King Charles becomes first monarch in 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback

The King has become the first monarch in more than 30 years to take part in Trooping the Colour on horseback during his inaugural Birthday Parade.

Charles, 74, left Buckingham Palace on horseback as Queen Camilla, who is colonel of the Grenadier guards, opted to follow behind in a carriage with the Princess of Wales, princes Louis and George and Princess Charlotte.

Prince George was seen waving to crowds, with Prince Louis sitting calmly between his two older siblings.

Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward all joined the procession on horseback.

The royal party were in the midst of a sovereign’s mounted escort, formed by troops from the Household Cavalry’s Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their shining breastplates and plumed helmets, and a ripple of cheers followed them when they travelled along The Mall.

Charles was due to take the royal salute as Colonel in Chief of the Household Division’s seven regiments during the ceremony, staged on Horse Guards Parade, as members of the royal family and 8,000 spectators watch.

The colour, or regimental flag, trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers is the King’s Colour of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

It is the first time a reigning monarch has ridden at Trooping the Colour since Queen Elizabeth’s horse Burmese carried her during the 1986 ceremony.

Burmese, a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was the Queen’s favourite steed for ceremonial occasions and she rode it for 18 years until its retirement in 1986, when she decided to use a carriage in her advancing years rather than train another charger.

The King was joined on horseback by the royal Colonels – the Prince of Wales, Colonel, Welsh Guards and the Princess Royal, Gold Stick in Waiting and Colonel, The Blues and Royals.

The Duke of Edinburgh will also be riding during the ceremony in his role as Colonel of the 1st Battalion London Guards, formed last year.

The massed bands of the Household Division provided musical backing during the day and also taking part is the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery who, following the parade, were due to fire a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the King’s official birthday – while from the Tower of London, the Honourable Artillery Company was due to fire 62 volleys.

Following the ceremony, the royal family were due to head back to Buckingham Palace and gather on the balcony to watch an extended military flypast after the display on coronation day had to be scaled down due to bad weather.

Around 70 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force were expected to take part – including aircraft from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the C-130 Hercules on its final ceremonial flight, modern Typhoon fighter jets with a red, white and blue finale from the Red Arrows.

The event featured around 1,500 soldiers in total and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by King, who will be joined by the mounted royal Colonels, including the Queen and Kate in a carriage.

For the first time since 1989, all five regiments of Foot Guards – the Welsh, Scots, Irish, Coldstream and Grenadier – were on parade together for Trooping.

The colour, or regimental flag, that will be trooped in front of hundreds of Guardsmen and officers will be the King’s Colour of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Among the guests was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and senior military figures.