Barely six weeks after his coronation in a carriage, King Charles III of England has hopped on horseback to celebrate his 75th birthday in advance (actually on November 14) in the formal parade known as Trooping The Colour.
It was the first time in more than 30 years that a monarch had ridden on horseback through the mile-long procession between Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade. Queen Elizabeth II rode horseback for 18 years but she ended the tradition in 1986, when she rode the Burmese for the last time.
Despite his promise to “modernize” the monarchy, his son Carlos has decided to rescue the equine rite and maintain pomp and pageantry at all costs, wrapped up by 1,500 soldiers and 300 horses. The king maintained his composure throughout the journey, but had difficulties holding his horse as he saluted the seven regiments, before the eyes of more than 8,000 spectators.
Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward also took part on horseback (Prince Andrew is still banned). Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton advanced in the carriage, accompanied by George, Charlotte and Louis. The procession was led by Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw.
Hundreds of supporters in royal regalia lined London’s Mall, decked out in Union Jacks, to get a close look at the procession. There was also no shortage of republican demonstrators with their yellow colors, although their presence was more discreet than during the Coronation.
The weather accompanied this time and it did not rain in torrents. The temperatures dropped just enough to avoid fainting like the one that occurred this week during a changing of the guard, when the thermometers approached 30 degrees. The skies were however partially covered until the climax of the show, with the air raid of the “red arrows”.
Prince Louis once again became the main attraction of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham, raising his fists to the hurricane of the Red Arrows. Unlike the day of the coronation, the good weather allowed this time the air show in its entirety, with the participation of 70 aircraft, including the 18 Typhoon fighters that formed the monarch’s initials CR in the sky (Charles Rex, Carlos Rey). .
A mixture of fatigue and nostalgia hung in the air for the splendors of Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee and her last appearance on Buckingham’s balcony dressed in green, the color also chosen by the Princess of Wales for the occasion, in contrast to Camila’s red, more and more comfortable in her role.
The King’s birthday was celebrated with 41 salutes at Green Park and another 62 at the Tower of London. The paraphernalia was typical of the Trooping the Color parades with which the anniversaries of the sovereigns are traditionally celebrated in June and their role at the head of the armed forces is highlighted.
The act was preceded by honorary awards, marked this time by the posthumous presence on the list of Martin Amis. The novelist, who died at 73 on May 19, went on to say that he would not accept any title because he wanted “no ties to the British Empire.” His classmate Ian McEwan and former Vogue director Anna Wintour were honored as “companions of honor.”
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