What an absolute whirlwind of a day! Today, I got to experience one of the UK’s biggest and most historic traditions firsthand: Trooping the Colour, the official birthday parade for King Charles III.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be surrounded by thousands of cheering people, marching bands, and literal royalty, keep reading. (And yes, I got the receipts—check out my videos and photos below!)
🥁 The Atmosphere on The Mall
I woke up early to grab a spot along The Mall, and the energy was already electric. Everywhere you looked, there were Union Jacks, people chatting, and an anticipation you could practically feel in the air.
Before the royals even appeared, the sounds of the Massed Bands of the Household Division started echoing down the street. Over 300 musicians marching in perfect sync is honestly so much louder and cooler in person than on TV!
👑 Royalty up Close!
Then came the moment everyone was waiting for: the royal procession.
I immediately took out my phone to record as the carriages and horses rolled past. King Charles and Queen Camilla waved to the crowds, and right there with them was the Princess of Wales and the kids! Seeing Prince William, the Princess Royal, and the Duke of Edinburgh riding on horseback in full military uniform was incredibly impressive. The precision of the Sovereign’s Escort from the Household Cavalry was unreal.
💂 Bearskins and Scarlet Tunics
After the procession headed over to Horse Guards Parade for the official ceremony, we waited for the grand finale. This year, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards trooped their colour. Seeing rows upon rows of the classic red tunics and bearskin hats moving with absolute military precision is something I won’t forget.
✈️ Looking up: The RAF Flypast
The perfect end to the day happened back at Buckingham Palace. The Royal Family gathered on the balcony, the crowd went wild, and we all looked up as the Royal Air Force performed their traditional flypast. Hearing the roar of the jets overhead and seeing the red, white, and blue smoke trails across the London sky was the ultimate punctuation mark on the whole experience.
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