This way the balcony remains very empty…
It is a regular event every year: in June, the so-called Trooping the Color ceremony is held at Buckingham Palace with much regal spectacle. This year, however, things will look a little different, as the British court has just announced.
Trooping the Colour
While we have been celebrating our monarch’s birthday in the spring for years now – regardless of when their actual birthday is – the British have a similar tradition. The Trooping the Color ceremony is held in June with a lot of military fanfare. And as we saw last year, that means a lot of royals in carriages…
…A fantastic flypast…
…A traditional balcony scene…
…And a barely recognizable King Charles on horseback.
Different than usual
Of course, last year’s ceremony looked very different than we were used to: after all, it was Charles’ first Trooping the Color as king. And unlike his mother, he did the traditional inspection on horseback, instead of from a carriage.
It also became clear how Charles saw his kingship: instead of a packed balcony, as with the late Queen Elizabeth in previous years, only senior working royals were welcome.
But now that Princess Kate is being treated for her cancer diagnosis, Prince William and the kids are supporting their mother, and King Charles is still recovering from his own diagnosis, it is one big question mark what exactly the ceremony will look like this year.
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At least one detail has just been confirmed by Buckingham Palace: King Charles will not climb into the saddle again this year. Transport to and from the parade will reportedly be in an Ascot Landau float. The traditional inspection, which Charles also did on horseback last year, will most likely be done from a podium, just like Queen Elizabeth in her later years.
Empty balcony
In the meantime, it remains unclear who will and will not be present this year. Earlier this year, the British military reported that Princess Kate would be present at the rehearsal of the ceremony on June 8, but this news was hastily withdrawn. It is now known that it is not Princess Kate, but Lieutenant General James Bucknall who carries out the inspection during this traditional Colenel’s Review.
Will the Princess of Wales appear on the balcony a week later for the supreme moment? Buckingham Palace has not yet officially made any statements about this. In any case, we dare not assume so. And it immediately seems uncertain whether Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will make an appearance.
As it now appears, the balcony will be emptier than ever during the ceremony. Who knows, King Charles might call some other Windsors to liven things up…
Source: The Independent, The Daily Mail | Image: NL Image
