9 details from the Queen's birthday parade that you might've missed
Anneta Konstantinides
- The royal family was out in full force for Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade.
- But Meghan Markle and Prince Harry didn't have a spot on Buckingham Palace's balcony.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were noticeably absent from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Trooping the Colour typically features the extended royal family making an appearance alongside Queen Elizabeth on the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
But Prince Harry and Markle, along with Prince Andrew, weren't included this year because they're non-working royals.
Earlier in May, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Insider that Queen Elizabeth had decided to limit this year's traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance to royal family members who are "currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of the Queen."
But the Sussexes were located in a VIP section to watch the parade, and will still attend the service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday.
Working royals in attendance on the balcony included Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, and Princess Alexandra.
And Prince Harry wore a suit instead of a ceremonial military uniform to the Trooping the Colour parade.
The Daily Mail published photos of Harry wearing a regular suit at the Queen's birthday parade.
He is no longer allowed to wear his military uniform after being stripped of his honorary military appointments in February 2021, which was part of his and Markle's agreement to step down from the royal family.
Harry's military titles had included Captain-General of the Royal Marines, which was bequeathed to him by his grandfather Prince Philip, according to the Daily Mail.
The royal family kept their style patriotic as they dressed in the colors of the British flag.
Queen Elizabeth opted for blue, sporting the same hue as her great-grandchildren, George, Charlotte, and Louis. Camilla went with a light-blue outfit as well, wearing a striped look designed by Bruce Oldfield, according to the Daily Mail.
The Duchess of Cambridge stunned in white, while Zara Tindall stood out in a bold red Beulah London dress.
The Queen paired her powder-blue suit with orange sunglasses.
As she watched her birthday parade from the Buckingham Palace balcony, Queen Elizabeth sported a stylish pair of sunglasses to go with her custom Angela Kelly outfit.
But the Queen wasn't just wearing sunglasses to match her ensemble. As Hello! Magazine reported, the shades were also essential eye protection.
Queen Elizabeth has frequently been seen wearing sunglasses after she underwent cataract surgery in 2018. Yellow and orange shades are specifically recommended due to their UVA/UVB protection.
Kate Middleton often recycles her favorite outfits, and Trooping the Colour was no different.
The Duchess of Cambridge rewore a chic white Alexander McQueen dress as she celebrated the Platinum Jubilee with her family on Thursday.
Middleton previously wore the dress in June 2021 at the G7 Summit in Cornwall, England.
On Thursday, Middleton paired her outfit with a Philip Treacy hat as well as Princess Diana's diamond and sapphire earrings.
Queen Elizabeth also sported her diamond Brigade of Guards Brooch, which she wears to every Trooping the Colour.
The brooch was passed down to the Queen from her grandmother, Queen Mary, according to Harper's Bazaar.
Her brooch features the badges of the five British and Commonwealth armies — the Scots, Irish, Grenadier, and Coldstream Guards.
Inscribed on the brooch is the Latin phrase "Quinque juncta in uno," which translates to "Five joined as one." A crown sits on top.
Prince Louis' Trooping the Colour ensemble was a sweet tribute to Prince William.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's children, Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis all wore blue to celebrate Queen Elizabeth on Thursday.
But 4-year-old Louis' outfit also paid homage to his father.
Louis sported a sailor's ensemble that was nearly identical to the outfit Prince William wore to Trooping the Colour in 1985 when he was 3 years old.
And Prince Louis stole the show with his adorable reactions to the parade.
Prince Louis became the talk of Twitter as he entertained his family and royal fans alike while watching the parade from Buckingham Palace.
Prince William's youngest child was seen chatting to Queen Elizabeth who, according to Us Weekly, encouraged Louis to watch the planes during the military flyover.
At first, Louis enthusiastically waved to the aircraft. But as their jets became louder, he covered his ears.
As the parade continued, Louis waved to the crowd and continued to entertain his great-grandmother.
Protesters were arrested during Trooping the Colour for trying to interrupt the parade.
Activists were seen being arrested by police during the parade on Thursday morning after they jumped over barriers and confronted marching guards, according to The Guardian.
The protesters were part of Animal Rebellion, a mass volunteer movement that uses "non-violent civil disobedience to help the transition to a plant-based food system," according to their Twitter.
The Guardian reported that the protesters were holding leaflets that demanded an end to hunting on royal land.
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