Royal Family Members at Trooping the Colour Through the Years
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It was a rainy Trooping the Colour 2024, but the show went on in celebration of the British sovereign's birthday. Interestingly enough, this time-honored tradition, which celebrated King Charles III in 2024, was believed to have been first held during the reign of his last namesake Charles II in the mid-late 17th century. Watched by huge crowds of onlookers in person and on the BBC, it's an impressive display steeped in tradition that involves over 1,000 soldiers in a procession at the Horse Guards Parade in London.
Trooping the Colour also provides an excellent opportunity to catch up with the Royal Family every year, since many members will arrive dressed to the nines to participate in the procession and greet onlookers from the Buckingham Palace Balcony. We've gathered group shots of the Royal Family at Trooping the Colour throughout so much change the during the past 20 years.
2024
The last year has been a tough one for the Royal family, with both King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales dealing with cancer diagnoses. This was Kate's first public appearance since beginning a period of medical leave back in January of 2024.
2023
This was the first Trooping the Colour following King Charles III's coronation in 2023 and happened just over a month afterward. The Royal Kids of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, were on their best behavior and smartly dressed at the ceremony. Also on the balcony are King Charles' youngest brother Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
2022
Queen Elizabeth attended every single Trooping the Colour of her reign except for when outside situations derailed the events. 2022 would be Elizabeth II's last appearance at the celebration, as she would pass away in September of 2022.
2021
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 Trooping the Colour was scaled back to a small display at Windsor Castle. Queen Elizabeth is photographed here with Prince Edward, who is Colonel of the Scots Guards, one of the five Foot Guard regiments of the British Military that rotate responsibility for "trooping" (aka carrying) their colors through the ranks of guards before the procession.
2020
With safety in mind, an even smaller procession occurred in June 2020 with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards trooping, though they still put on a spectacular show in Windsor Castle.
2019
Look how crowded that balcony is for the 2019 ceremony. This would be the last Trooping the Colour that Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would attend before they stepped down from their duties as working Royals in early 2020.
2018
The Royal Family has excellent taste in fashionable hats, you can't deny that. You'll notice there's no Prince Louis here, but he wasn't slacking, he would've just been born a couple of months prior on April 23, 2018.
2017
This ceremony would be Prince Phillip's final Trooping the Colour before retiring from his royal duties later that same year. By the end of his tenure, he had reportedly made over 20,000 solo appearances since 1952.
2016
Royal Family members watch the Royal Air Force flypast from the balcony during the 2016 Trooping the Colour ceremony. Queen Elizabeth's vibrant green ensemble stands out from the rest of the family.
2015
A young Prince George steals the spotlight in his first Trooping the Colour appearance on the balcony in his dad Prince William's arms. Then 22 months old, Prince George seemed excited for the ceremony and even waved to onlookers when he came out.
2014
Prince Phillip, Prince Harry, Princess Catherine, and Prince William share a laugh on the balcony in 2014. Harry was a few months shy of his 30th birthday (which lands on September 15th) at the time of this photo.
2013
In 2013, Queen Elizabeth celebrated the 60th anniversary of her coronation, adding even more festivities in the same summer window as Trooping the Colour. If you haven't been able to tell from the photos, blue was one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite colors and this royal blue shade was a great choice.
2012
The Royals watch another RAF flypast before the procession officially begins. Other Royals photographed here include Queen Camilla (then the Duchess of Cornwall) Prince Andrew, Anne, Princess Royal, her husband Timothy Laurence, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie (then the Countess of Wessex).
2011
This would've been the Princess of Wales' first Trooping the Colour after marrying Prince William on April 29, 2011. They first met a decade prior at the University of St. Andrews, having an on-and-off relationship and continuous friendship through the aughts before becoming engaged in late 2010.
2010
The first Trooping the Colour of a new decade, and it was extremely eventful. With royal weddings, new Princes and Princesses being born, and a few scandals, the 2010s would be a decade of change and growth for the Royal Family.
2009
Queen Elizabeth and Queen (then-Duchess) Camilla are both visions in different shades of blue in this 2009 shot of the ceremony. Look how young Prince William and Harry appear here as well!
2008
What a huge family photo! The crowd on the Buckingham Palace balcony back for the 2008 Trooping the Colour is huge compared to the Royal attendance of the ceremonies in the 2020s so far. There has been discussion that the number of working Royals has thinned out in recent years, with members such as Princess Anne and Prince Edward stepping up their already-busy schedules while King Charles and Princess Catherine take much-needed time off.
2007
In this shot of the 2007 ceremony, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is flanked by his two daughters—Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie—on either side.
2006
The Royals gather once more for the grand event in this group shot of the 2005 Trooping the Colour. You'll have noticed through these photos that Princess Anne is one of the only female Royal Family members who regularly wear military uniforms to ceremonial events.
2005
This would have been the first Trooping the Colour following the wedding of King Charles to Queen Camilla on April 9th, 2005.
2004
Can any eagle-eyed Royal Family fans spot who is missing from this lineup? Both Princes William and Harry weren't present for the 2004 Trooping the Colour ceremony.
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