The Duke of Kent delighted royal fans during Trooping the Colour after he was spotted pulling out his mobile phone to film the spectacular RAF flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The touching moment quickly became one of the most talked-about scenes of the King’s official birthday celebrations, with many royal watchers charmed by the sight of the 90-year-old royal capturing the occasion for himself.
As King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal Family gathered on the famous balcony to watch the aircraft pass overhead, the Duke of Kent was seen raising his phone to record the display.
The rarely-seen royal, who is the oldest member of the Royal Family, immediately caught the attention of viewers watching coverage of the event.
One fan wrote on social media: “Love the Duke of Kent with what I think is his mobile.”
Another asked: “Was the Duke of Kent on his cell phone?”
A third joked: “I have to ask… is the Duke of Kent playing on his phone?”
Video footage shared online appeared to show the Duke carefully filming both the crowds gathered below Buckingham Palace and the flypast overhead as the celebrations reached their climax.
Some royal fans admitted they had been left emotional by the sight, with several commenting that he looked isolated as the family watched the flypast.
The Duke of Kent has become an increasingly rare public presence in recent years due to his age and health challenges, making every appearance particularly special for royal supporters.
Last year was especially difficult for the Duke following the death of his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent. The couple had been married for more than six decades and were regarded as one of the Royal Family’s most enduring partnerships.
Despite his advancing years, the Duke continues to carry out a number of public duties and remains a highly respected figure within the monarchy.
A first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, he has served the Crown for decades and has attended Trooping the Colour throughout much of his adult life.
Saturday’s balcony appearance saw him join King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Following the successful parade and flypast, the King issued a message of thanks to the Armed Forces personnel who took part in the ceremony.
“With thanks to the 1,400 members of the Armed Forces who took part in today’s Trooping the Colour, and with special mention to the Grenadier Guards who trooped their new Colour. We salute you,” the statement read.
