In Pictures: King Charles III’s first Trooping the Colour in 2023

The royal ceremony celebrated King Charles III’s latest accession to the throne

Performed every year on Horse Guards Parade in London, United Kingdom, Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial event celebrating the official birthday of the British sovereign.

While the ceremony has been performed since the 18th century, this year’s Trooping the Colour is a special one for King Charles III—as it would be his first time taking part in the ceremony since becoming monarch.

The birthday parade which took place on June 17 saw over 1400 officers and men, 200 horses, and 400 musicians performing for the King. Prince Louis, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and other royals were also in attendance. They were also seen at Buckingham Palace watching an extended military flypast, comprising around 70 different aircraft. The parade also saw the King appear on horseback—a first at the event since 1986.

Below, we share some of the best moments from this year’s Trooping the Colour.

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Queen Camilla (Colonel of The Grenadier Guards) and Catherine, Princess of Wales (Colonel of The Irish Guards) return to Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage after attending Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional military parade held at Horse Guards Parade to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first

Above Queen Camilla (Colonel of The Grenadier Guards) and Catherine, Princess of Wales (Colonel of The Irish Guards) return to Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage after attending Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Queen Camilla (Colonel of The Grenadier Guards) and Catherine, Princess of Wales (Colonel of The Irish Guards) return to Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage after attending Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales depart Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage to attend Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional military parade held at Horse Guards Parade to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles

Above Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales depart Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage to attend Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales depart Buckingham Palace in a horse drawn carriage to attend Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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Above Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales (Colonel of the Irish Guards), Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards) watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace (Photo: Getty Images)

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales (Colonel of the Irish Guards), Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards) watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace (Photo: Getty Images)

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Above Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William of Wales on the balcony during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William of Wales on the balcony during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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Above The royals standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

The royals standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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Above Eighteen Typhoon jets arranged into a formation displaying the letters 'CR' fly over the Royal Courts of Justice as part of a flypast to mark the start of the reign of King Charles III and his first Trooping the Colour ceremony (Photo: Getty Images)

Eighteen Typhoon jets arranged into a formation displaying the letters 'CR' fly over the Royal Courts of Justice as part of a flypast to mark the start of the reign of King Charles III and his first Trooping the Colour ceremony (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - 2023/06/17: Red Arrows pass over central London during the Trooping the Colour flypast, celebrating the birthday of King Charles III. (Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Above Red Arrows pass over central London during the Trooping the Colour flypast (Photo: Getty Images)

Red Arrows pass over central London during the Trooping the Colour flypast (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III (wearing his Welsh Guards uniform) and Queen Camilla (Colonel of the Grenadier Guards) watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional military parade held at Horse Guards Parade to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping th

Above King Charles III and Queen Camilla watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

King Charles III and Queen Camilla watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince William, Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards) (L) and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (Colonel of The London Guards) (R) watch a march past outside Buckingham Palace after attending Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional military parade held at Horse Guards Parade to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It

Above Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh watch a march past outside Buckingham Palace after attending Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh watch a march past outside Buckingham Palace after attending Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III (C), wearing his Welsh Guards uniform, Prince William, Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards) (L) and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (Colonel of The London Guards) (R) depart Buckingham Palace on horseback to attend Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional military parade held at Horse Guards Parade to mark the

Above King Charles III (middle), Prince William, Prince of Wales (L) and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (R) depart Buckingham Palace on horseback to attend Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

King Charles III (middle), Prince William, Prince of Wales (L) and Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (R) depart Buckingham Palace on horseback to attend Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Members of the band head down The Mall during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Neil Mockford/Getty Images)

Above Members of the band head down The Mall during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Members of the band head down The Mall during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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Above Members of the band head down The Mall during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Members of the band head down The Mall during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Guardsmen parade during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images)

Above Guardsmen parade during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Guardsmen parade during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Troops advance down the Mall during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Above Troops advance down the Mall during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Troops advance down the Mall during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images)

Above Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Louis of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Queen Camilla, Catherine, Princess of Wales during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Antony Jones/Getty Images)

Above Queen Camilla, and Catherine, Princess of Wales during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Queen Camilla, and Catherine, Princess of Wales during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Princess Anne, Princess Royal is seen during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Above Princess Anne, Princess Royal is seen during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Princess Anne, Princess Royal is seen during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Timothy Laurence are seen during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Above Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Timothy Laurence are seen during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Timothy Laurence are seen during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester are seen during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Above Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester are seen during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester are seen during Trooping the Colour (Photo: Getty Images)

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Amanda Goh

Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.

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In Pictures: King Charles III’s first Trooping the Colour as monarch