Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not be attending today’s grand celebrations for King Charles’s official birthday as Britain gets ready to enjoy the monarch’s third Trooping the Colour. Harry and Meghan last attended Trooping the Colour in 2022 which coincided with the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, however, they did not join the rest of the working Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The couple first attended the annual celebrations in 2018, shortly after they were newlyweds, and also showed up for the 2019 event. The couple, who currently reside in Montecito, California, along with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will all be missing the King’s birthday celebrations.
This annual event, held on the second Saturday of June, celebrates King Charles III’s official birthday and in recent years has been attended only by senior working members of the Royal Family. Since stepping back from their royal duties in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not been included in the guest list for this occasion.
Since their departure from official royal roles, Harry and Meghan no longer undertake public duties on behalf of the monarchy.
As the Sussexes continue their life in California, their participation in future royal events remains uncertain. The evolving dynamics within the Royal Family and the couple’s current status suggest that their involvement in official ceremonies like Trooping the Colour may remain limited.
In 2020 and 2021, the ceremony was scaled down without any large gatherings taking place due to the pandemic.
The annual event marks the official birthday of the monarch and features thousands of troops on parade. Military bands in full regalia also perform at the spectacular event, with thousands gathering to catch a glimpse of the ceremony. It dates back centuries and became an annual event in 1760.
Each year, a different regimental colour (flag) is trooped, and members of the five Foot Guards regiments take turns leading the parade.
This year, the Coldstream Guards will have the honour of trooping the colour. It will mark the first time the regiment has trooped its colour in front of the King.
Senior members of the Royal Family take part in the occasion, with some participating on horseback and others parading in horse-drawn carriages. The highlight of the day comes when the Firm steps out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the Red Arrows whizz overhead.
Members of the public who are without tickets who are wishing to spectate the celebrations today are advised to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9.00am, or watch the coverage on BBC One.
