The Duchess of Cambridge has today made her last public appearance before the birth of her first child at the Trooping the Colour parade marking the Queen’s birthday.
Kate Middleton, who is eight months pregnant, joined the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and thousands of well-wishers at the annual pageant, held at Horse Guards Parade in London’s Whitehall.
The Queen, who turned 87 on April 21, attended her official birthday celebrations while her husband, Prince Philip, 92, remained in hospital following abdominal surgery a week ago.
It is thought to be only the third time that the Duke of Edinburgh has missed the event.
The monarch travelled to the parade in a glass coach, often used for royal weddings, alongside her cousin, the Duke of Kent. She took the royal salute, while more than 1,000 horses and soldiers – including the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, and the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals – took part in the traditional Trooping the Colour parade on horseback.
The display originates from traditional preparations for battle, where Colours were ‘trooped’ down the rank in front of soldiers. In 1748 it was announced that it would also mark the sovereign’s official birthday.
The Colour paraded this year represented the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who recently returned from service in Afghanistan.
The traditional RAF flypast followed a 41-gun salute fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park shortly before 1pm.
The parade follows the publication today of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Earlier this month members of the royal family joined the monarch at a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the 60th anniversary of her coronation.
Kate Middleton, who is eight months pregnant, joined the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and thousands of well-wishers at the annual pageant, held at Horse Guards Parade in London’s Whitehall.
The Queen, who turned 87 on April 21, attended her official birthday celebrations while her husband, Prince Philip, 92, remained in hospital following abdominal surgery a week ago.
It is thought to be only the third time that the Duke of Edinburgh has missed the event.
The monarch travelled to the parade in a glass coach, often used for royal weddings, alongside her cousin, the Duke of Kent. She took the royal salute, while more than 1,000 horses and soldiers – including the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, and the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals – took part in the traditional Trooping the Colour parade on horseback.
The display originates from traditional preparations for battle, where Colours were ‘trooped’ down the rank in front of soldiers. In 1748 it was announced that it would also mark the sovereign’s official birthday.
The Colour paraded this year represented the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who recently returned from service in Afghanistan.
The traditional RAF flypast followed a 41-gun salute fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park shortly before 1pm.
The parade follows the publication today of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Earlier this month members of the royal family joined the monarch at a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the 60th anniversary of her coronation.
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