Duke of Kent, 90, Breaks Out His Phone in Unexpected Moment on Trooping the Colour Balcony
Queen Elizabeth’s cousin had an unscripted moment at Trooping the Colour
NEED TO KNOW
- The Duke of Kent used his phone on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour
- The Duke, 90, also captured footage earlier in the day from a window overlooking Horse Guards Parade
- Working royals traditionally avoid using personal technology during official events
Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, couldn’t resist capturing some content at Trooping the Colour!
On June 13, the late Queen Elizabeth’s cousin, 90, broke out his phone on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in an unexpected moment at King Charles’ birthday parade.
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A few moments after King Charles and Queen Camilla led Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and more royals out on the terrace of the royal residence, the Duke of Kent stepped out through another door.
The Duke reached into his morning suit to grab his phone, scrolling around on it for a moment before lifting it to capture some footage of the Royal Air Force flypast and the crowds gathered in London.
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As the rest of the royals chatted amongst themselves and looked up, Prince Edward looked back down at his phone before putting it back in his jacket’s inside pocket.
The Duke of Kent was also caught on his phone earlier on the parade day, in a snap shared to X. The shot showed the Duke holding up his phone as he looked out of the window at Horse Guards Parade, as Prince Louis peeked out beside him.
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The actual Trooping of the Colour — or ceremonial presentation of military flags — happens at Horse Guards Parade. King Charles, as sovereign, was on the ground for that action, while the Duke was among the royals who watched from a window of the Major General’s Office, overlooking the parade grounds.
The Duke of Kent is a full-time working royal, a British Army veteran and a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth. He undertakes engagements in support of his portfolio of patronages and attends royal family events.
He became widowed when his wife Katharine, the Duchess of Kent, died at age 92 in September 2025.
His phone moment at Trooping the Colour on Saturday was a first on the Buckingham Palace balcony, as no one has taken out the tech there previously during a public appearance.
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Working royals traditionally refrain from using their personal technology during official appearances, focusing instead on the work ahead.
Prince William, however, recently whipped out his phone to film his beloved Aston Villa soccer squad’s victory celebrations in Istanbul, after the team won the UEFA Europa League championship in May.
That appearance wasn’t a royal event, nonetheless, as the Prince of Wales attended the game in a private capacity with pals.
