Who Will Join King Charles for Trooping the Colour?
ROYALSWho Will Join King Charles for Trooping the Colour?
Before King Charles takes his place on Buckingham Palace’s balcony on Saturday, his former press secretary calls the annual tradition a royal “favorite.”
By Katie NichollJune 11, 2026
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince Louis, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Kate, and Princess Charlotte during last year's Trooping The Colour.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ImagesOn Saturday, King Charles will step onto the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour, the centuries-old annual military ceremony that celebrates the sovereign’s birthday.
It is expected that he will be joined by Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis in what is seen as a show of support for the working royals. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who all carry out engagements on behalf of the King, are also expected to attend.
Trooping the Colour is one of the most important events in the royal calendar with the King and Queen at its center, flanked by the Wales family and supported by an ever-diminishing group of senior working royals. It is, according to Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to the late Queen and King Charles, one of the occasions the King most looks forward to and his way of rewarding the family members who represent the crown.
“It’s an important date in the diary, and always a favorite occasion for the royals. These days, we see a much smaller line-up of royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony, but it is significant nonetheless, because it is the monarch’s way of thanking the family members who travel around the country and overseas representing the Crown,” he said.
There are not that many ways that King Charles can thank the working royals other than awarding them honors, so having them up there on the balcony is important. “The late Queen Elizabeth always enjoyed Trooping the Colour. Although it was a state event, the Queen used it as a chance to show the royals as a family to the world and that was a very powerful image,” said Arbiter.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales, arrive, in their chauffeur driven 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousine, at Buckingham Palace ahead of Trooping The Colour 2025 on June 14, 2025 in London, England.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ImagesThe origins of Trooping the Colour stretch back more than 350 years. Historians believe the ceremony was first performed during the reign of King Charles II in the 17th century. In those days, a regiment’s “colors”—its flags—served a practical purpose on the battlefield, helping soldiers identify their unit. To ensure troops could recognize their colors, they were regularly “trooped” through the ranks.
In 1748, it was decided that the parade would be used to celebrate the sovereign's official birthday, regardless of their actual date of birth (King Charles’s actual birthday is November 14). The tradition became firmly established as an annual event after George III ascended the throne in 1760, and it has remained one of the defining moments of the royal year ever since. In 1887 it was recreated as a pageant for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
“It’s a tradition that has continued ever since,” noted Arbiter. “And I think it will be a tradition that will continue under King William one day because it is steeped in history and symbolism as well. It also offers a powerful reminder of the enduring bond between the monarchy and the Armed Forces. The troops enjoy doing it, because it’s their way of saying, albeit early or late, ‘happy birthday’ to the monarch. They’re proud of their colors, and the chance to parade their colors. It’s a great honor.”
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
