George steals show as plane-spotter in chief with sun shining on Queen’s royal parade
Prince leads young cohorts in swotting up on fly-past in picture book as crowds mark Trooping the Colour
AS FUTURE commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces, he will come to learn plenty about the workings of the RAF.
Prince George got a glorious head start yesterday, as he used a picture book to swot up on the 29 aircraft flying over Buckingham Palace in honour of his great-grandmother’s birthday.
The Prince, who will turn four next month, and his sister Princess Charlotte appeared transfixed by the flypast as they made their now annual appearance on the palace balcony to wave to assembled Trooping the Colour crowds.
The young royals charmed onlookers, first seen peeking through the windows of Buckingham Palace before stepping out into the blazing sunshine.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh took centre stage, following the traditional annual ceremony that this year saw the colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards paraded.
The hot June day left some struggling, with at least five guardsman fainting and in need of medical help while the parade was under way.
In a concession to the day, the 96-year-old Duke for the first time chose to wear a morning suit and top hat instead of his heavy full uniform. He also sported his Household Division tie, Garter Star and medals.
Prince Philip, who has already announced he will step back from official royal duties in the autumn, appeared on fine form, waving and raising his hat to wellwishers from the Queen’s carriage along the route.
Earlier in the day, the Queen had issued a statement to the nation honouring those lost in recent “terrible tragedies” in London and Manchester, emphasising how she had been “profoundly struck” by how the public had rallied to support those in need. In recognition of the “very sombre” national mood, a minute’s silence was held before Trooping the Colour yesterday.
The ceremony was, as ever, in honour of the Queen’s official birthday and one of the most spectacular scenes of pomp and pageantry in the royal calen- dar. Crowds lining the streets on the way to Horse Guards Parade saw the Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry in a carriage, followed by the Duke of York, Earl of Wessex, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice.
The Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, were on horseback.
The procession was accompanied by a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver-and-gold breastplates and plumed helmets.
Four of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division, the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots and Irish Guards, marched, wearing their distinctive bearskin hats and red tunics.
The Queen, wearing a large Guards brooch pinned to her pale blue Philip Somerville hat, took the salute on Horse Guards, before making her way by carriage to Buckingham Palace. There, it was the children who stole the show.
As the wider Royal family assembled on the balcony, Prince George and Princess Charlotte were spotted peeking at the crowds from behind a curtain, perhaps receiving a last-minute pep talk about their duties in public.
As the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived, the two-year-old Princess was carried on to the balcony by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, wearing co-ordinating pink outfits and beaming at the waiting crowds.
Prince George trooped obediently to his starring role at the front, at first appearing a little underwhelmed with events as he rested his chin on his hand and waited for the real action to begin.
Princess Charlotte earnestly chewed her finger as she concentrated through a rendition of the national anthem.
As the sounds of the approaching aircraft grew, Prince George’s playmates Savannah and Isla, the two small daughters of Peter and Autumn Phillips, shared what appeared to be a children’s guide explaining which aeroplanes are which.
The three youngsters were photographed with their heads together por- ing over the pamphlet, while Princess Charlotte, still a little young to read, pointed out into the crowds as her great-grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, watched on indulgently.
As the first Chinook helicopter flew overhead, the young Prince – whose father the Duke of Cambridge is an air rescue pilot – could barely contain his excitement, gaping and bouncing on his toes as he waited for the next arrival. His little sister, who had been happily entertained by the Duchess, appeared equally captivated for the full fly-past, which ended with a display from the Red Arrows.
Among the aircraft taking part were Spitfires and Hurricanes, made famous in the Battle of Britain over 75 years ago, the multi-role Typhoon fighter, and the Hercules tactical air transport craft.
As the family turned to go back inside, the Queen, who has been praised in recent days for her prompt response to terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire, took an extra moment to wave to the crowds, acknowledging their efforts to turn out in the heat in honour of her 91st birthday.
Princess Charlotte, though, savoured the moment the longest, looking over her mother’s shoulder as she was carried inside from the second bal-
‘His little sister, who had been happily entertained by the Duchess, seemed equally captivated by the fly-past’
‘In a concession to the day, the 96-year-old Duke chose to wear morning suit rather than his heavy full uniform’
cony appearance of her short life. For admirers of the Duke of Edinburgh, the moment may have been a poignant one, although fears that he may choose not to take such a prominent role in future Trooping the Colour ceremonies may yet prove unfounded.
Eagle-eyed viewers who spotted the absence of the Countess of Wessex on the balcony were reassured that she was at a private engagement, while Theresa May, the Prime Minister, did not attend Horse Guards Parade as she dealt with the ongoing situation in north Kensington.
As followers of royal ceremony will know, Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle as colours, or flags, were “trooped” down the rank so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
In the 18th century, guards from the royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to “troop the colours”, and in 1748 it was announced that the parade would also mark the sovereign’s official birthday.