On Saturday, the British Monarch watched in awe as the Trooping the Color celebration took place at Windsor Castle in honor of Her Majesty’s 95th birthday. The annual event was significantly smaller than in previous years due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Queen beamed as she watched the parading soldiers in her honor.
One moment that particularly seemed to catch the Queen’s attention was when the Red Arrows, aka the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, flew overhead marking the sky red, white and blue.
Since this was the first Trooping the Color event since the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, the Queen asked a special someone to stand by her side for the festivities. This year it was Her Majesty’s cousin, the Duke of Kent, who joined her on the dais.
Trooping of the Color is a celebratory event that has taken place for over 260 years. Though the event was downscaled due to COVID-19, it is usually a grandiose event with over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, according to the royal family’s website.
While the Queen’s actual birthday is in April, the event takes place every June. It is meant to be a display of “military precision, horsemanship and fanfare” to mark Her Majesty’s birthday.
The Trooping of the Colors weekend marked the Queen’s second public appearance since Prince Philip died in April.
Prior to watching the parade at Windsor Castle, Her Majesty was joined by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles, at a charity lunch event on Friday. The Queen stole the show at the event when she insisted on cutting a large sheet cake with a ceremonial sword instead of a regular knife.
