Featured Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Topics: King Charles III, Royal Family
Mia Williams
Topics: King Charles III, Royal Family
As the King's birthday parade is set to take place in London this Saturday (14 June), the moment he broke royal protocol for a wholesome reason has not been forgotten.
Thousands of spectators are expected to flood the Mall to celebrate the beginning of King Charles' birthday celebrations this weekend.
The day usually begins with a military event and procession, followed by the famous balcony appearance from the royals and, of course, the RAF flypast.
Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the King or Queen for over 260 years, and it's an event that has numerous moving parts.
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According to Royal.uk, more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians come together to make the day what it is. On Saturday, the procession with the Royal Family is scheduled to depart from Buckingham Palace at approximately 10am, with the RAF flypast expected to take place at 1pm.
Despite having his official 'birthday' celebrations this weekend, the King's real birthday is on 14 November.
This will be the King's third time attending Trooping the Colour as the monarch, but last year's became particularly memorable after he broke royal protocol.
It was unknown whether Kate Middleton would make the celebrations last year following her cancer diagnosis earlier in 2024.
However, during the flyover, Kate was seen standing next to Charles rather than her husband, Prince William.
And while no one can be sure whether this was an intentional move or not, given both of them were undergoing cancer treatment at the time - with The Princess of Wales announcing earlier this year that she had completed her treatment and was now in remission - it was a thoughtful gesture from the King.
Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, noted that as per royal protocol, the Prince and Princess of Wales would traditionally stand together, while King Charles and Queen Camilla would also be next to one another.
He added: "It is planned, but it is also changing the protocol to show the King and Kate united with each other and going through similar battles, so I would say this is down to the King's preference.
"The balcony is all orchestrated but I have a feeling the King said to Kate' you stand next to me'."
Nearly all members of the Royal Family appear at the significant occasion, including the young royals—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
It's yet to be confirmed which royals will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the flypast, but in previous years, it has been limited to just working royals, according to The Daily Express.