King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined other members of the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Red Arrows flypast during the Trooping the Colour parade in London. The annual event celebrates the King’s official birthday and showcases British military tradition. Earlier, the royals paraded along the Mall, accompanied by soldiers and a marching band.
The King requested that members of the Royal Family wear black armbands during the parade to honor the victims of the recent Air India plane crash. Thousands of people attended the parade in central London. Many cheered as the Royal Family made their way along the Mall.
However, some anti-monarchy protesters also gathered, chanting “not my King” during the parade.
King Charles honors Air India victims
After the parade, the Royal Family returned to Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast from the balcony.
The crowds below chanted “God save the King” and “we love the King” as the family appeared. The flypast was notable for being the first time the Red Arrows used eco-friendly fuel. Gun salutes also took place at Green Park, firing rounds at ten-second intervals as part of the Trooping the Colour traditions.
Earlier in the day, King Charles III reviewed his troops during the Horse Guards Parade, alongside Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales. The parade then returned to Buckingham Palace for the RAF flypast. The King’s gesture of wearing a black armband signaled national mourning and solidarity with the families of those who died in the Air India crash.
While the event retained its celebratory nature, it also carried an additional layer of somber reflection due to the recent tragedy.
