Photos show the younger royals stealing the show at Trooping the Colour over the years

Samantha GrindellJun 12, 2024, 22:17 IST

The royal kids always have fun at Trooping the Colour.Tim Graham Photo Library/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Trooping the Colour honors the monarch each year.
But the younger generation of royals often steal the show with their antics at Buckingham Palace.

The royal family will gather at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on Saturday.

Trooping the Colour is the British sovereign's official birthday celebration, and the 2024 event marks King Charles III's second as monarch.

The parade offers one of the few times the whole royal family gathers in public together throughout the year, so the event is always heavily photographed.

For decades, royal children have been pictured greeting the public from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, and they're often documented in candid moments of joy and silliness as their powerful parents look on in both exasperation and laughter.

From Prince William to Prince Louis, take a look at times royal children have stolen the show at Trooping the Colour.

At the 1984 Trooping the Colour, a blond Prince William distracted his cousins on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Prince William stands in front of his mother.Princess Diana Archive / Stringer / Getty Images

In 1985, young Prince William again distracted his cousins by pointing during the parade.

Zara Phillips, Prince William, and Lady Davina Windsor at Trooping the Colour in 1985.Anwar Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images

Prince Harry sweetly mimicked his older brother at the 1987 Trooping the Colour.

Prince Harry leans over Princess Diana's shoulder.Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images

Prince Harry was photographed sticking his tongue out at cameras while Princess Diana held him at the 1988 parade.

Prince Harry sticks out his tongue for the cameras on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London on June 11, 1988.Associated Press

At the same parade, Prince William caused a stir by covering his face in apparent exasperation.

Prince William at the 1988 Trooping the Colour.Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images

At the 1989 Trooping the Colour, Prince Harry and Prince William waved in a silly manner as they honored their grandmother.

Prince Harry and Prince William at the 1989 Trooping the Colour.John Shelley Collection/Avalon / Contributor / Getty Images

Prince William and Prince Harry were playful with their cousins on a carriage at the 1990 Trooping the Colour.

Prince William, Lord Frederick Windsor, Lady Gabriella Windsor, Prince Harry, and Lady Rose Windsor at Trooping the Colour 1990.Tim Graham / Contributor / Getty Images

Harry was photographed sweetly looking down at the crowds in front of Buckingham Palace at the same celebration.

Prince Harry at the 1990 Trooping the Colour.Mirrorpix / Contributor / Getty Images

Although they were a bit older, Prince William and Prince Harry still managed to cause a bit of a distraction at the 2003 Trooping the Colour by pointing and staring at the crowds.

Prince Harry and Prince William at the 2003 Trooping the Colour.Anwar Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images

Although they were a bit older, Prince William and Prince Harry still managed to cause a bit of a distraction at the 2003 Trooping the Colour by pointing and staring at the crowds.

At his first Trooping the Colour in 2015, Prince George stole the show before he even walked out onto the balcony by waving at crowds from a window.

Prince George at the 2015 Trooping the Colour.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

When he did reach the balcony, photographers captured the young prince pointing at the crowds as his father and uncle did years before him.

Prince Charles, Prince George, and Prince William at Trooping the Colour 2015.Samir Hussein/Contributor/Getty Images

In 2016, Princess Charlotte adorably waved at the crowds assembled for the Queen.

Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George at the 2016 Trooping the Colour.Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images

Both Charlotte and George appeared to get tired later the same day.

Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George at the 2016 Trooping the Colour.Samir Hussein / Contributor / Getty Images

The pair both appeared stressed out by the planes flying over the palace in 2017.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George at Trooping the Colour 2017.Chris Jackson/Getty

Savannah Phillips playfully covered George's mouth during the 2019 Trooping the Colour while William looked on.

Prince William, Savannah Phillips, and Prince George at Trooping the Colour 2018.Karwai Tang / Contributor / Getty Images

But later, Savannah, Charlotte, and George all grinned and clapped as they watched the parade.

Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips, and Prince George at the 2018 Trooping the Colour.Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In 2019, George, Charlotte, and Prince Louis all looked cutely overwhelmed by the planes flying above them.

The royal family at the 2018 Trooping the Colour.Reuters

At the same event, George looked at the sky unhappily while Charlotte covered her ears.

The siblings looked unhappy.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

At the 2022 Trooping the Colour, George, Charlotte, and Louis made funny faces as they looked down at the crowds in front of the palace from a window.

George, Charlotte, Louis, and Kate Middleton on the balcony.MATT DUNHAM/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The siblings were then seen sweetly interacting with their great-grandmother during the event.

The Queen interacted with Louis, Charlotte, and George on the balcony.Getty/Chris Jackson

But Louis really became the star of the day when he dramatically reacted to the planes flying overhead by screaming and covering his ears.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Louis at the 2022 Trooping the Colour.DANIEL LEAL / Contributor / Getty Images

The young prince's face even turned red from the force of his yell.

Prince Louis screams at Trooping the Colour 2022.DANIEL LEAL / Contributor / Getty Images

Louis was photographed covering his ears again at the 2023 Trooping the Colour, though he didn't look quite as unhappy as in 2022.

Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour 2023.Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

Both George and Louis made silly faces as they watched the fanfare in matching blazers and ties.

Prince George and Prince Louis at Trooping the Colour 2023.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Charlotte shared a sweet moment with William, holding his hands over her shoulders as they stood together on the balcony.

Charlotte and William at the 2023 Trooping the Colour.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

And Louis stole the show again by pretending he was flying the overhead planes, miming revving an engine.

Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour 2023.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

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Photos show the younger royals stealing the show at Trooping the Colour over the years

At the 1984 Trooping the Colour, a blond Prince William distracted his cousins on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

In 1985, young Prince William again distracted his cousins by pointing during the parade.

Prince Harry sweetly mimicked his older brother at the 1987 Trooping the Colour.

Prince Harry was photographed sticking his tongue out at cameras while Princess Diana held him at the 1988 parade.

At the same parade, Prince William caused a stir by covering his face in apparent exasperation.

At the 1989 Trooping the Colour, Prince Harry and Prince William waved in a silly manner as they honored their grandmother.

Prince William and Prince Harry were playful with their cousins on a carriage at the 1990 Trooping the Colour.

Harry was photographed sweetly looking down at the crowds in front of Buckingham Palace at the same celebration.

Although they were a bit older, Prince William and Prince Harry still managed to cause a bit of a distraction at the 2003 Trooping the Colour by pointing and staring at the crowds.

At his first Trooping the Colour in 2015, Prince George stole the show before he even walked out onto the balcony by waving at crowds from a window.

When he did reach the balcony, photographers captured the young prince pointing at the crowds as his father and uncle did years before him.

In 2016, Princess Charlotte adorably waved at the crowds assembled for the Queen.

Both Charlotte and George appeared to get tired later the same day.

The pair both appeared stressed out by the planes flying over the palace in 2017.

Savannah Phillips playfully covered George's mouth during the 2019 Trooping the Colour while William looked on.

But later, Savannah, Charlotte, and George all grinned and clapped as they watched the parade.

In 2019, George, Charlotte, and Prince Louis all looked cutely overwhelmed by the planes flying above them.

At the same event, George looked at the sky unhappily while Charlotte covered her ears.

At the 2022 Trooping the Colour, George, Charlotte, and Louis made funny faces as they looked down at the crowds in front of the palace from a window.

The siblings were then seen sweetly interacting with their great-grandmother during the event.

But Louis really became the star of the day when he dramatically reacted to the planes flying overhead by screaming and covering his ears.

The young prince's face even turned red from the force of his yell.

Louis was photographed covering his ears again at the 2023 Trooping the Colour, though he didn't look quite as unhappy as in 2022.

Both George and Louis made silly faces as they watched the fanfare in matching blazers and ties.

Meanwhile, Charlotte shared a sweet moment with William, holding his hands over her shoulders as they stood together on the balcony.

And Louis stole the show again by pretending he was flying the overhead planes, miming revving an engine.