(left to right) The Prince of Wales riding Darby, the Duke of Edinburgh riding Sir John, and the Princess Royal riding Noble, horses presented to the royal family by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, during the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday June 13, 2026.
Yui Mok – PA Images/Getty Images
After the ceremony, the royals were escorted back to Buckingham Palace in the second carriage procession of the day, delighting the crowds gathered along the Mall in the spring sunshine.
The regimental flag being trooped this year is the King’s Colour of the Grenadier Guards, which was presented by the king earlier this week during a Buckingham Palace ceremony. Today it was trooped by guardsmen of the King’s Company.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 13, 2026.
Samir Hussein
The eagerly anticipated balcony appearance and Fly Past is one of the highlights of the day. Today the balcony—used only for Trooping the Colour and Jubilees—was reserved for working members of the royal family. During Queen Elizabeth’s reign it was not uncommon for up to 44 royals to appear on the balcony. But in the final years of her reign, the number of royals invited to join the monarch was reduced, a tradition that King Charles has taken even further.
“The balcony moment is what we all look forward to. Other than Christmas it’s the one chance we get to check in and see the royal family all together,” says royal expert Charlotte Griffiths.
“During the late Queen’s reign it was a very busy balcony, but the King has slimmed down the monarchy, and the balcony appearance is reserved for working royals and I think most people think that is how it should be.
