Being monarch of the United Kingdom comes with a unique tradition: King Charles celebrates his birthday not once, but twice a year.
In addition to his actual birthday on November 14, King Charles is also honored in June with a grand public celebration known as Trooping the Colour. In 2024, this event, now in its second year under his reign, is set to take place on Saturday, June 15 in London.
A Tradition Rooted in History and Weather
The idea of the monarch having both a real and an “official” birthday isn’t new. It began during the reign of King Charles II (1660–1685) and became more established in 1748. That year, it was decided that the annual military parade known as Trooping the Colour would be used to commemorate the monarch’s official birthday.
The reason behind this arrangement is practical: British weather. With its higher likelihood of sunshine, June offers a more reliable backdrop for outdoor ceremonies than November.
Queen Elizabeth II’s actual birthday was April 21, but she too celebrated publicly in June. When King Charles took the throne, he chose to continue this summer tradition for his official birthday, just like his mother did.
What Is Trooping the Colour?
Trooping the Colour gets its name from a military practice in which soldiers display their regimental flags — or “colours” — so that troops could recognize them on the battlefield. As the Royal Museums Greenwich explains, “The flag would be marched or ‘trooped’ regularly around the ranks. A regiment’s colours held deep importance for soldiers, and the gain or loss of those colours could decide the outcome of a battle.”
Today, the event is far more ceremonial. Over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians come together in a dazzling show of precision, tradition, and military pageantry to mark the King’s official birthday, according to Buckingham Palace.
