Trooping the Colour 2026: Date, Flypast, the Balcony & How to Watch
Everything you need for the King's Birthday Parade — the 2026 date, what happens on the day, the Buckingham Palace balcony, the RAF flypast, and how to watch it in person or on TV.
Each June, central London fills with scarlet tunics, bearskins and the thunder of massed bands for the most spectacular set-piece in the royal calendar: Trooping the Colour, the King’s Birthday Parade. If you are hoping to see it — in person or on television — here is everything you need, from the date to the flypast.
When is Trooping the Colour 2026?
Trooping the Colour 2026 takes place on Saturday 13 June 2026. It marks the sovereign’s official birthday, which is deliberately not the King’s actual birthday. The tradition dates back to 1748, and for centuries the public celebration has been held in late spring or early summer — in the hope of kinder weather — regardless of when the monarch was really born. Since 1959 it has reliably fallen on a Saturday in June.
What happens on the day
The ceremony takes place on Horse Guards Parade, just off Whitehall. It involves the regiments of the Household Division — well over a thousand soldiers — along with hundreds of musicians from the Massed Bands and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. At its heart is the “trooping” of the colour itself: a regimental flag carried ceremonially down the ranks, a custom rooted in the days when soldiers had to be able to recognise their colours in the chaos of battle.
The King travels from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to take the salute, and the royal family processes with him — the carriages and mounted soldiers a spectacle in themselves. Around midday a 41-gun salute is fired in Green Park.
The flypast and the balcony moment
After the parade, the royal family returns to Buckingham Palace for the day’s famous climax. The family gathers on the balcony to watch an RAF flypast roar up The Mall and over the Palace — the photograph that defines the British summer. The flypast usually takes place in the early afternoon (around 1pm), with the aircraft approaching over The Mall, though the exact timing, the line-up of aircraft and the route are confirmed by the RAF and the Palace only in the days beforehand and can change with the weather.
How to watch Trooping the Colour
You have three good options:
- Along The Mall (free). Anyone can line The Mall and the edge of St James’s Park to watch the procession pass and to see the flypast overhead. It costs nothing — just arrive early (a few hours before) for a spot near the front, and bring a flag.
- Seated on Horse Guards Parade (ballot). A limited number of grandstand seats for the parade itself are allocated by a public ballot held earlier in the year. Applications open months ahead and are heavily oversubscribed.
- On television. The BBC broadcasts the parade live, which remains the best way to see the ceremony, the balcony and the flypast in close-up.
Frequently asked questions
When is the King’s Birthday Parade 2026?
Saturday 13 June 2026, on Horse Guards Parade in London. It is held on a Saturday in June each year.
Why does the King have two birthdays?
Trooping the Colour marks the sovereign’s official birthday — a public celebration held in summer for the weather — which is separate from the monarch’s actual date of birth. The custom dates back to 1748.
How can I watch Trooping the Colour for free?
Line The Mall or the edge of St James’s Park to watch the procession and the flypast. It is free; arrive several hours early for a good view.
What time is the flypast, and what is the route?
The flypast is usually in the early afternoon (around 1pm), with aircraft approaching over The Mall and passing over Buckingham Palace. Exact timings and the route are published by the RAF and the Palace shortly before the day and depend on the weather.
Where does it take place?
The main ceremony is on Horse Guards Parade, with the procession travelling along The Mall between there and Buckingham Palace, and the flypast viewed from the Palace balcony.
Can you buy tickets?
There is no general ticket sale; seated places on Horse Guards Parade are allocated by an annual public ballot. The Mall and the flypast are free to watch.
Dates, the ballot, flypast timings and the route change each year — always confirm with the official Household Division and Royal Family websites before planning your visit.
