Meghan Markle stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the first time with the Royal Family during the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.
The Trooping of the Colour “has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years,” according to the Royal Family’s website. Queen Elizabeth II is now 92-years-old. Her family gathered with her on the balcony on June 9, 2018, and rode through the streets of London in carriages. Among them: Meghan Markle, the American actress who recently wed Britain’s Prince Harry. You can see photos throughout this article.
Here’s what you need to know:
Balcony Photos
Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice, Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Savannah Phillips, Prince George of Cambridge and Isla Phillips watch the flypast on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 9, 2018 in London, England.
Trooping the Colour is a ceremony designed to commemorate the Queen’s birthday. “Over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The Queen’s official birthday,” the family’s website explains.
The annual ceremony involving over 1400 guardsmen and cavalry, is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen’s actual birthday is on April 21st.
The streets “are lined with crowds waving flags as 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,” according to the website. Meghan Markle stood next to Prince Harry in the back of the family gathering. She was seen speaking with Harry and Prince Charles during various moments on the balcony.
Markle and Prince Harry are newlyweds, and she is now known by the title Duchess of Sussex, which was conveyed to her by the Queen upon the couple’s marriage. Prince Harry is sixth in line to the British throne. His father, Charles, his brother, William, and William’s three children are before Harry in the line of succession.
According to the family’s website, the Trooping the Colour ceremony “closes with an RAF fly-past, watched by Members of the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace balcony.” That’s why the balcony photos often show the royals craning their necks to look into the sky.
Carriage Ride
Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex return in a horse-drawn carriage after attending the Queen’s Birthday Parade, ‘Trooping the Colour’ on Horseguards parade in London on June 9, 2018.
What happens during a Trooping the Colour ceremony? As with a lot of things in royal circles, there are strict traditions that are followed. “Once The Queen has arrived at Horse Guard’s Parade in Whitehall, she is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats,” says the website.
The Queen used to ride on horseback during this ceremony, but she doesn’t do that anymore because of her age. Instead, the elderly monarch chooses to ride in a carriage along with the rest of her family.
The ceremony is very military-based. “Once the Foot Guards have marched past The Queen, she rides back to Buckingham Palace at the head of the soldiers, before taking the salute again at the Palace from a dais,” the website says.
“After the military bands have performed, the escorted Regimental Colour, or flag, is processed down the ranks of soldiers. Over one hundred words of command are used by the Officer in Command of the Parade to direct the several hundred soldiers,” the website explains.
Finally, the family ends up on the balcony. “Her Majesty is then joined by other Members of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force. A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the occasion,” according to the website.
The Royal Family has been participating in this ceremony for many years.
Meghan & Kate
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 9, 2018 in London, England.
All eyes were on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, at the ceremony. There aren’t many photos from the event showing them interacting, however.
Past Trooping the Colour Photos
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (R) waves to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as Prince Harry (L), Prince William (2L) and Princess Anne (3L) look on after attending the Trooping of the Colour ceremony June 14, 2003 in London, England. The ceremony marks the Queen’s official birthday.
There was a royal first during the Trooping the Colour 2018. “A Sikh Coldstream Guards soldier became the first to wear a turban during the Royal Horseguards ceremony Saturday,” reported Time Magazine, which named him as Charanpreet Singh Lall.
Members of the Royal Family (L-R) Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Britain’s Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Britain’s Princess Eugenie of York, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Britain’s Princess Beatrice of York, Britain’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (with Princess Charlotte and Prince George), and Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force, in London on June 17, 2017.
Prince Philip, who is now 96, has been prominently featured in past Trooping the Colour ceremonies, but he did not attend the 2018 event.
Prince Charles, Prince of Walesl, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15, 2013 in London, England.
The Queen’s closest family members usually gather on the balcony, including her children, grandchildren, and previously her mother, sister, and, at times, her first cousins.