King Charles III honoured the victims of the recent Air India plane crash during his official birthday celebration, Trooping the Colour, held on Saturday in London. The ceremony observed a minute’s silence, and several members of the royal family wore black armbands in remembrance.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed the King, 76, had requested changes to the traditional parade “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the grieving families, and all communities affected by this horrific tragedy.”
The crash occurred on Thursday when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bound for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed during take-off from Ahmedabad in eastern India. A total of 279 people were killed, including passengers, crew members, and individuals on the ground. Among the victims were 52 British nationals. The only known survivor is Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen from Leicester.
In a condolence message following the crash, King Charles expressed being “desperately shocked by the terrible events” and extended his “deepest possible sympathy.”
Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old military tradition marking the British monarch’s official birthday. The event began at Buckingham Palace and proceeded along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where King Charles received a royal salute and reviewed the troops.
Large crowds gathered along the parade route to witness the spectacle, although a small group of anti-monarchist demonstrators held signs reading “Not my King” and “Down with the Crown.”
Despite currently receiving weekly treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, King Charles participated in the parade alongside Queen Camilla. Also in attendance were Prince William and Princess Catherine (Kate), with their three children—George, 11; Charlotte, 10; and Louis, 7.
Princess Catherine, 43, who has also been undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer diagnosed in early 2024, confirmed in January 2025 that she is in remission and has since resumed limited public engagements.
Absent from the event were Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who stepped away from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States. Their relationship with the royal family, particularly between Harry and Prince William, is reportedly strained, with the brothers having minimal contact.
Although the Trooping the Colour takes place in June, King Charles’s actual birthday is in November. The tradition of a summer birthday celebration dates back to 1748 when King George II opted for a parade in more favourable weather, as his own birthday fell in October.
Coincidentally, the London parade took place on the same day U.S. President Donald Trump held a large military parade in Washington to mark his 79th birthday.
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