Each year, the Monarch's official birthday celebration is marked in a Trooping the Colour celebration.
It's a much loved British tradition that usually takes place in June. There have only been a few occasions when the celebrations haven't taken place including 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus crisis. In 2022, we witnessed Queen Elizabeth's final ever Trooping the Colour after she sadly passed away just three months after the celebrations.
While King Charles III's first Trooping the Colour won't be taking place until summer 2023, we predict the annual celebration will look rather similar to previous years.
What is Trooping the Colour?
The annual Royal occasion of Trooping the Colour has been a much loved British tradition for over 260 years.
The Trooping the Colour parade usually takes place on the second Saturday of June every year and is where over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together to perform a military display to mark the Sovereigns birthday in June.
The King's actual birthday is on November 14, but the tradition of the British monarch celebrating two birthdays stems back to 1748, during the reign of King George II.
As the King's birthday fell in late autumn, the weather wasn't suitable for a large, public celebration in honour of his birthday, hence the June date.
The display starts at 10am and takes place from Buckingham Palace to The Mall and Horse Guard's Parade alongside members of the Royal Family.
Trooping the Colour is a military ceremony performed by more than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, who come together each June in one of the most esteemed military displays in the world.
The guards that take part in the parade form one of the oldest regiments of the British Army - the Household Division.
They are like the King's bodyguards or personal troops, and have been part of the monarchy since the English Civil War ended in 1660.
Why do we have Trooping the Colour?
The military background of this ceremony goes all the way back to the 17th Century. The 'Colour' refers to the brightly colored flags used in war which would be used to show rallying points for the soldiers to help them recognise their unit in battle.
Prior to battle, officers would march up and down in front of the troops (this is called 'trooping'), waving their flags (or 'colours'), so everyone could see which flags belonged to which regiment.
Each year at Trooping the Colour, a different regiment's colours are trooped.
For the 2018 celebrations, it was the colours of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, and in 2019, the colour was trooped by 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
When was the first Trooping the Colour?
The traditional celebration has been taking place for over 260 years!
The ceremony became an annual royal tradition in 1748 to celebrate the official birthday of the Sovereign.
In 1951, King George VI was too ill to attend the Trooping of the Colour so his daughter, Princess Elizabeth took his place, taking the salute for her first time.
The 2023 Trooping the Colour will be the first celebration to mark King Charles III's official birthday. It won't be the first time he has taken the salute however. In 2022, Charles, Anne and William took the salute as the 96-year-old Queen Elizabeth II was suffering from mobility issues.
Who attends Trooping the Colour?
Once the ceremony comes to an end, the Royal Family come together on the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony where they watch a colourful display from the RAF at 1pm.
Alongside the King four generations of royals assemble, including the Queen Consort, Camilla, Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie the Countess of Wessex, amongst others.
Where can I watch Trooping the Colour?
Guests can attend in person or watch the parade on TV. If you're heading to the ceremony, it is advised you arrive at 9am to secure a good spot near The Mall or St James's Park.
For a closer view, tickets can be purchased online through a ballot system costing between £5 and £35 per ticket.
Alternatively, the BBC broadcast the whole ceremony from start to finish meaning you can get a great view of proceedings from the comfort of your own home.