Trooping the Colour: All the best royal moments through the years

From pregnant Diana, to a newlywed debut by Harry and Meghan – there’s a reason why Trooping the Colour is a calendar favourite.

It’s one of the most colourful and fun royal events in the calendar, but thanks to coronavirus, the Trooping the Colour parade is going to look very different this year.

For obvious reasons, crowds of people can’t be permitted to gather in front of Buckingham Palace as they usually would, so what’s being called a “mini” Trooping the Colour is scheduled to take place at Windsor Castle, where the Queen has been social distancing since March.

"There will be a small, brief military ceremony at Windsor Castle to mark The Queen’s official birthday," a Buckingham Palace spokesman confirmed earlier this month.

Around 1400 soldiers, 300 horses and 400 musicians pay tribute to the Queen every year – but this time, it’ll be done by only a small group of soldiers who are currently on Guard at Windsor Castle.

And while the royal family is traditionally on full display by her side to take in the spectacle from Buckingham Palace balcony, they’ll have to sit this one out due to social distancing regulations.

Seeing as we can’t gawk at them this year, let’s look back at some of the most talked-about royal moments from the event over the years.

PREGNANT DIANA, 1982

A radiant pregnant Princess Diana donned an emerald green smock dress and matching hat to join her husband of one year, Prince Charles, on Buckingham Palace balcony on June 12, 1982.

Diana was pregnant with their first child, Prince William, at the time.

Pregnant Diana looked radiant.

HARRY’S DEBUT

An excited – and adorable – baby Prince Harry made his official Trooping the Colour debut in 1985.

The young royal looked very excited as he took in the impressive display from his mother’s arms.

A tiny Prince Harry appeared in his mum’s arms.

KATE’S DEBUT

Kate Middleton was a newlywed in 2011 when she joined her husband Prince William on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour as an official member of the royal family.

In honour of her recent wedding, she wore a white Alexander McQueen coat for the milestone occasion – the same designer behind her iconic bridal gown.

Kate Middleton joined her new husband, Prince William, as a royal for the first time in 2o11.

PRINCE GEORGE’S CHEEKY CAMEO

He wasn’t officially invited to join the royal family on the balcony in 2015, but Prince George made a sneaky appearance anyway.

The cute toddler was spotted watching the display from a window at Buckingham Palace with his nanny, Maria Borrallo – even cheekily poking out his tongue at the crowds below.

George managed to steal the show – without even officially attending.

MEGHAN MARKLE’S DEBUT

Just two years ago, Meghan Markle made her Trooping the Colour debut as a newlywed. The former Suits star had wed Prince Harry just a few weeks earlier, and the beaming pair looked happy and in love as they waved to the crowds gathered outside the Palace.

Meghan was a knockout in the style stakes for the big debut, wearing a soft pink Carolina Herrera dress and a co-ordinating wide-brimmed hat by Philip Treacy.

Harry and Meghan make their newlywed debut.

PRINCE LOUIS’ FIRST TROOPING

We’d had only a handful of glimpses of Prince Louis by June 2019, when he made his first appearance at the Trooping the Colour parade.

The one-year-old son of Prince William and Kate Middleton looked to be in complete awe of the display as he took it all in from his parents’ arms.

An excited Louis took it all in.

He even managed a wave.

HISTORY REPEATS

Maybe it’s a royal thing, maybe it’s just kids being kids – but Savannah Phillips’ hilarious moment of physically shushing Prince George in 2018 echoed an identical moment on the balcony from 28 years earlier.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 09: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Savannah Phillips and Prince George of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2018 at The Mall on June 9, 2018 in London, England. The annual ceremony involving over 1400 guardsmen and cavalry, is believed to have first been performed during the reign of King Charles II. The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen's actual birthday is on April 21st. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

In 1990, a cheeky Prince Harry was seen putting his hands over his cousin Princess Beatrice’s mouth as they stood with their family on the Palace balcony.

Harry with a young Beatrice.

What a glorious tradition.