Trooping the Colour happens this coming weekend. Trooping is the monarch’s birthday parade, even though King Charles’s actual birthday isn’t until November (he’s a literal Scorpio King). But still, tradition and history dictates that Trooping the Colour needs to happen in June, so here we are. This will be Charles’s first Trooping as monarch, and he plans to bring back one special tradition: he’s going to ride on horseback for the parade. His mother used to do that too, up until the 1980s:
King Charles is taking the reins at Trooping the Colour this weekend! On Monday, Buckingham Palace announced that the King, 74, will ride on horseback in his upcoming birthday parade in London on Saturday, June 17. It will mark the first time the British monarch has saddled up for the annual event since 1986 when Queen Elizabeth last rode in the procession on her beloved horse Burmese. In the years that followed, the Queen opted to take a carriage instead — and in 2003, her husband, Prince Philip, hung up his stirrups and joined her.
Although she stopped riding at Trooping the Colour in the 1980s, Queen Elizabeth remained a dedicated equestrian throughout her life. The history-making monarch, who died in September at age 96, was often seen going for leisurely rides around her royal residences well into her 90s. In 2021, it was reported that she stopped riding her ponies due to “discomfort,” but a source told PEOPLE that she was back in the saddle the following year.
There was an infamous moment, back when QEII rode in the Trooping parade, when someone spooked her horse and she had to use her equestrian skills to manage the situation. I imagine she also stopped because it was a security issue, especially given all of the IRA activity in the 1980s. Now, I believe Princess Anne has always been on horseback for Trooping, and she will be on her horse again on Saturday. I imagine Camilla will be poured into a carriage, probably with the Princess of Wales. Remember, King Charles didn’t “invite” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Prince William took part in a rehearsal for Trooping over the weekend, when London was going through a “historic” heat wave (it was in the mid-to-high 80s). One of the guardsmen fainted with his instrument. This photo is giving SAD TROMBONE.
Photos courtesy of Cover Images.
-
-
A view of the Colonel’s Review, for Trooping the Colour, at Horse Guards Parade in London, ahead of the King’s Birthday Parade.
Featuring: General View
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 10 Jun 2023
Credit: Jonathan Brady/PA Images/INSTARimages**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
-
-
King Charles III travelled behind the Flying Scotsman in the Royal Carriages along the North Yorkshire Moors Railways heritage line and met the railways Chief Executive Officer, Chris Price, and longstanding volunteers to mark the 50th Anniversary of the official opening of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (1973-2023).
During His Majesty’s visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the Royal Train journeyed from Grosmont to Pickering, where The King unveiled a plaque to memorialise the occasion. He also took the opportunity to view the Flying Scotsman, which turned 100 on 24th February 2023, and had been specially prepared for the occasion: its roof painted white and new lamps fitted to the cab, in line with the tradition of hauling the Royal Train.
Welcoming His Majesty to NYMR was Chief Executive, Chris Price, who said, “It’s an honour to be able to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the NYMR with a special visit from King Charles III. For all these years we have preserved our heritage railway and to celebrate this with royalty is such a privilege. It gives us the enthusiasm and joy to continue for generations to come.”
Built in 1923 at Doncaster Works, Flying Scotsman started life as just another of Sir Nigel Gresley’s A1 class of locomotives. It is now considered the most famous locomotive in the world, holding the world record for a non-stop run in a steam locomotive, set in 1989 with a 422-mile trip. The celebrity engine retired from service in 1963, and is now a star attraction in the collection of the National Railway Museum (part of the Science Museum Group) in York, where it is a working museum exhibit. Its visit to Pickering is the latest in its centenary programme, which sees the locomotive on the tracks, hauling main line tours and visiting heritage railways across the country.
A registered charity, the NYMR requires between 300-500 hours of volunteer support every day to bring its story to life. Among the team are a few long standing volunteers who have been at the NYMR since the first day in 1973 when the Duchess of Kent officially opened the railway. Fifty years on, and John Bruce, Chris Cubitt, John Hunt and Terry Newman are still firing on all cylinders as the NYMR steams into the future.
Featuring: King Charles III
Where: Pickering, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
When: 12 Jun 2023
Credit: Simon Jacobs/NYMR/Cover Images**EDITORIAL USE ONLY**
