Prince William’s red uniform — which he famously wore on his 2011wedding daytoKate Middleton— just debuted a significant change.
On Saturday, the Prince of Walesled the final rehearsalsforTrooping the Colour, his fatherKing Charles’birthday paradetaking place on June 17. The event will mark the first time King Charles will be fêted with a public birthday celebration in his reign, continuing an annual tradition for British monarchs dating back to the 1600s.
Prince William, 40, rode on horseback to carry out the Colonel’s review, ensuring the troops were ready for the main event. He wore the Guard of Honour Order complete with a bearskin cap, tunic, garter sash and sword.
Although Prince William has sported his red uniform on a number of occasions over the years, including past Trooping the Colour events, there was a recent change to reflect his new royal role. While the royal previously was the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, he is now the honorary Colonel of the Welsh Guards — and his uniform was changed slightly.
On the neckline, the previous symbol of a shamrock for the Irish Guards was replaced with a leek, one of the Welsh Guards' motifs.
In addition, Prince William sported a white and green plume on his bearskin cap for the 2023 Colonel’s Review, a change from theSt. Patrick’s blue plumeassociated with the 1st Battalion Irish Guards worn in years past.
There was a shift in titles following the death of Queen Elizabeth last year.King Charlesnamed his daughter-in-lawPrincess Kateas the new honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, taking over for her husband. Queen Elizabethnamed Prince Williamas honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2011, just two months before his and Kate’s royal wedding, where the groom sported the red Irish Guards officer uniform for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Prince William was named the new Colonel of the Welsh Guards, fitting with his title as the Prince of Wales. King Charlesconfirmed the royal title, the traditional name for the heir to the British throne, for his son just one day after his accession.
Prince William also wore the royal cyphers of both Queen Elizabeth and King Charles on his shoulder for the Trooping the Colour rehearsal.
The royal previously wore thetweak to his uniformduring an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle last month. According toHello!magazine, wearing the cyphers signifiesPrince William’s role as an aide-de-camp toQueen Elizabethand King Charles. The honorary positions are unpaid and awarded at the discretion of the monarch, theMinistry of Defencesaid.
On Saturday, Prince William watched as more than 1,500 soldiers and 300 horses from the Household Division of Welsh, Irish, Scottish, Grenadier and Coldstream Guards paraded for inspection during the rehearsal.
However, London’s high temperatures posed a problem for the troops. According toBBC News, a band member playing the trombonecollapsedduring rehearsal.
Prince William personally addressed the harsh weather conditions in atweetfollowing the run-through.
“A big thank you to every soldier who took part in the Colonel’s Review this morning in the heat. Difficult conditions but you all did a really good job. Thank you. W,” he wrote.
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Trooping the Colour.
While King Charles was born in November, the British monarch traditionally holds the public celebrations of their birthday in the summer for a practical reason: better weather!
King Charlesannounced the June 17 date for his first Trooping the Colourback in December, keeping the event around the same time as his mother, Queen Elizabeth, held the parade.
More than 1,500 soldiers, 300 horses and 400 musicians will create the stunning display of military precision and fanfare to mark King Charles' birthday, according toBuckingham Palace.
The day will end with a favorite tradition: the royal family gathering on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch armed forces planes perform a flypast.
source: people.com
