After the bands have performed a musical “troop” in slow and quick time, the Regimental Colour is escorted down the ranks of the guards.
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George, who made his debut past year, stood on a small step so he could see over the top of the balcony.
Queen Elizabeth ll and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend the Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London in June 2015. On Friday an RAF serviceman fainted and was carried away by paramedics at St. Paul’s Cathedral shortly before the Queen arrived.
Buckingham Palace released a new portrait of the Queen – whose actual birthday was on April 21 – and the Duke to mark the occasion, taken by the American photographer Annie Leibovitz at Windsor Castle shortly after Easter.
Every year this spectacle – full of military pomp and pageantry – marks the official birthday of the Sovereign.
The two birthday tradition was started more than 250 years ago by King George II in 1748.
And William, Kate and Harry, and other members of the Royal Family will attend a reception at the City of London’s Guildhall for members of the congregation.
Meanwhile, other members of the royal family rode on horseback.
Governors general from the Queen’s realms were also among those invited, along with faith leaders and hundreds of people nominated by Government departments to recognise their service.
Another soldier also collapsed during Trooping the Colour rehearsals last month, while guardsman have previously collapsed during the main events over the previous few years.
“Think of all the rehearsing and the square bashing”.
Among the 29 aircraft taking part are a Spitfire and Hurricane, made famous in the Battle of Britain, and also modern jets like the multi-role Typhoon fighter while the Red Arrows will be the finale.
This year, the queen’s official birthday coincides with her husband’s real birthday.
To conclude the celebrations, the queen hosts “The Patrons Lunch” for 10,000 guests at the largest street party to be held on the Mall, the grand avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, an event organised by her grandson, Peter Phillips.
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“There will be lots of colour, lots of noise, lots of movement and it’s going to be hopefully a fantastic day”. “We’ll be on air for almost three hours and the coverage will be slightly different to previous years, but I’m confident the viewers will enjoy it”.
