For centuries, Trooping the Colour has marked the British sovereign's official birthday. The ceremony is believed to have first been performed in the 17th century during the reign of King Charles II, though it was not until 1748 that the parade was used to celebrate the monarch's birthday and became an annual event after King George III ascended the throne in 1760.
Family members
Since then, Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthdays of reigning monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II and now her son, King Charles. But in recent years, the spectacle has undergone noticeable changes. Perhaps the most obvious is the number of royal family members who appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The number has been significantly reduced, though the change was introduced before King Charles' reign.
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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Queen Elizabeth's grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family members would typically join her on the balcony for the RAF fly-past. However, during the late monarch's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, the balcony appearance was limited to working members of the royal family.
© Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesAt the time, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year's traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2 June will be limited to Her Majesty and those members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen."
The decision meant that Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and others were no longer included in the balcony appearance, following their last appearance in 2019. Since becoming monarch, King Charles has maintained the slimmer balcony lineup, limiting appearances to working royals. As a result, his younger son Harry and his daughter-in-law Meghan, who both stepped back from royal duties in 2020, as well as his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have not joined him on the balcony.
HELLO!'s Emily Nash has previously pointed out: "We've long heard about Charles's plan to slim down the monarchy when he came to the throne, but the number of senior working royals has fallen organically over the years so it's hard to see how it can be slimmed much further."
For Charles' first Trooping the Colour as King, he and Queen Camilla were joined on the balcony by the Prince and Princess of Wales, their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, along with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, who also appeared on the balcony in 2022 with Queen Elizabeth's permission because he is "a frequent attendee and support to the Princess Royal on official engagements."
© ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty ImagesNational anthem change
King Charles' reign has also brought a change to the national anthem. Following Queen Elizabeth's death in 2022, "God Save the King" was sung at Trooping the Colour for the first time in decades, replacing "God Save the Queen," which was sung throughout the late monarch's 70-year reign.
Different arrival
Charles' first Trooping as King also saw a British sovereign back on horseback for the first time since Queen Elizabeth in 1986. However, His Majesty broke from tradition in 2024, and instead traveled via carriage. The King, who has been undergoing cancer treatment since February 2024, repeated the same mode of transportation in 2025. The Times reported in 2025 that the King was "not expected to ride at the parade again."
© BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty ImagesCharles' ascension also led to a change in military appointments. Months after he became King, his son Prince William took over his role as Colonel of the Welsh Guards in December 2022. A week before the King's first birthday parade, the Prince of Wales carried out the Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade in his role as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, sporting the leek symbol of the Welsh Guards on his uniform and a bearskin hat with their white and green plume.
New military roles
Trooping the Colour 2023 was also the first time that Catherine and Camilla attended the parade in their new military roles, with the Princess as Colonel of the Irish Guards and the Queen as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
While there have been changes to Trooping the Colour in recent years, one thing that has remained constant is its place as a highlight on the royal calendar.
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