Kate Middletonis marking a monumentalTrooping the Colour.
Kate, 41, experienced another royal first on Saturday: her first time celebrating the monarch’s official birthday since becoming the Princess of Wales.
The first birthday parade ofKing Charles' reign brought out many members of the royal family for the annual event, including his daughter-in-law, who rode in a horse-drawn carriage as part of the parade alongside Queen Camilla.
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty
HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty
The color choice is also poignant as a color of hue featured in the flag of Wales, as William and Kate were named the Prince and Princess of Wales upon King Charles' accession to the throne. (With Prince William and their three children in red ensembles, it was the ultimate display of family flag dressing!)
This also marks Kate’s first Trooping the Colour as honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards — making green the perfect color choice!King Charleshas named his daughter-in-law as the new Colonel of the Irish Guards, a role that previously belonged to her husband, who is now Colonel of the Welsh Guards. The new royal role is a fitting one for the Princes of Wales, who has beenhonoring that guards regimentmost St. Patrick’s Day holidays since marrying into the royal family in 2011. Kate also accessorized with a shamrock brooch to denote her royal role.
Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince William joined the parade on horseback as Colonel of the Welsh Guards – which this year are the regiment whose “colour,” or flag containing the regiment’s honors, will be presented to the King. William, who turns 41 on Wednesday, wore his official uniform of the high-ranking, honorary officer role and a tall bearskin hat.
When the parade reached Horse Guards' Parade, Queen Camilla and Princess Kate joined the other Royal Colonels as the Welsh Guards presented their flag, or “colour,” to the King. In past years, both royal women would watch this part of the ceremony from one of the buildings surrounding the parade grounds with other royals.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Princess Kate has attended every Trooping the Colour since 2011, which took place less than two months after she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey. The only exceptions were in2020and2021when a significantly scaled back version of the monarch’s birthday parade replaced the traditionally grand events due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s parade hit a poignant note as it is the first time the family have gathered for the annual celebration sinceQueen Elizabeth’s death in September last year. The 2022Trooping the Colourkicked off a series of events for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, that marked her astonishing 70 years on the throne. Queen Elizabeth holds the record for the longest reign for a British monarch.
Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty
Trooping the Colour is the military’s birthday tribute to the monarch — however, King Charles will not actually turn 75 until November. June was chosen for the parade for a simple, logical reason: the promise of better weather. Even for the late Queen Elizabeth, whose birthday was in April, the event took place annually in June.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
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There is no shortage of royal traditions in the coming weeks. On Monday, the royals will gather for the annual Order of the Garter Day parade at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Then Royal Ascot horse races are set to take place, likely with some royal guests watching next week.
source: people.com
