The Duchess of Cambridge travelled in a horse-drawn carriage with Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall.
A wave from the Duchess.
Crowds at the Palace enjoying the sunshine.
Recent tragic events and the current mood in parts of Britain were clearly very much on everyone's mind. In a thoughtful message, Her Majesty wrote:
Today is traditionally a day of celebration. This year, however, it is difficult to escape a very sombre national mood. In recent months, the country has witnessed a succession of terrible tragedies. As a nation, we continue to reflect and pray for all who have been directly affected by these events. During recent visits in Manchester and London, I have been profoundly struck by the immediate inclination of people throughout the country to offer comfort and support to those in desperate need.
Put to the test, the United Kingdom has been resolute in the face of adversity. United in our sadness, we are equally determined, without fear or favour, to support all those rebuilding lives so horribly affected by injury and loss.
ELIZABETH R
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh observed a minute's silence at the King's Door before the first of the Birthday Parade carriage processions left Buckingham Palace. For the first time, the Duke opted for morning dress instead of military uniform.
Although the Queen's birthday is 21 April, it has long been tradition to celebrate the sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in June, when good weather is more likely. Her Majesty has attended Trooping the Colour every year since 1947 except in 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event.
The background of the prestigious annual event? Trooping the Colour actually originated in traditional preparations for battle. Colours, or flags, were trooped down the rank so they could be seen by the soldiers. In 1748, it was announced the parade would also mark the sovereign's official birthday.
The event is steeped in royal history and tradition. The Royal Collection Trust shared this photo of the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret & 3-year-old Prince Charles travelling back from Trooping the Colour in 1951.
An enormous amount of planning and preparation goes into ensuring the annual event runs as smoothly as possibly. Over 1,400 officers and military personnel are on parade, together with two hundred horses; over four hundred musicians from ten bands and corps of drums march and play as one. Some 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.
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| The Army in London |
On horseback were Prince William, Colonel of the Irish Guards; Prince Charles, Colonel of the Welsh Guards; and the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals.
At precisely 12.52 pm, gun salutes were fired across the capital: the Honourable Artillery Company fired from the Tower of London and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired from Green Park.
As always, it was a magnificent display.
I spy a little Prince and Princess taking a peek before their official appearance :)
A highlight of Trooping is always seeing so many members of the family gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. It has become even more interesting with the addition of George and Charlotte.
I love this photo; there's quite a bit going on with Kate fixing George's hair with one hand and holding Charlotte with the other. William is keeping a close eye on George while Charlotte looks like she could do with a nap :)
It's always lovely to see those little family moments.
Below, a lovely shot of the Cambridge family.
William and Kate lifted George and Charlotte onto a step to ensure they had a good view of the flypast.
An overview of the balcony.
The complete royal turnout.
Isla and Savannah Philips made their debut.
Kate and Prince Philip share a laugh.
A beautiful mother-daughter photo.
A big smile from Princess Charlotte.
Those expressions :)
Another sweet shot.
A dramatic sight as the flypast approaches.
A great video from the flypast.
The @RoyalAirForce Red Arrows perform their display above the crowds gathered on The Mall and outside Buckingham Palace. pic.twitter.com/V0j4Qj9MNn— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 17, 2017
The royals headed back inside afterwards.
The Queen's birthday honours list was released last night. More from the Telegraph:
'The honourees this year include the policeman killed after confronting the Westminster attacker outside Parliament and the heroic passer-by stabbed trying to protect MP Jo Cox. Billy Connolly was given a knighthood and actress Julie Walters was made a dame. Oscar-winner Olivia de Havilland, who turns 101 next month, is the oldest woman to become a dame in this centenary year of the modern-day honours system.
Those also honoured from the world of entertainment include chart-topper Ed Sheeran and comedian David Walliams. Twenty years after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Paul McCartney is being upgraded with a Companion of Honor award for services to music, alongside J.K. Rowling for her services to literature and philanthropy, in the queen's Birthday Honors list. Britain's last surviving Dambuster, who has been awarded an MBE, said he is very grateful to the thousands of people who signed a petition calling for his wartime service to be recognised.'
Kate's private secretary Rebecca Priestley has been made MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order) by the Queen. It's an award Her Majesty gives independently of government and recognises distinguished personal service to the Royal family. Rebecca is moving on from her role later this summer, so it's a very nice thank you from the Royal family for her service.
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The Duchess was pretty in pink today, opting for what we believe is an Alexander McQueen creation.
The garment appears to be a bespoke version of the brand's Paperbag Waist Dress (with many thanks to Perth Fashion). The original sleeveless design was described: "Pink silk-cotton-wool blend pleated skirt skater dress from Alexander McQueen featuring a round neck, a concealed rear zip fastening and a short length."
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| FarFetch |
A closer look at the distinctive paperbag waist.
Kate's elegant pink hat is by milliner Jane Taylor (with thanks to Anna).
The Duchess added the Queen's sparkling diamond pendant earrings to the look. Her Majesty's Jewel Vault reports: "This pair of diamond pendant earrings includes a pendant of separate stones hanging within a diamond frame. These appeared at the 2012 State Opening of Parliament, but have no publicly known provenance as of yet."
Below, the Duchess wearing them at the 2015 Place2Be Awards and the 2016 Diplomatic Reception. I think they are a fabulous addition to her jewellery box!
And Kate carried her Etui Bags clutch.
You can watch a video below.
Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!
