Trooping the Colour: Where to watch the King's Birthday parade and RAF flypast on TV
Tune into the Trooping the Colour celebrations on BBC One this weekend, with Clare Balding.
Get ready for royal pageantry! Trooping the Colour, the grandest military spectacle in honour of the King’s Birthday, returns this Saturday.
Whether you’re a royalist or just love pomp and ceremony, here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s celebrations, including what time and where to watch it on TV.
So grab your scones and hang up your bunting and get ready to celebrate the King’s Official Birthday - London style.
What is Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour celebrates the official birthday of the monarch, regardless of their actual birthdate. King Charles III was born on 14th November 1948.
Expect a superb display of military precision: over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians march from Buckingham Palace down The Mall, across Horse Guards Parade, and back.
You'll see the parade route draped in British flags, with the King inspecting his troops before the iconic flypast - a breathtaking aerial salute by the RAF, an intrinsic part of the day’s choreography.
What time and where to watch it on TV
Live broadcast begins at 10:30 am on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, hosted by Clare Balding from central London.
The Parade kicks off shortly after, wrapping up around 12:25 pm, followed by the spectacular RAF flypast at 1:00 pm over Buckingham Palace. Highlights and replays will follow later in the day on the same platforms.
It’s the perfect blend of military precision, patriotic pomp, and majesty, packed into a few dazzling hours.
Tune in to meet “George”, the iconic 24‑year‑old Irish draught horse making his final parade appearance before retirement, and to watch the royal family share the Palace balcony and take in the majestic flypast.