Arrows.
King Charles and Queen Camilla took center stage, joined by Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children: George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Also present were Princess Anne and her husband, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, and several senior royals including the Duke of Kent, Duke of Gloucester, and Duchess Birgitte.
Absent were Prince Harry and Meghan, who haven’t attended since stepping back as working royals in 2019, as well as Prince Andrew and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie.
A Surprise Appearance at a Literary Celebration
Just days before Trooping the Colour, Queen Camilla surprised book lovers in London with a secret appearance at the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction event in Bloomsbury.
Arriving in a stylish peacock-patterned green dress from Bombshell London, Camilla was clearly in her element.
She praised the award’s founders for helping bring the female voice to the forefront of literature, describing the prize’s impact as “transformative.”
Camilla chatted with several shortlisted authors and even shared her reading list.
When one author joked that the champagne glasses were “spiked” due to the fierce competition, Camilla laughed and kept the mood light.
A Queen Who Reads—and Listens
The Queen also visited an Audible audio booth, noting how audiobooks allow people to take stories with them anywhere.
Known for being a passionate reader, Camilla seemed genuinely interested in the authors’ work.
She complimented memoirs, novels, and nonfiction alike—telling one writer, “I have read your books, they are lovely.”
Championing Women in Literature
During her speech, Queen Camilla hailed the Women’s Prize for three decades of championing female voices.
She highlighted how the prize helped launch countless literary careers, donated thousands of books, and created a 16-million-strong reading community.
Quoting and slightly adapting Virginia Woolf, she ended with a warm message: “A woman must have a prize of her own if she is to write fiction.”
She closed with a wish of good luck to all the finalists and a heartfelt congratulations to the award’s founders and supporters.