Here's why Camilla's Trooping the Colour outfit shows her dedication to King Charles

Emma Mackenzie
·Yahoo UK royal reporter
Updated ·5-min read
Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour', in London on June 17, 2023. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. Since 1748, the Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign. Over 1500 parading soldiers and almost 300 horses take part in the event. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony as the finale of Trooping the Colour. (Getty Images)

Camilla was, for a long time, never expected to be Queen, but her dedication to King Charles and her new roles as Queen and Colonel of the Grenadier Guards has never been clearer than at this year's Trooping the Colour.

Also known as the King's birthday parade, Trooping the Colour is the first set-piece event the Royal Family have embarked upon since the coronation of Charles and Camilla in May, and it officially marked the start of the next chapter for the House of Windsor.

The birthday parade saw the 74-year-old King ride on horseback and take the salute from the seven regiments of the Household Division.

Britain's King Charles III (R) and Britain's Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh (L) ride back to Buckingham Palace after the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour', in London on June 17, 2023. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. Since 1748, the Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign. Over 1500 parading soldiers and almost 300 horses take part in the event. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
Charles rode on horseback for his first Trooping the Colour as King, the first time the monarch has done so since 1986. (Getty Images)

Camilla led the fashion pack at the annual event, opting for a chic, military-inspired look as a nod to her honorary position as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, which she took on in January.

The scarlet, silk coat dress is directly influenced by the uniform of the regiment and featured the rank insignia of a colonel on the epaulettes and gold bullion embroidery of the 'Grenade Fired Proper' on the collar and further embroidery on the back of the piece.

Her hat was designed by Philip Treacy and is inspired by the bearskin hats worn by the regiment and features a feather plume 'grenade' style design. The understated version of the uniform presented a united front with her husband as the family watched the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Britain's Queen Camilla (R) and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales (C) attend the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour' on Horse Guards Parade, in London on June 17, 2023. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. Since 1748, the Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign. Over 1500 parading soldiers and almost 300 horses take part in the event. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Camilla's chic, military inspired look stole the show at this year's parade. (Getty Images)

Camilla's recently shown an evolution and growing confidence in her own personal style, and Trooping the Colour only reinforced how she is bringing her own personality to her royal duties: by throwing her support behind the Grenadier Guards she also showed her commitment to supporting her husband and his reign.

The Princess of Wales also nodded to her new honorary military role with her choice of look, an emerald green coat dress designed by Andrew Gn which contrasted glittery embellishments with minimalist lines.

She, like Camilla, opted for Philip Treacy design: a bespoke dramatic hat in a matching green. Along with her Irish Guards Shamrock brooch, she also made sure to honour the regiment of which she has recently been made Colonel.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales arrives in a horse-drawn carriage on Horse Guards Parade for the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour', in London on June 17, 2023. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. Since 1748, the Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign. Over 1500 parading soldiers and almost 300 horses take part in the event. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Kate donned a pair of Princess Diana's earrings in tribute to her late mother-in-law. (Getty Images)

Kate's look showed how similar her personal style is to that of her late mother-in-law, and she further paid tribute to Princess Diana by finishing the look off with a pair of sapphire drops earrings that once belonged to her.

The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a cream dress designed by Beulah which featured a simple round neck and whimsical bell sleeves and a hat with floral embellishments designed by Jane Taylor.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were all dressed smartly in coordinated red and white outfits. The two boys wore double breasted navy jackets and red ties, with George wearing matching navy suit trousers and his little brother Louis in red shorts and navy socks.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales walk from a horse drawn carriage during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images)
Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte wore colour coordinated outfits for their Grandfather's first Birthday Parade as monarch. (Getty Images)

Princess Charlotte wore a sailor style white dress with red embellishments around the colour and waist, and wore her hair neatly plaited and pulled into a bun — a style similar to the smart look chosen for the recent coronation.

Trooping the Colour has been the official celebration of the monarch's birthday for over 260 years. Although Charles was born on 14 November, it's customary that if the sovereign is in born in the winter time, their official birthday parade takes place in the summer, when the weather is better.

Last week, the Colonel's Review — the final evaluation of the parade before Trooping the Colour — was undertaken by Prince William, and at least three guardsmen fainted because of the high temperatures.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The royal family watch the RAF fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. (Getty Images)
Members of the public cheer as they watch the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows during the King's Birthday Parade, 'Trooping the Colour', in London on June 17, 2023. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. Since 1748, the Trooping of the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign. Over 1500 parading soldiers and almost 300 horses take part in the event. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)
The public gathered to watch the traditional fly-past. (Getty Images)

The parade travelled from Buckingham Palace down the Mall, to Horse Guards Parade, where the King took the royal salute.

He was then joined by Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales where they watched the First Battalion Welsh Guards troop their colour.

Colours in the military were initiated as a way for troops to recognise their regiments on the battlefield, long before modern communications were invented.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 17: Troops advance down the Mall during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign's official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British monarch's official birthday. (Getty Images)

After the parade was completed, the Royal Family returned to Buckingham Palace, where the King and Queen appeared on the balcony with Princess Anne, her husband Vice-Admiral Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children.

The family watched the RAF fly-past from the balcony and waved to the public who had gathered outside the palace.