Royals turn out for Trooping the Colour parade

Britain’s King Charles celebrated his official birthday with a ceremony that showcased the ceremonial prowess of the British Army.

Charles attended the famous Trooping the Color event, which showcased military splendor and pageantry in the heart of London.

The Princess of Wales and her children joined the Queen and thousands of spectators at the Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall to watch the spectacle featuring some of the UK’s most prestigious regiments.

Rising the Color is a social event as well as a ceremonial event, and the stands around the Horse Guards Parade were packed with nearly 8,000 guardsmen and officer family members in the parade.

Crowds gathered on The Mall to watch the royal family’s chariot procession from Buckingham Palace alongside Charles and Camilla amidst a Sovereign Escort provided by the Household Cavalry.

Behind the king were the royal colonels; The Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards; Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Edinburgh as Colonel of the Scots Guards.

The road was manned by the Household Cavalry, with two shire horses carrying sterling silver drums and musicians.

For the first time, the route has been lined up by personnel from all three military services, including units from 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards to the 26th Engineer Regiment, 16th and 4th Regiments Royal Artillery, Royal Lancers, RAF Regiment and the Royal Navy.

The King’s first duty was to inspect the troops, and he traveled with the Queen in a carriage past the service personnel, followed by the royal colonels William, Anne and Edward.

In centuries past, colors – or flags – were carried down the ranks or “hung to the troops” so that soldiers could recognize them on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the guards of royal palaces assembled daily in the Horse Guard to “unite the colours”, and at that time it was decided that the parade would also celebrate the official birthday of the monarch.

The king’s actual birthday is November 14, when he will be 78 years old.