The King’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) will take place on 17 June 2023

Published

The Sovereign's birthday is officially celebrated by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour (King's Birthday Parade).

In 2023, this impressive display of pageantry will take place on Saturday 17th June by Regiments of the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with His Majesty The King attending and taking the salute.

His Majesty King Charles III will hold the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiments of Household Division. Each Regiment has a Colonel who is normally either a member of the Royal Family or a senior officer.

There are three newly appointed Colonels within the Foot Guards, announced today:

  • Colonel, Grenadier Guards - The Queen Consort
  • Colonel, Welsh Guards - The Prince of Wales
  •  Colonel, Irish Guards - The Princess of Wales

There will be no change to the existing Colonelcies of the other Regiments within the Household Division, which will remain as below:

  • Colonel, Blue and Royals - The Princess Royal
  • Colonel, Scots Guards - The Duke of Kent
  • Colonel, Life Guards - Lieutenant General Sir Ed Smyth-Osbourne
  • Colonel, Coldstream Guards - Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall

Trooping the Colour

The Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. 2023 will mark His Majesty King Charles III’s first Trooping of the Colour as Sovereign. Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The King’s official birthday. The parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard's Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages. The display closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace balcony

Related content

The Queen's 2020 Commonwealth Day Message

Such a blend of traditions serves to make us stronger, individually and collectively, by providing the ingredients needed for social, political and economic resilience

09 March 2020

The Countess of Wessex’s speech at an event to celebrate International Women’s Day in Juba, South Sudan

May I thank the people of South Sudan for the warmth of your welcome and I wish you well as you move away from the darkness of conflict towards the light of opportunity

06 March 2020

A Speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the Museum of Literature, Dublin

Today, our relationship goes far beyond two countries that are simply neighbours. “We are firm friends and equal partners”, as my grandmother put it.

04 March 2020

A speech by The Duchess of Cambridge at a SportsAid event, London Stadium

You may not always feel appreciated, or sometimes even noticed on the sidelines, in the car park or sitting high in the stands. But I am so proud that SportsAid recognises how...

26 February 2020
News

The Queen visits MI5

25 February 2020

The Queen's remarks during her visit to MI5

Because of the nature of your work, it is without public recognition, so it is on behalf of the country that I say to you all, thank you.

25 February 2020
Press release 24 February 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit Ireland

Read more

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at a reception for the Metropolitan and City Police Orphans Fund

Our society is defined by how we look after those who keep us all safe. It matters deeply that we help the families who play such an important role in supporting them.

12 February 2020
Press release 07 February 2020

The wedding of Princess Beatrice and Mr. Mapelli Mozzi

Read more

A speech by The Duke of Cambridge at the UK-Africa Investment Summit

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, Catherine and I are delighted to welcome you to Buckingham Palace for this reception to mark the...

20 January 2020
Press release 20 January 2020

The Countess of Wessex will visit Sierra Leone

Read more
Press release 18 January 2020

Statement from Her Majesty The Queen

Read more
Press release 13 January 2020

A statement from Her Majesty The Queen

Read more

A message from The Duke of Cambridge to the people of Oman

I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Omani people, and wish to send a personal message of friendship as Oman mourns the death of His Majesty.

11 January 2020