Decked out
in all their military finery, with bearskins, cavalry and soldiers
galore, the Royal family assembled in central London today for the
Trooping of the Colour to mark the Queen's official birthday.
How times change: The royal family pictured 31 years ago as Prince
William was taken on to the balcony for the first time during the
Trooping of the Colour while being held by father Prince Charles (left)
"Spitting image: Prince George, who was earlier pictured wearing a dark
blue jumper, was dressed in a baby blue outfit with frills for his
appearance - in deliberate echoes of his own father's outfit in 1984 "
But
despite all the splendour on show, there was only one star, as gorgeous
Prince George made his first appearance on the balcony of Buckingham
Palace to wave at the adoring crowds gathered below alongside the
Duchess of Cambridge, making her first appearance since giving birth
last month.
The
young price was wearing a baby-blue outfit trimmed with white frills,
in a deliberate echo of Price William's own outfit when he first
appeared on the balcony held by Charles 31 years ago. When George had
appeared at the window of the palace earlier in the day, he had been
wearing a dark jumper.
Out
on the balcony George cuddled up to proud father Prince William, still
dressed in his red tunic having ridden on horseback alongside Princess
Anne and Prince Charles during the earlier parade.
Wife Kate, looking elegant as ever in a
blue and white floral pattern dress by Catherine Walker, was riding
separately in a open-topped Barouche carriage alongside Camilla, Duchess
of Cornwall, and Prince Harry.
George’s
appearance on the balcony comes weeks before his second birthday in
July. Father, Prince William, and grandfather, Prince Charles, both of
whom will be riding in the procession, attended their first Trooping at
two.
The
parade began at Buckingham Palace before moving through Horse Guards
Parade, The Mall and Admiralty Arch to mark the Queen's official
birthday.
The
monarch, who turned 89 this year, was taken past cheering crowds in a
horse-drawn carriage alongside husband Prince Philip, wearing full
bearskin hat and accompanying red tunic which he is entitled to wear as
he is Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
Prince
Harry was also pictured dressed in the uniform of the Household
Cavalry, where he remains a Commissioned Officer, having quite active
service at the end of last month.
Camilla,
Duchess of Cornwall, was riding in the open-topped Barouche along with
Kate and Prince Harry, while Princess Eugenie and Beatrice occupied a
third alongside their father Prince Andrew.
Princess
Beatrice was wearing a black jewelled head piece from London milliner
Juliette Botterill and an vintage inspired copper coat dress from London
-based designer Suzannah. Princess Eugenie is wearing a cream hat also
from London based milliner Juliette Botterill.
The only
senior royals not present are the Earl and Countess of Wessex who will
represent the monarch at a Swedish royal wedding.
Prince
Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Anne, Colonel
of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the
Irish Guards, are all due to attend the parade but will arrive on
horseback rather than by carriage.
The
Queen, who does still ride in her spare time, used to attend the parade
on horseback, but switched to a carriage in the late 1980s.
Trooping
The Colour is a military custom which dates back to the time of Charles
II, when regiments would have their colours displayed daily to ensure
their men could recognize them in battle.
George III declared that it should take place to mark the king’s birthday, a tradition which continues today.
Colours,
or flags, were trooped past ranks of soldiers so they could be seen and
inspected prior to battle, and from the 18th century the tradition was
taken up by the soldiers of the royal palaces.
In
1748 it was decided that the occasion would also be used to mark the
official birthday of the monarch. The Queen's actual birthday was on
April 21.
No comments:
Post a Comment