Charlotte's Trooping Debut

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge made her Trooping the Colour debut today.
 
The official festivities were in honour of The Queen's 90th birthday.

Princess Charlotte was held by her mother the Duchess of Cambridge whilst big brother George was busy looking at the crowds and trying to take in the sights and sounds around him.

Prince George who will be 3 next month, was wearing the same outfit his father William wore to Prince Harry's Christening in December 1984. 

At last year's Trooping, George wore his father's outfit from William's own Trooping debut back in June1984. It seems the Wales children's clothing has been well stored and cared for over the decades. 

Queen's Official Birthday Events

William aged 3 and Harry 9 months 1985

The Queen's birthday is on 21st April but the official celebration is held in June- usually the second Saturday. The reason the official celebrations are not until June is that the chances of good weather are higher in the Summer. 

Yesterday most members of the Royal Family attended a Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral.

Today, the annual Trooping the Colour will take place. Let's hope little Princess Charlotte makes an appearance on the palace balcony!

The Trooping the Colour starts with Queen Elizabeth and members of the Royal Family travelling from Buckingham Palace, down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.The ceremony is explained on the royal.gov.uk website:

What happens during Trooping the Colour?

Once The Queen has arrived at Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, she is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.
The Queen used to attend on horseback herself, but in recent years has travelled by carriage.
After the military bands have performed, the escorted Regimental Colour, or flag, is processed down the ranks of soldiers. Over one hundred words of command are used by the Officer in Command of the Parade to direct the several hundred soldiers.
Once the Foot Guards have marched past The Queen, she rides back to Buckingham Palace at the head of the soldiers, before taking the salute again at the Palace from a dais. 
Her Majesty is then joined by other Members of the Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force. A 41-gun salute is also fired in Green Park to mark the occasion. 

Horse Guards Parade

George And Charlotte With The Queen

Another new portrait has been released to commemorate the Queen's 90th birthday.

Her Majesty celebrates her birthday on the 21st April. This portrait was taken by Annie Leibovitz just after Easter at Windsor Castle. It features the youngest members of the Royal Family.

Grandchildren:

• Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn are Prince Edward and his wife Sophie's children. 

Great grandchildren:

• Savannah and Isla Phillips are the daughters of Princess Anne's son Peter and wife Autumn.

• Mia Tindall is the daughter of Anne's daughter Zara and husband Mike Tindall.

• Prince George and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge are the children of William and Catherine.

Young Charlotte was 11 months old at the time and is pictured sitting on Queen Elizabeth's lap.

The Duchess of Cambridge also used her camera to take photos on the day for her personal album.

Happy Birthday Ma'am!!

Historic Stamps For The Queen's 90th Birthday

source: Royal Mail

The Royal Mail has released a series of stamps and products to commemorate the Queen's 90th birthday on 21st April. 

A group photograph of the four generations of monarch and heirs was taken mid last year. As a result, the Queen, Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince George each feature in stamps in the series. 

To ensure that Prince George was at just the right height, he stood on a pile of blocks! He was in the same outfit that he wore to meet new sister Princess Charlotte at St Mary's Hospital and again for the first portrait of the siblings taken by his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge.

source: Royal Mail