As London prepares for the King’s birthday parade this Saturday (June 14), many are remembering a touching moment from last year when King Charles broke royal protocol for a heartfelt reason.
Thousands of people are expected to line the Mall to celebrate the start of King Charles’ birthday festivities this weekend.
The annual event typically kicks off with a grand military parade, followed by the iconic appearance of the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony and the much-anticipated RAF flypast.
Known as Trooping the Colour, this tradition has marked the official birthday of the reigning monarch for over 260 years. It’s a major spectacle involving intricate planning and coordination.
According to the official Royal website, over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians participated in the event. On Saturday, the royal procession is scheduled to depart Buckingham Palace around 10 a.m., with the flypast taking place at 1 p.m.
Although the festivities mark the King’s “official” birthday, his actual date of birth is November 14.
This year marks King Charles’ third time attending Trooping the Colour as monarch. However, it was last year’s parade that stood out to many royal watchers, largely due to an unexpected yet meaningful break from tradition.
At the time, there was uncertainty about whether the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, would be present, as she had been undergoing can/cer treatment earlier in 2024.
Yet during the RAF flypast, she appeared by the King’s side on the balcony, not next to her husband, Prince William, as protocol would typically dictate.
While it remains unclear whether this deviation was formally planned or simply a spontaneous gesture, many believe it held symbolic significance.
Both the King and Kate were facing health challenges at the time—Kate had recently announced she had completed her cancer treatment and was now in remission.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold explained that under usual protocol, royal couples stand together, meaning Kate would normally be beside William, while Charles would stand next to Queen Camilla.
However, Harold speculated that the King may have deliberately chosen to place Kate beside him to convey unity and mutual support during a difficult period in both their lives.
“It is planned, but it is also changing the protocol to show the King and Kate united with each other and going through similar battles,” Harrold said.
“So I would say this is down to the King’s preference. The balcony is all orchestrated, but I have a feeling the King said to Kate, ‘You stand next to me.'”
The balcony appearance during Trooping the Colour is a major moment in the royal calendar, often featuring nearly the entire Royal Family, including the youngest members—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
As of now, it’s unclear which royals will join the King on the balcony for this year’s flypast.
In recent years, appearances have been restricted to “working royals,” those who carry out official duties on behalf of the monarchy, as noted by The Daily Express.
Regardless of who appears, the event remains a deeply symbolic celebration, not just of the monarch’s official birthday, but of the Royal Family’s unity, resilience, and evolving traditions in modern times.
