Happy Birthday ma'am! Queen celebrates Trooping the Colour with FOUR generations of royals
THE QUEEN has appeared on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with four generations of the Royal Family as a dramatic flypast brought this year’s spectacular Trooping the Colour to an end.
She was joined at the palace by members of her family including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall,the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise.
The flypast featured iconic vintage aircraft including a Lancaster bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane plus Chinook helicopters, Typhoon and Tornado jets and a special display by the Red Arrows.
REUTERS
Earlier, the Queen and the royal party made the short journey to Horseguard’s Parade for the Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark her official birthday as the world’s longest-reigning monarch.
She received a rousing cheer from the crowds in the Mall as her procession went past.
Reuters
The head of state, who travelled alone in an Ascot Landau, wore a sky blue coat and dress by Stuart Parvin, and a hat by Angela Kelly.
She celebrated her actual 92nd birthday on April 21 but today marks her official birthday.
The Duchess of Sussex experienced the pomp and pageantry of the event for the first time when she arrived on Horse Guards Parade with Harry in a carriage, along with the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent.
AFP GETTY
The couple were greeted by the sight of hundreds of Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins lined up on the parade ground - Henry VIII's former jousting yard - as the event began.
The duke and duchess, who married exactly three weeks today, travelled from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to cheers from royal fans gathered in the famous London thoroughfare.
Meghan, Harry and the other members of the royal family took their place in Wellington's former office which overlooks the parade ground.
The Queen’s procession was accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.
The 7,500 guests seated in stands lining the parade ground stood as a mark of respect as the monarch arrived and began inspecting the massed ranks of the troops.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 97th birthday on Sunday, has retired from official public duties and did not attend.
But the Queen was accompanied by the royal colonels, all on horseback: Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards.
Also riding in the ceremony for the first time was the Duke of York in his new role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
PA
GETTY
SKY
Among the guests was Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, the Prime Minister Theresa May normally attends but is at a G7 meeting of world leaders in Canada.
Trooping the Colour is an annual event to celebrate the Queen's official birthday, which dates back to Charles II in the 17th century when regiment colours were trooped in front of soldiers so they could recognise their unit in battle.
The Queen has never missed the occasion, apart from in 1955 when the event was cancelled due to a national rail strike.
She underwent eye surgery to remove a cataract last month and was seen wearing sunglasses at a number of events, including the Royal Windsor horse show and Buckingham Palace garden parties.