Trooping the Colour 2024 date, timings and places to watch it on King's Birthday

Also known as the Sovereign's Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. The ceremonial event is performed every year on Horse Guards Parade in London.

Over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June to celebrate the special occasion. The parade is usually preceded by The Major General's Review and The Colonel's Review, respectively taking place two weeks and one week beforehand.

This year, the King's Birthday Parade will take place at 11am on Saturday, June 15. At the start of the ceremony, King Charles III will be greeted by a royal salute and carry out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.

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After the military bands have played, the escorted Colour of the Regiment will be carried through the ranks of Foot Guards. The Foot Guards will then march past the Sovereign in slow and quick time before The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry ride past at the walk and the trot.

Once the Foot Guards have paraded in front of the Sovereign, the King will ride back to Buckingham Palace at the head of his Guards. He'll then be joined by other members of the Royal Family on the balcony at the palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force which involves the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, featuring a Lancaster bomber, Spitfires and Hurricanes.

Visitors wishing to watch the ceremony are advised to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade. As it gets quite busy, it's recommended to get there from 9am onwards..

The event, also broadcast live on the BBC, will begin at approximately 10:20am with the fly-past taking place at 1pm. Seated tickets for the event are now sold out.

The regiment of Foot Guards taking part in the parade changes each year. There are five different regiments of Foot Guards - Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards - and in 2024 it's the turn of Number 9 Company Irish Guards.

Buckingham Palace is located at London SW1A 1AA. Find out more information about the event here.

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