Prefall and Pomp: King Charles celebrates his birthday parade in London

Prefall and Pomp: King Charles celebrates his birthday parade in London

London, Vereinigtes Königreich - On June 14, 2025, Great Britain celebrates the official birthday of King Charles III. With the traditional military parade "Trooping the Color". This ceremony, which has been celebrated for almost 280 years, has a long history and has been taking place annually on the second weekend in June since 1979. At 11:00 a.m. CEST, hundreds of soldiers, horses and musicians gather in London to honor the king in a magnificent performance.

This year King Charles will not take a horse, but in a carriage in the parade, accompanied by Queen Camilla. In the run -up to the celebrations that let the king celebrate its 77th birthday in November, it was made public last year that Charles suffered from cancer and undergo perseverance therapy. Despite his health challenges, the king continues to notice numerous appointments, including a trip to Canada to open parliament.

highlights of the parade

The palace mobilized over 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians for this year's ceremony. The focus of the event is on the body regiments of the king, which also include the Irish Guards, which are currently training Ukrainian soldiers as part of the "Operation Interflex". This close connection between the monarchy and the military is reinforced by the role of Charles as the commander -in -chief of the armed forces.

But not all people are behind traditional care. Critics express that the pomp of the parade is no longer up to date and reminds of imperialist times. Nevertheless, there are also many supporters who appreciate the precision and discipline of the troops in their festive uniforms and enjoy marching music. For many spectators, “Trooping the Color” is the highlight in the annual event calendar.

history and meaning

originally designed in the 17th century, "Trooping the Color" was officially introduced in 1748 to celebrate King George II's birthday. Since then, the ceremony has developed from a military event to a celebration that is deeply anchored in British identity. Traditionally, the ceremony begins with the arrival of the soldiers on the Horse Guards Parade in London, followed by a parade through the streets in which they present their skill and discipline.

"Trooping the Color" is not only a celebration of the birthday of the monarchical overhead, but also an important event that symbolizes the connection between the British military and civil society. It attracts people from all social classes and remains an integral part of British culture.

In 2025, the parade once again brings a wealth of history and tradition to London, while the country on the birthday parties of King Charles III. prepared.

Vienna reports about the celebrations, the ZDF today provides detailed information about the ceremony, and london-tourism Context for this important event.