Royal family laugh and joke in rare behind the scenes footage of Trooping the Colour
The annual Trooping the Colour ceremony unfolded with traditional military pomp and pageantry on Horse Guards Parade
Royal family members can be seen laughing and joking with one another in rare behind the scenes footage from Trooping the Colour.
In a new video shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram page, a video shows the family as they honour the grand ceremonial parade which marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign.
The video begins with Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, walking in to Buckingham Palace, followed by their mother Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Princess Charlotte briefly looks at the camera before dutifully following her brothers inside the Palace. The video then cuts to Prince William feeding a horse a carrot alongside King Charles.
The video then shows members of the parade practising, and shots of the crowd waiting to see the royal family.
Thousands of spectators gathered at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall to view the spectacle featuring some of the nation’s most prestigious regiments.
Trooping the Colour is as much a social occasion as a ceremonial event and stands around Horse Guards Parade were filled with about 8,000 family members of the guards and officers on parade.
A grand royal carriage procession began along The Mall featuring the King, Queen, and the Princess of Wales – accompanied by her children – all under the watchful guard of a Sovereign’s Escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Kate, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore a blue outfit by Catherine Walker, paired with a hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards brooch.
Among those riding in the formation were the royal colonels: the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards; the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Scots Guards.
Charles, colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards, visited his King’s Company at their barracks in Aldershot on the eve of Trooping and wished them “great success” for the big day.
He told the company: “Since Easter you’ve been practising rigidly and I can hear from Buckingham Palace the sound of the drums thumping away regularly so I know you’re all marching up and down trying to get ready for the parade.”
The King went on to say: “…ever since the last 370 years of your existence you have made us all in this country so incredibly proud of your effort, your service and your sacrifice over all those years and I feel very proud and privileged to be here.”
