William 😂

Some of the members of the British Royal Family being interviewed for the forthcoming ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety.

Top to bottom: Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge; and Princess Eugenie of York.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive at Middle Temple Hall in support of the University of St Andrews’ 600th Anniversary Campaign on November 8, 2012 in London, England. (Photos by Mark Cuthbert)

Princess Grace, in a Chanel suit , and children, walking at Prince Rainier’s private zoo.

By FFION HAF and CLAIRE CISOTTI PUBLISHED: 07:12, 17 June 2023 | UPDATED: 07:12, 17 June 2023 

Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for more than 260 years. But today will be the first time in seven decades in which the late Queen Elizabeth II does not take pride of place as sovereign.  Instead, it is her son, King Charles, who will review the Guards as they parade. He will be on horseback, as is traditional, but no one doubts it is the start of a new era. One highlight of the ceremony - and the climax - is the spectacular finish with an RAF fly-past, watched by members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace.

These balcony photos through the years are a telling portrait of the times, from a young Princess Elizabeth through to Prince Louis's debut.

1935

A young Princess Elizabeth waving to the crowds on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her mother, the Duchess of York

1935 was the final Trooping ceremony for George V, great grandfather to King Charles.  George V died on January 20, 1936, and his eldest son Edward succeeded to the throne as Edward VIII - a development which would lead to gathering abdication crisis. Here, we see a four-year-old Princess Elizabeth - who at this point had no notion of becoming Queen - waving to the crowds on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her mother, the Duchess of York during the 1935 Trooping the Colour. 

1951

Princess Elizabeth (centre) tries to interest two-year-old Prince Charles by pointing to the planes overhead. Also pictured is her grandmother, Queen Mary and her mother, Queen Elizabeth 

This year was the last Trooping the Colour before the then Princess Elizabeth ascended to the throne following the death of her father, King George VI, in February the following year. For this year's celebrations, Princess Elizabeth deputised for the King who was at the time recovering from a recent illness.  In this photo, Her Highness is pointing out planes flying over Buckingham Palace during the fly-past to a two-year-old Prince Charles, who was making his balcony debut.

1952

The British Royal Family look up from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view a flypast

In February 1952, Princess Elizabeth received the news of her father's death and her own accession to the throne while on an official visit to Kenya. Later in the year, the date was set for the June Coronation at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was broadcast around the world on television for the first time. Yet to be crowned, this was the Queen's first Trooping. She is seen here, far left, as members of the Royal Family gather to view the RAF fly-past afterwards. Also photographed here are Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, a young Prince Richard of Gloucester, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Margaret.

1954

The Royal Family on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace after the 1954 Trooping the Colour

The Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Anne wave from the Buckingham Palace Balcony

A poignant year for the new Monarch, in 1954 Queen Elizabeth undertook a much anticipated Royal Tour, including the first-ever visit to Australia by the British royals. That year, the Queen and Prince Philip visited 13 countries in the West Indies, Australasia, Asia, and Africa, covering more than 40,000 miles by land, air and sea. This year's Trooping the Colour marked the return of Philip and the Queen as they were reunited with their children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. 

1957 

For the 1957 Trooping the Colour, the royal family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the ceremony

For the 1957 Trooping the Colour, the royal family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the ceremony on the Queen's official birthday.  Pictured from left to right are: The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Anne, the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Margaret, the Duke of Gloucester, Prince Philip and Prince Charles.

1959

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Princess Margaret watching an RAF flypast from Buckingham Palace in 1959

1962

The year 1962 marked the 10th Trooping the Colour since Her Majesty was crowned

The year 1962 marked the 10th Trooping the Colour by the Queen since she took over the throne from her father, King George VI.  The Duke of Edinburgh was not present that year as he was away in North America. In his place, the Queen was joined on the balcony by other members of the royal family, including Princess Alexandra, Princess Margaret, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, as well as her children Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.

1964

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew and a baby Prince Edward waving to the crowds from the balcony at Buckingham Palace

1966

The Royal family look up on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as 16 Lightning aircraft of Royal Air Force Fighter Command make a ceremonial fly-past. The children at the front are Prince Andrew, six, Viscount Linley, four and two-year-old Prince Edward

For the 1966 Trooping, the three royal children present, Prince Andrew, Viscount Linley and Prince Edward, were eager spectators as they looked up from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as RAF 16 Lightning aircraft made a ceremonial fly-past. Also in attendance were the Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, Lord Snowdon, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, her father King Frederick and Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh.

1981

The Queen was riding Burmese down The Mall during a Trooping the Colour parade in 1981 when unemployed Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank shots. When arrested, he reportedly said: 'I want to be famous. I want to be a somebody'

This year was Princess Diana's first Trooping the Colour appearance as a working royal

One of the Queen’s best-remembered moments during Trooping the Colour was in 1981 when a young man fired six blank shots at her as she rode down The Mall during the procession. Despite the commotion, the Queen did not falter and she calmed her horse, Burmese, and continued riding to the Horse Guards Parade to watch the Trooping.  17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant was quickly arrested at the scene and charged under the Treason Act of 1842. He was later jailed for five years.

This year also made history for being Princess Diana's first Trooping the Colour debut just four months after getting engaged to Prince Charles. 

1982

A pregnant Princess of Wales joins the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the 1982 Trooping of the Colour ceremony

A pregnant Princess of Wales joined the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the 1982 Trooping the Colour ceremony.  Here, Diana was nine days away from giving birth to Prince William, a future Prince of Wales. Among the group were the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Alexandra of Kent and Angus Ogilvy 

1984

Members of the Royal Family gathering to watch the 1984 RAF fly-past for the Queen's birthday

Prince William pulling a face on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 1984

1985

The Royal Family welcomed an additional member to the balcony when Prince Harry made his Trooping the Colour debut in 1985

1986

Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 1986

The Queen's birthday parade in 1986 was the last time Her Majesty was mounted on horseback with her horse Burmese. The Queen rode in a carriage from 1987 onward without a uniform. Queen Elizabeth was giiven the horse by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and she rode Burmese for Trooping the Colour from 1969 up until the mare's retirement in 1986.

1988

A young Prince Harry surprised Princess Diana with a cheeky surprise on the balcony in 1988

By 1988, the royal children were beginning to come into their own stride, as seen here with a cheeky Prince Harry pulling his tongue at the cameras much to the amusement of his mother. Also enjoying the ceremony at Buckingham Palace were  Prince William, Lady Gabriella Windsor, and Lady Rose Windsor.

1992

1992 was Princess Diana's final appearance at Trooping the Colour in the official royal party

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Diana, Princess of Wales, travelling in a carriage 

A day that royal fans will always remember, as 1992 was Princess Diana's final appearance at Trooping the Colour in the official royal party. It was that December that Diana and Prince Charles officially announced their separation.  This year was also the Queen's 40th Trooping anniversary as she celebrated four decades as the United Kingdom's Monarch. This year's ceremony had the balcony filled to the brim with royals, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Duchess of Kent, Prince Edward, Princess Alexandra, and Angus Ogilvy. Also pictured are Prince Charles, Duke of Gloucester, Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Diana, Lord Frederick Windsor, Lady Gabriella Windsor, Prince Harry, Lady Rose Windsor, Lady Davina Lewis, Alexander Earl of Ulster, Prince Michael of Kent, and Princess Michael of Kent.

1998 

The Royal Family watching the flypast after the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June, 1998

1999 

Prince Edward and his future wife Sophie Rhys-Jones as they watched the Queen's birthday salute in 1999

Sophie, the now-Duchess of Edinburgh, is among the very few royals - alongside Princess Diana - to have made her Trooping the Colour debut before marrying into the family.She joined her now husband, Prince Edward, on the Buckingham Palace Balcony just weeks before their wedding in 1999.  

2003

The royals wave to the crowd gathered in London for the Trooping of the Colour ceremony

For the first time during Her 50 year reign, Queen Elizabeth II was joined by Prince Philip

For the first time commencing in 2005, the Duke of Edinburgh arrived with the Queen in a carriage and not on horseback. However, he remained in his full dress uniform and bearskin.  Waving to the crowd as they gathered on the balcony were Prince Harry, Prince William, Princess Anne, Timothy Laurence, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Sophie, then then-Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and Prince Charles.

2005 

Camilla attends the Trooping the Colour for the first time in 2005 and appears on the Buckingham Palace balcony with King Charles and Prince William

Unlike Charles' first wife, Camilla did not make her debut until two months after she and Prince Charles tied the knot.  She arrived at Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage with Prince William and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

2009

Prince Edward and Sophie with their then five-year-old daughter Lady Louise Windsor 

The Earl and Countess of Wessex's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, then aged five, couldn't stop smiling when she appeared on the balcony for the first time at Trooping the Colour in 2009.

2011

The Royal family watch a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, after attending Trooping the Colour, in 2011

Without a doubt, 2011 was a momentous time for the royals as Prince William and Kate made their debut as a newly-married couple at that year's Trooping the Colour. Prince William, the then Duke of Cambridge rode in escort behind the Queen's carriage as the colonel of the Irish Guards.  Arriving in a carriage, Kate chose a white ruffled Alexander McQueen coat dress and a black hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co.

2012

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip watch a Royal Air Force flypast with their family from the balcony in 2012

In 2012, the Queen brought extra cheer to her official birthday celebration as she celebrated 60 years on the throne for her Diamond Jubilee. Celebrating the Queen that year were Prince Andrew, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and  Prince Philip. Also in attendance were Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Lady Louise Windsor, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Princess Eugenie.

2015 

Prince George stole the show as he waved to the adoring crowds gathered below in 2015

In 2015, Prince George made his highly-anticipated debut at Trooping the Colour. Sat in his father's arms, the young royal stole the show as he waved to the adoring crowds gathered below. The Prince was wearing a baby-blue outfit trimmed with white frills, in a deliberate echo of Price William's own outfit when he first appeared on the balcony held by Charles 31 years ago. George’s appearance came just weeks before his second birthday in July.

2016

Kate Middleton Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, stand on the balcony during the Trooping the Colour in 2016

Thousands of people lined the streets of London today to take part in the Queen's birthday celebrations - but it was Princess Charlotte who was the centre of attention. Charlotte made her official debut on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 2016 as the Royal Family observed an RAF flypast to mark Her Majesty's 90th birthday. It was also this year fans witnessed the moment the Queen told William off as she tapped him on the arm gesturing him to stand up as he crouched down to tend to a boisterous Prince George. An examination of the moment appears to show the monarch saying: 'Stand up William.'

(Continues in Part 2 as only 30 photos allowed)

Catherine, The Princess of Wales as Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guard (found on Pinterest by katemiddletonstyle.org)

Queen Camilla visits The Royal Free Hospital

The Prince of Wales visits Royal Norfolk Show

1995: Princess Diana and Prince William visiting Eton in the day’s before William began life as a pupil there in September that year. They had been given a guided tour of Manor House, by Dr. Andrew Galiey who was William’s Housemaster.