Everything you need to know about Trooping the Colour 2026

Need to know Everything you need to know about Trooping the Colour 2026 One of the biggest events on the royal calendar is just days away, with the Royal Family set to celebrate the King’s birthday on Saturday What you need to know about Trooping the Colour, and what to expect for the 2026 celebration on Saturday - Trooping the Colour, also known as the Sovereign's Birthday Parade, takes place in June every year to mark the monarch’s birthday. - The event will kick off in London at Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, with thousands of royal fans expected to flood the Mall to celebrate the event. - It is the King’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards turn to take the spotlight, trooping their colour in front of His Majesty. The parade is expected to start at 10:30am on Saturday. - Following the procession, the Royal Family will take to the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force flypast. - The celebration will likely be attended by many of the senior members of the Royal Family, and will be broadcast on the BBC. - Even though King Charles was actually born in November, his birthday is marked in June, like many monarchs before him. This is due to centuries of tradition and the weather. - The very first Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed during the reign of King Charles II, who was Monarch from 1660 to 1685. But it was King Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910 and was born in November, that began the tradition of holding Trooping the Colour in June. - When King Edward VII was planning his birthday celebrations, he decided that November - when his actual birthday is held - is not the optimal time of year for a large outdoor gathering. So instead, he moved Trooping of the Colour to May or June because there was less chance of it being cold and drizzly on the big day. The tradition of holding the celebration in June has continued ever since.