Princess Charlotte was the image of her mother, Kate Middleton, at Trooping the Colour today, as the royal family gathered to mark King Charles's official birthday in sunny London.
The Princess of Wales, 44, wore a baby-blue outfit with a matching hat and white heels, while Princess Charlotte, 11, donned a white dress with a ribbon in her hair, sitting opposite her mother in the horse-drawn carriage.
Future king Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, eight, were mini versions of their father, the Prince of Wales, wearing blue ties and similar suits, while William wore his red ceremonial military uniform.
Royal Attendance and Ceremony
After arriving from Buckingham Palace at Horse Guards Parade with Queen Camilla, the King inspected the troops with Prince William, Colonel of the Welsh Guards. Anne, Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blue and Royals, and Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Scots Guards, were also present with around 8,000 family members of guards and officers.
Trooping the Colour honors centuries-old traditions of royal troops carrying or 'trooping' different colours to stand out on the battlefield. The King wore a Grenadier Guards tunic and forage cap, while Queen Camilla wore a red silk crepe Grenadier Guards uniform dress by Fiona Clare, a black beret with white plume by Philip Treacy, and her Grenadier Guards brooch.
Emotional Tribute
For soldiers, the ceremony had a highly emotional angle as Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, 24, of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, died last month after falling from a horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
History of Trooping the Colour
The pomp marks the King's official birthday, though he was born on November 14. The alternative summertime birthday follows an 18th-century tradition from King George II, also born in November, a grey month unsuitable for large outdoor festivities.
Notably absent was Prince Andrew, largely excluded from official gatherings due to his friendship with convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Images of the disgraced former Duke of York appeared on banners held by protesters from the anti-monarchy group Republic outside Buckingham Palace, with placards reading 'Down with the king' and 'Not my king'.
