(Left) King Charles rides on horseback during the Trooping the Colour parade; (Right) The Princess of Wales and Prince Louis stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.Chris Jackson/Getty Images; Karwai Tang/WireImage
- The royal family gathered in London for Trooping the Colour on Saturday.
- The event is also known as the king's birthday parade and has taken place for more than 260 years.
Trooping the Colour, also known as the king's birthday parade, took place in London on Saturday.
The parade has been a royal tradition for more than 260 years and was held in honor of Queen Elizabeth II before her death in 2022. This year marked King Charles' first birthday parade as monarch.
This year's parade involved a military procession of more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians, according to the royal website. It was attended by working members of the royal family, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children.
There are many important details you may have missed, from Charles riding on horseback to Prince Louis' balcony antics.
Charles rode on horseback for his first Trooping the Colour as king, marking the first time that a reigning monarch has ridden at the parade since 1986.
King Charles on horseback at Trooping the Colour on June 17. HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Although Charles has ridden on horseback at previous parades, this year marks the first time he has ridden on horseback as monarch.
The last time a reigning monarch rode on horseback at the event was Queen Elizabeth in 1986, according to a Buckingham Palace press release.
Princess Anne also rode alongside King Charles, Prince William, and Prince Edward.
Princess Anne during Trooping the Colour on June 17. Rob Pinney/Getty Images
The Princess Royal wore her Royal Navy ceremonial uniform to ride horseback as part of her role as the Senior Colonel of the Household Division.
Anne had a similar role at her brother's coronation on May 6. After the ceremony, Anne supported Charles as his "Gold-Stick-In-Waiting," or the person the monarch entrusted with his personal safety. She accompanied Charles and Camilla's carriage as it made its way back to Buckingham Palace, and led 6,000 members of the military in the procession.
As Insider previously reported, she was the only member of the royal family to ride horseback after the coronation ceremony.
This year's Trooping the Colour also marked a first for Prince Edward. The king's youngest brother and now-Duke of Edinburgh rode horseback for the first time in the procession in his role as Colonel of the London Guards, People reported. Last year, he rode in a carriage with his wife Sophie and their two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
Queen Camilla and Kate, Princess of Wales' outfits had special meanings.
The Princess of Wales and Queen Camila attend Trooping the Colour on June 17. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The Princess of Wales' jewelry held a special meaning as well.
Kate Middleton during the Trooping the Colour parade on June 17. Karwai Tang/WireImage
Prince Harry and Meghan were absent from the celebrations.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in their Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan." Netflix
The number of royal family members who gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace was noticeably smaller than in previous years.
Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton, Prince William, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour on June 17. Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images
Following the military procession, a group of royal family members joined King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a flypast conducted by the Royal Air Force.
In years past, extended family members have been invited to join the monarch on the balcony. However, in 2022, Queen Elizabeth limited the photo op to just working royals.
King Charles is seemingly a fan of the slimmed-down balcony appearance. On Saturday, he was joined only by his wife; Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence; Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; and Prince William, Kate, and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
And Prince Louis stole the show during the balcony appearance — again.
Princess Anne, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Princess Charlotte on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour on June 17. ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images