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<\/p>\nThe King and Queen have celebrated his official birthday with a ceremony showcasing the British Army\u2019s ceremonial prowess \u2013 topped off with a flypast by the iconic Red Arrows.<\/p>\n
Charles took part in the famous Trooping the Colour event where military pomp and pageantry were on display in the heart of the capital.<\/p>\n
The Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence travelled together ahead of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the Trooping the Colour carriage procession, with all four seen smiling and waving to the crowds gathered along the route.<\/p>\n
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The iconic Red Arrows carry out a flypast over Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Credit: MoD\/PA<\/p>\n
The King and Queen followed in their own carriage, with Charles wearing the uniform of the Grenadier Guards, while Camilla wore a red silk crepe guards-inspired dress by Fiona Clare.<\/p>\n
Mounted on horseback, the Prince of Wales rode Darby, the Princess Royal was on Noble, while the Duke of Edinburgh\u2019s horse was called Sir John.<\/p>\n
The Princess of Wales travelled separately with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.<\/p>\n
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis could be seen waving to the crowds lining the route with their mother, the Princess of Wales.<\/p>\n
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The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis in the Ascot Landau carriage. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
Kate, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore a blue outfit by Catherine Walker, paired with a hat by Philip Treacy and the Irish Guards brooch.<\/p>\n
All eyes were on the Prince and Princess of Wales youngest child, Louis, who is famed for his antics on big royal occasions.<\/p>\n
He was spotted ducking down to look through a half-open window to catch a glimpse of Trooping the Colour.<\/p>\n
The King’s actual birthday is on November 14, but monarchs traditionally also have an official birthday in the summer, so outdoor celebrations like the Trooping the Colour are less likely to be impacted by poor weather.<\/p>\n
Trooping the Colour is as much a social occasion as a ceremonial event and stands around Horse Guards Parade were filled with about 8,000 family members of the guards and officers on parade.<\/p>\n
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Left to right, The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal riding to the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
Crowds were treated to the sight of a royal carriage procession, guarded by a Sovereign\u2019s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.<\/p>\n
Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskin caps delivered a display of precision marching on Horse Guards Parade, honed over weeks of practice and part of their ceremonial duties when not fighting soldiers.<\/p>\n
The national celebration, one of the highlights of the royal calendar, ended with the royal family assembled on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for a traditional fly-past of RAF aircraft.<\/p>\n
The aerial display roared over the palace in 10 waves and featured Typhoon jets, Chinook helicopters and C-17 large military transport planes.<\/p>\n
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An RAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft took part in this year’s fly-past. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
Then, the Red Arrows flew over the palace leaving a trail of red, white and blue vapour behind them, joined by four F35-B short take-off and vertical-landing jets.<\/p>\n
Louis was smartly dressed in a shirt, trousers, tie and double-breasted jacket for the event and at one point pulled at his collar as he tried to loosen it.<\/p>\n
When the Red Arrows flew over he turned and spoke to his parents, making William and Kate laugh.<\/p>\n
The colour \u2013 regimental flag \u2013 trooped this year was the King\u2019s Colour of the Grenadier Guards presented by the King earlier this week during a Buckingham Palace ceremony<\/p>\n
It was escorted during Saturday\u2019s spectacle by guardsmen from the King\u2019s Company.<\/p>\n
Rugby star Kevin Sinfield and six lionesses lead King’s Birthday Honours<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n King appoints composer and engineer as Order of the Thistle members<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Grenadier Guards were raised in 1656 in Bruges, Belgium, by the exiled King Charles II to protect him during the period Olive Cromwell ruled England.<\/p>\n Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, visited his King\u2019s Company at their barracks in Aldershot on the eve of Trooping and wished them \u201cgreat success\u201d for the big day.<\/p>\n He told the company: \u201cSince Easter you\u2019ve been practising rigidly and I can hear from Buckingham Palace the sound of the drums thumping away regularly so I know you\u2019re all marching up and down trying to get ready for the parade.\u201d<\/p>\n The King went on to say: \u201c\u2026ever since the last 370 years of your existence you have made us all in this country so incredibly proud of your effort, your service and your sacrifice over all those years and I feel very proud and privileged to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n Subscribe for free to<\/strong> our weekly newsletter <\/strong><\/a>for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n