The Queen celebrated her official birthday today with the annual Trooping the Colour parade. Large crowds turned out for the parade in Horse Guards Parade, central London and many were eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex - exactly three weeks after they tied the knot. The newlyweds arrived in a horse-drawn carriage as part of the procession, which was attended by other senior royals including Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But it was Meghan who stole the show looking demure and elegant in a Carolina Herrera blush off the shoulder dress pairing the gorgeous gown with a glowing tan and bouncy waves. Meghan and Harry’s public appearance together followed media speculation in recent weeks they had been on honeymoon, although Kensington Palace has not provided details of any trip. The Queen cut a lonely figure as she arrived at the parade in an Ascot Landau without her husband, Prince Philip, by her side. He retired from public life last year and was last seen in public at the royal wedding of his grandson Prince Harry and Meghan in May. The monarch’s procession was accompanied by the royal colonels, all on horseback: Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, thePrincess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards. Also riding in the ceremony for the first time was the Duke of York in his new role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. Sadly a 79-year-old Field Marshal, Lord Guthrie, was thrown from his horse at the Trooping the Colour parade and was taken to hospital by ambulance. His condition is unknown at this stage. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were joined on the balcony of Kensington Palace by their young children Prince George and Princess Charlotte. However Prince Louis, born in April, did not make an appearance on the balcony and has not been seen in public since his birth. The balcony carried light-hearted mischief this year, as Savannah Philips, daughter of Peter Philip and granddaughter of Princess Anne, appeared to cover Prince George’s mouth, seemingly unimpressed by his rendition for the National Anthem. Here are the latest updates from the annual spectacle (all times in BST).
3.06pm update: Lord Guthrie thrown from horse A former head of the armed forces was thrown off his horse after the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Field Marshal Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank was "receiving medical attention" following the incident, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said. The 79-year-old could be seen lying on the ground and surrounded by police officers after the fall which took place near theVictoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Pictures show Lord Guthrie on the ground, as officers rush to his aid while another officer leads his horse away. Former SAS commander Lord Guthrie was head of the British Army until 1997 and then chief of defence staff until 2001. RAF veteran John Nichol tweeted: "Hearing Field Marshal Lord Guthrie was thrown from his horse earlier. "troopingofthecolour. Really hope all is OK - a nicer General Officer you could not hope to meet. Wishing you well Sir." Meanwhile, a 51-year-old woman was arrested for a public order offence after an item was thrown towards a procession at Trooping the Colour, Scotland Yard said. The woman is currently in custody at a central London police station.
Trooping the Colour 2018: All the best pictures from the celebrations Sat, June 9, 2018 The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen's actual birthday is on April 21st. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 66 Britain's Queen Elizabeth, along with other members of the British royal family
2.05pm update: Mum to the rescue All the excitement and atmosthere of the day seemed to have overwhelmed Princess Charlotte, as she was reassured and comforted by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, while they watched the flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
PA Princess Charlotte is comforted by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge
1.29pm update: Wrong key George! It seems Savannah Philips, daughter of Peter Philip and granddaughter of Princess Anne, was far from impressed by Prince George’s rendition of the National Anthem as the youngsters waited on the Buckingham Palace balony for the Trooping the Colour celebrations to end. This is one way to stop his singing...
Savannah Phillips is not impressed by Prince George’s rendition of the national anthem. Princess Charlotte looks away... #TroopingtheColour #QBP2018 pic.twitter.com/E4pGRwO2Cd — Majesty/Joe Little (@MajestyMagazine) June 9, 2018
1.03pm update: Queen's celebrations culminate with RAF flypast The Queen’s birthday flypast took place over Buckingham Palace on Saturday as members of the royal family looked up to witness the annual event. The fly-past features the modern high-tech Typoon as well as Spitfires and Hurricanes.
Reuters Trooping the Colour: The Red Arrows display as the RAF flypast passes over Buckingham Palace
Reuters Members of the royal family look into the palace courtyard from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
12.57pm update: RAF flypast may be delayed A Field Marshal was thrown from his horse at the Trooping the Colour parade, the BBC has reported. Lord Guthrie, 79, was being taken to hospital by ambulance after initially receiving treatment at the scene. The Ministry of Defence told Express.co.uk they would not be commenting on the incident at this time as it would not be "appropriate."
Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, 79, thrown from his horse at #TroopingTheColour - may delay balcony appearance & RAF fly-past. ������ — Michael Rhodes (@migrhodes) June 9, 2018
12.32pm update: Royals gather on Buckingham Palace balcony Members of the royal family have started to gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony in anticipation of the RAF flypast at 1pm. The Duchess of Cambridge has taken her place in the middle of the balcony, along with the Duchess of Sussex - who is making her balcony debut - Prince Harry, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Eugenie and Beatrice, Countess of Wessex and her daughter, Lady Louise Windsor.
Getty Trooping the Colour 2018: Members of the royal family have gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony
12.00pm update: Queen celebrated her actual birthday in April The colour trooped this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle. Colours, or flags, were carried, or "trooped", down the rank so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. In the 18th century, guards from the royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to "troop the colours", and in 1748 it was announced that the parade would also mark the Sovereign's official birthday. The Queen's actual birthday was on April 21 when she turned 92.
Getty Prince William and Prince Charles arrive at The Royal Horseguards
AFP/Getty Meghan is attending her first Trooping the Colour parade
Getty Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and he Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise
11.20am update: Queen makes solo appearance at Trooping the Colour parade The Queen made her entrance onto Horse Guards in an Ascot Landau after making the journey from Buckingham Palace. Her procession was accompanied by a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets. The 7,500 guests seated in stands lining the parade ground stood as a mark of respect as the monarch arrived and began inspecting the massed ranks of the troops. The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 97th birthday on Sunday, has retired from official public duties and did not attend. The monarch received a rousing cheer from the crowds in the Mall as her procession went past. She wore a sky blue coat and dress by Stuart Parvin and a hat by Angela Kelly.
AFP/Getty The Queen travelled in an Ascot Landau
11.14am update: Kate and Camilla travel together The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge were travelling in another carriage during the parade. While a third carriage carried Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise. Kate wore a dress by Alexander McQueen - her wedding dress designer - and a hat by Juliette Botterill. Camilla wore a blue silk dress and coat by Bruce Oldfield and a hat by Philip Treacy.
Getty Duchess Of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge during Trooping the Colour on the Mall
11.07am update: First time Duchess of Sussex experiences Trooping the Colour parade The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have joined the nation and the monarchy in celebrating the Queen's official birthday at theTrooping the Colour ceremony. Meghan experienced the pomp and pageantry of the event for the first time when she arrived on Horse Guards Parade with Harry in a carriage, along with the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent. The couple were greeted by the sight of hundreds of Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins lined up on the parade ground - Henry VIII's former jousting yard - as the event began. The duke and duchess, who married exactly three weeks today, travelled from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to cheers from royal fans gathered in the famous London thoroughfare. The Duchess of Sussex wore a dress by Carolina Herrera and a hat by Philip Treacy.
Reuters The Duchess of Sussex is enjoying her first Trooping the Colour parade
10.59am: The Queen has arrived at the Trooping the Colour The Queen has arrived at the Trooping the Colour parade. Her Majesty is travelling alone in a horse-drawn carriage, with no Prince Philip by her side. The monarch’s husband has officially retired from royal public duties. She was wearing a cornflower blue suit and matching hat as she attends celebrations for her official birthday.
PA The Queen cuts a lonely figure as she arrives at the Trooping the Colour parade
10.43am update: Members of the royal family start to arrive The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have left Buckingham Palace in a carriage en route to Horse Guards Parade, where the Trooping the Colour ceremony is soon to begin. Meghan, who is attending the royal event for the first time, and Harry were joined by the Duke of Kent. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall led the carriage procession travelling together in a coach. The crowds in the Mall cheered as Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise travelled past in the third carriage.
Reuters Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, take part in the Trooping the Colour parade
10.06am update: Trooping the Colour timetable These are the times for the Queen’s birthday parade today as the monarch celebrates her official birthday. 9.15am: Troops star forming up on Horse Guards Parade 10.45am: The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace in a grand procession escorted by the Household Cavalry 11am: The Queen arrives on Horse Guards Parade to take the royal salute. Her Majesty will then review Her Guards riding slowly down the ranks of foot guards and cavalry in a carriage. During the parade The Colour is Trooped through the ranks before the Foot Guards march past The Queen and then the Household Cavalry and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery rank past. 12.20pm: The Queen, at the head of Her Guards, returns up The Mall to Buckingham Palace. At the gates of Buckingham Palace HM The Queen dismounts from the carriage and mounts a dais to watch the parade march past in salute. 12.52pm: Following the parade the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the Queen’s official birthday. 12.55pm: The Queen and other members of the Royal Family make a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace. 1pm: Fly past by the Royal Air Force
AFP/Getty Images Trooping the Colour LIVE: Members of the Irish Guards march to Horseguards parade
Thousands of people gather outside Buckingham Palace every year to watch Queen Elizabeth II’s annual pageant. When is Trooping the Colour? Trooping the Colour 2018 will take place on June 9, as it is traditionally held on the second Saturday of June. The event dates back to Charles II in the 17th century.
Regiment colours were trooped in front of soldiers so they could recognise their unit in battle. Since her coronation in 1953, the Queen has taken the salute every year, apart from 1955 when there was a national rail strike. The royal occasion, which is also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, kicks off with a huge pageantry parade which includes her personal troops, the Household Division and Horse Guards. How to watch Trooping the Colour
GETTY The Queen is celebrating her 92nd birthday this year
At around 9.15am this morning, Household Guard troops began to form. However, the Queen is not expected to leave Buckingham Palace until around 10.45am. She will take a Royal salute from officers and then inspect the troops before the Regiment Colour flag is carried down the ranks. The Queen will then head back to Buckingham Palace to the balcony for the impressive Royal Air Force fly-past, after Foot Guards, the Household Cavalry, The King’s Troop and Royal Horse Artillery troop past.
GETTY Trooping the Colour takes place outside Buckingham Palace
GETTY Crowds gather every year to celebrate the Queen's birthday and watch Trooping the Colour
Tickets, which were priced at £35 each, are no longer available for this year’s event. Members of the public who did get hold of tickets can stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park, which overlooks Horse Guards. The dress code is morning or lounge dress, but denim has been banned.
Trooping the Colour 2018: All the best pictures from the celebrations Sat, June 9, 2018 The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen's actual birthday is on April 21st. Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 66 Britain's Queen Elizabeth, along with other members of the British royal family
Being the Queen of England comes with many privileges, one of which is having two birthdays. While Elizabeth II was born in April, her annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour is today, and her whole family is at Buckingham Palace to celebrate. See all the photos from the day right here.
The whole royal family was up on the Buckingham Palace balcony this morning in celebration of the Queen's birthday parade. The whole family, that is, except its youngest member.
In keeping with recent tradition, Prince Louis, is not in attendance at today's Trooping the Colour celebration. He's simply too young.
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Louis, who was born on April 23, is just six-weeks-old at this point, and has only made one public appearance on the steps of the Lindo Wing of the hospital. He was also deemed too young to attend his Uncle Harry's wedding last month.
At that time, Dr. Robin Jacobson, pediatrician at NYU Langone Pediatric Associates at Irving Place in New York City told T&C that while infants can go out in public shortly after they are born, it is preferable for them to stay home for two months.
"In truth a newborn baby could go on a plane or be out in public even the day after they’re born. We prefer though, that they not for the first two months because the worry is they’re going to get sick," she told T&C.
"I tell my new moms and dads, a week after a new baby is born, if you want to go for a walk, if you’re not anywhere too crowded, it’s fine, but you really don’t want to be in big crowds until they’re two months old."
While Louis is missed this morning, his presence at Trooping was a long shot. Prince George didn't make his Buckingham Palace balcony debut until June of 2015, or about a month before his second birthday:
Prince George with his family on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 2015. Getty Images
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And Princess Charlotte made hers in 2016, just after she turned two:
Princess Charlotte makes her Trooping the Colour debut. Getty Images
But waiting 24 months hasn't always been the case. The Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, was seen on the balcony, in his mother's arms when he was just three months old.
The Queen holding Prince Edward alongside Prince Philip and Prince Andrew on the balcony at the 1964 Trooping the Colour. Getty Images
And Prince Harry was a squirmy baby on the balcony at less than a year old in 1985.
Getty Images
The next time we'll see Louis will be at his christening later this summer. While a date for the baptism has yet to be shared publicly, it will likely be in July.
