Each year, the UK celebrates the Monarch's official birthday. It is usually
held on the 2nd or 3rd Saturday in June. On very rare occasions, it is held
on a different day of the week to coincide with other Celebrations. (For
example: Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in 2022.)
The British Monarch has two birthdays (real & official), this to allow
for a public celebration during good weather when it is possible to have a
outdoor parade and large public gathering.
While this post focuses on the Monarch's official Birthday Celebrations in
the UK, other realms do hold their own birthday celebrations for the
Monarch. Those are usually held in May or June and will have their own
traditions.
The Monarch’s official birthday celebrate their birthday that calendar year
whether already past (E.g. In Queen Elizabeth II's Reign) or still to come
(E.g. King Charles III's Reign).
Trooping the Colour is the name of the parade that takes place at Horseguards Parade. "Colour" refers to the Regiment's Flag. The Trooping the Colour at Horse Guard Parade airs live on BBC. In the past, viewing was restricted to UK only, due to BBC licensing, but it has in some years been freely available on Youtube. And video of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for the fly over is usually always freely available.
Timeline:
Trooping the Colour is the name of the parade that takes place at Horseguards Parade. "Colour" refers to the Regiment's Flag. The Trooping the Colour at Horse Guard Parade airs live on BBC. In the past, viewing was restricted to UK only, due to BBC licensing, but it has in some years been freely available on Youtube. And video of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for the fly over is usually always freely available.
Live Streams:
We have listed the link to each site's main page so it can be reused year
after year. We will add a specific link for this year as we find
them.
- Official BBC - Will show actual parade at Horseguards
- BBC Player
- UK only?
- 2025 Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007r5jm
- Others - may just show procession & fly past and such
- ITV
- 2025 Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDGUBpz8xtw
- Sky News
- Their general continuous Live Stream
- AP (Associated Press)
- 2025: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPomiIGSEGM
Timeline:
- Night Before
- List of Monarch's Birthday Honors are released
- Senior Colonel's Conference and Dinner
- Attended by Royal Colonels of the Household Division
- 9:15 AM
- Troops start forming at Horse Guards Parade
- 10:30 AM
- BBC Live Coverage Begins
- 10:45 AM
- Royals in Procession leave Buckingham Palace for Horse Guards Parade.
- 11:00 AM
- Trooping the Colour begins at the Horse Guard Parade
- Royal Colonels watch from the parade ground
- Extended members of the Royal Family watch from the Major General’s Office
- 12:20 PM
- Carriage ride back to Buckingham Palace
- 1 PM Flypast
- Royals appear on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace
- Later
- Monarch usually has a few audiences at Buckingham Palace
Royal Attendance:
Household Division:
