PRINCESS Anne’s starring role in Trooping the Colour has been revealed – and it’s a huge honour with a touching link to King Charles.
The Princess Royal, Colonel of The Blues and Royals, will be wearing the Full Mounted Ceremonial uniform of the Blues and Royals.
Anne will carry the Gold Stick along with the Colonel of The Life Guards who is the Gold Stick-in-Waiting for this year’s parade.
The princess will wear aiguilettes as a Personal Aide-de-Camp to His Majesty, King Charles.
It comes as Princess Kate beamed this morning as she made her first public appearance in months with Prince William and their kids.
The Princess had a smile ear-to-ear as she waved to crowds gathered at the Mall to catch a glimpse of her.
Kate, 42, looked stunning dressed in white as she arrived at Trooping the Colour.
The family made their way along the Mall in The Glass Coach, closely following behind the King and Queen Camilla.
Prince William, who looked dapper in his red Irish Guards uniform, proudly donning medals on his chest, beamed at crowds, too.
It is the first time the Princess has been seen at a Royal event since Christmas Day.
She and Wills sat either side of Prince George as their car made its way into Buckingham Palace.
Thousands of fans had already started lining the streets this morning to catch a glimpse of her.
Well-wishers held Union Jacks high as they squished together along the Mall – donning crowns and fascinators atop their heads.
More than 30 aircraft will take to the skies today as part of the celebrations – with the RAF Red Arrows making a touching tribute to a fallen officer.
What is Trooping the Colour?
TROOPING the Colour or ‘The King’s Birthday Parade’ is a military ceremony which dates back to the early 18th century.
The colours (flags) of the battalion were carried (or ‘trooped’) down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
Since 1748, this parade has also marked the Sovereign’s official birthday.
The honour to Troop their Colour rotates through the five regiments of Foot Guards.
This year it lies with Number 9 Company Irish Guards, which were raised by Queen Victoria in 1900.
This year marks the second Trooping the Colour of His Majesty King Charles’s reign.
The King attended his first Trooping the Colour in 1951, aged three, riding in a carriage with The Queen Mother his aunt Princess Margaret.
Charles, then Prince of Wales, first rode in the parade as Colonel of the Welsh Guards in 1975.