King Charles III Opts for Carriage in Trooping the Colour ‘Forthcoming Engagements Will Be Adapted’

King Charles III will ride in the 2024 Trooping the Colour parade next week, but not on horseback. The 75-year-old monarch has recently resumed public-facing duties despite ongoing cancer treatment, but not at his previous capacity. According to The Daily Mail, he will skip the traditional horseback ride and carry out the ceremony in a horse-drawn carriage instead.

In 2023, during his first Trooping the Colour as monarch, King Charles signaled a return to tradition by riding his black mare, Noble. While his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, had participated in the parade in a carriage for decades, the king’s choice to ride on horseback was a nod to earlier customs. However, given his age and recent diagnosis, his decision to opt for a carriage this year is seen as a practical and understandable choice.

The parade, set for Saturday, June 15, celebrates the monarch’s birthday with a grand display of royal military discipline. While many royal tradition enthusiasts appreciated seeing the king on horseback last year, understanding his health circumstances, they are supportive of his decision to adapt this time.

Queen Elizabeth II had a well-documented love of horses but stopped riding in the Trooping the Colour parade in 1986, transitioning to a carriage from 1987 onwards. King Charles, who had been the first monarch to ride horseback in over 25 years during last year’s parade, will now follow his mother’s later tradition. His health has understandably influenced this change, with insiders revealing that the king no longer rides for pleasure, adding to the pressure of such a public event.

Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial military event held annually in London, featuring over 1,200 participants and 200 horses. Soldiers, musicians, and prominent members of the royal family typically partake, with the monarch traditionally inspecting the troops by riding past the ranks. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade and back, a tradition dating back to the 1600s. King Charles has attended the event every year since he was two years old.

Queen Elizabeth rode her treasured horse Burmese in the parade until 1987 when the horse retired, and she decided to switch to a carriage. King Charles’ decision to follow this example is largely attributed to his cancer treatment. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson told The Times that all “forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary.”

As the parade approaches, the public remains understanding of the adjustments made for King Charles’ health. His participation, even in a modified capacity, continues to uphold the cherished tradition of Trooping the Colour.