There are just a few days left to apply for a chance to be at one of the stand out royal events of the year as the ballot for Trooping the Colour is about to shut.
Every year, tickets are made available through the ballot for the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade.
In 2026, the deadline for entering the ballot is March 27. Applying to enter the ballot doesn’t mean you will get a ticket. A few days later, the names that have been drawn out will be contacted and given the chance to buy tickets for the parade.
This year, Trooping the Colour takes place on June 13 and it will be, as usual, at Horse Guards Parade in London.
The King’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will Troop their Colour in the presence of The King. Over 1350 soldiers of the Household Division and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, including over 300 musicians from the Massed Bands are expected to take part and rehearsals will go on for weeks before the main event.
Another 250 service personnel will line the route which will see King Charles travel from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards and back again.
King Charles now arrives at the parade ground by carriage. The Prince of Wales is expected to ride to the parade.
Ahead of the main parade, there are two other chances for people to see the spectacular show. The Colonel’s Review takes place a week before and this year is held on June 6 2026. Tickets for that are £15 and are bought direct via the Army’s website.
And on May 30th, the Major General’s Review takes place, without the service personnel lining the route and with a slightly reduced number of mounted officers involved. Tickets for that event are also bought direct and cost £10.
Trooping the Colour traces its roots back to the reign of the second king called Charles. The parade was a chance for an individual regiment to ‘troop its colour’, that is to say its flag.
In 1748, it was decided that this huge ceremonial event would mark the Official Birthday of the Sovereign and it became an annual event in the reign of King George III, who ascended the throne in 1760.
The parade is now held on the second Saturday in June as the weather is generally better at that time of year. In 2022, it was held on a Thursday so that it could become the first major event of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
More details of the ballot for this year’s Trooping can be found on the British Army’s website.
