The Metropolitan Police has announced plans to reduce security for one of the Royal Family's biggest annual events, raising concerns over their safety. Trooping the Colour, held every June, marks the official public birthday of the British Sovereign, a tradition observed by King Charles since September 2022. The King and his family typically appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the RAF flypast.
Budget Pressures Behind the Decision
According to The Telegraph, the changes are expected to take effect next month. The decision reportedly stems from budget pressures and growing demand for frontline officers. It comes ahead of next year's Trooping the Colour, which would see the King, who turns 78 later this month, step out with his family.
The publication reported that approximately 17,800 police officer deployments supported military ceremonial events over the past year, at an estimated cost of £10.6 million. The Met has reportedly "cut the vast majority" of officers assigned to such occasions, including the Changing of the Guard and ceremonial gun salutes.
Police and Defence Responses
Police sources have maintained that officers would continue to provide support at "nationally significant events," but only "where the threat, harm and risk assessments justify it." A Met Police spokesperson said: "Against a backdrop of financial cuts and increased demand, we had to make difficult decisions about what to prioritise to protect Londoners and, over recent months, have engaged with the Ministry of Defence around proposed changes to how we support military ceremonial events."
The spokesperson added: "The public rightly want to see officers on the front line, arresting criminals and keeping our city safe. That's our priority."
A defence source told the publication that police protection remained "vital" to ensuring the safety of those attending ceremonial events, stressing that deployment decisions were operational matters for the police. "They are not supporting Trooping the Colour in the same way, nor many other events," the source said.
Concerns Over Private Security
Former head of the British Army Lord Dannatt weighed in, saying: "The bottom line is internal security is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police, end of story. I am surprised that a risk assessment can outsource something like this to private security. On the face of it, it sounds wrong and shouldn't be driven on cost grounds."
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
