King Charles III has received the official birthday wishes of the United Kingdom, during his first-ever Trooping the Colour ceremony as monarch. Both pomp and pageantry were on display during today's military service - in which, the most prestigious regiments of the British Army honoured their Colonel in Chief by parading to mark his anniversary.
While Charles deputised for the late Queen Elizabeth II at last year's event, also dubbed the Birthday Parade, he rode onto Horse Guards Parade as the nation's head of state for the first time today. He was accompanied on horseback by the royal colonels - the Prince of Wales, Colonel, Welsh Guards; the Princess Royal, Gold Stick in Waiting and Colonel of The Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Travelling via carriage were the Queen, who is the Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and the Princess of Wales as Colonel of the Irish Guards - alongside Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
