The Queen’s Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour, took place today in Central London to mark Her Majesty’s official 91st birthday on Saturday.
Dressed in a pale blue dress and matching hat, the 91-year-old monarch took the salute at Horseguards Parade and inspected her guards as she does every year.
With celebration comes commemoration, however, as the ceremony takes place just a few days after the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington which killed scores of people.
The Queen recognised that the nation is still in mourning, and led a minute’s silence at Buckingham Palace before she set off to Horseguards Parade.
She also released an unprecedented statement referring to the events of Grenfell a few hours before the events of the day got underway.
The Duke of Edinburgh for the first time attended the ceremony in a suit rather than his military uniform. This is likely due to the hot weather and his age. Similarly, the Duke of Kent also attended the parade without his military uniform for the first time.
In a couple of months, the 96-year-old Prince will retire from public duties. It is possible that Trooping the Colour will be one occasion he still decides to attend each year to support his wife of 70 years.
Also attending the parade on horseback were The Prince of Wales who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, The Duke of Cambridge – Colonel of the Irish Guards and The Princess Royal – Colonel of the Blues and Royals.
The Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were in the first carriage in the parade, with Prince Andrew and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie in the second carriage.
The Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester followed behind.
