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Prince Louis clapping on palace balcony with William and Kate© Getty

Relive the royals' first appearances at Trooping the Colour - all the photos

The King's birthday parade - known as Trooping the Colour - sees the royals gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
Updated: June 12, 2024
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Trooping the Colour is always one of the highlights of the royal family's summer calendar and is the annual ceremony, which marks the monarch's birthday.

The event on Saturday 15 June marks King Charles' birthday parade this year and he will travel by carriage instead of horseback, amid his ongoing cancer treatment. 

Following the parade, the King will be joined by members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the fly-past and we've seen a number of new faces make their debuts over the years.

The Princess of Wales attended Trooping the Colour for the first time just months after her royal wedding in 2011. Since their marriage, we've seen William and Kate's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis all make their debuts at the parade. 

WATCH: All about Trooping the Colour

HELLO! takes a look back at Trooping the Colour debuts, from royal children to husbands and wives, who've married into the Firm.

The Wales family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace back in 2019© Getty

Prince Louis

The Prince and Princess of Wales's youngest son, Prince Louis, then one, stole the show at the 2019 ceremony with his enthusiastic waving and his adorable moment with the then Duchess of Cornwall.

Jack Brooksbank wearing a top hat© Getty

Jack Brooksbank

Princess Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank also made his debut at Trooping the Colour in 2019. The pair tied the knot the previous year in October at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Trooping the Colour 2018© Samir Hussein

Meghan Markle

One of Prince Harry and Meghan's first appearances as the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex after their wedding was at Trooping the Colour 2018. The Duchess looked stunning in a powder pink Carolina Herrera off-the-shoulder outfit for the occasion.

Princess Charlotte waving from palace balcony© Getty

Princess Charlotte

Princess Charlotte had not long celebrated her first birthday when she made her balcony debut in 2016. The little Princess' pale pink outfit matched mum Kate's Philip Treacy hat and it seemed that she had already perfected her royal wave!

Queen Elizabeth II smiling at Prince George on balcony© Getty

Prince George

Charlotte's big brother Prince George made his highly-anticipated debut at Trooping the Colour in 2015, when he was almost two years old. The young royal was in awe of the fly-past as dad William held his excited son in his arms.

Kate wearing white dress for first Trooping the Colour© Getty

The Princess of Wales

Prince William and Kate made their debut as a newly-married couple at Trooping the Colour in 2011. Kate chose a white ruffled Alexander McQueen coat dress and a black hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co.

Lady Louise smiling on balcony with Edward and Sophie© Getty

Lady Louise Windsor

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh'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.

Queen Camilla's first Trooping© Getty

Queen Camilla

The then Duchess of Cornwall joined Charles and William on the balcony for her debut at Trooping the Colour in 2005. Charles and Camilla tied the knot earlier that year in Windsor.

Sophie's first balcony appearance ahead of royal wedding© Getty

The Duchess of Edinburgh

In a rare move, Sophie is one of the only royals, alongside Princess Diana, to have made her debut at Trooping the Colour before marrying into the Firm. The future Countess of Wessex joined her husband-to-be, Prince Edward, on the balcony just weeks before their wedding in 1999.

Princess Eugenie on balcony with late Queen and Prince Philip© Getty

Princess Eugenie

An eight-year-old Princess Eugenie appeared at Trooping the Colour for the first time in 1998 and stood proudly beside her grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Sarah Ferguson holding Princess Beatrice on the palace balcony© Getty

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice was much younger when she made her debut at Trooping the Colour in 1991. The Princess was just two when she waved to the crowds from her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York's arms.

Prince Charles holding Prince Harry on palace balcony© Getty

Prince Harry

Prince Harry made his first appearance at Trooping the Colour in 1985, when he was less than a year old.

Prince Charles holding William on balcony© Getty

Prince William

Prince William was two years old when he made his debut at Trooping the Colour in 1984, and he looked so sweet in a little blue outfit - the same one worn by son George for his debut 31 years later. 

Zara Phillips peering out of window at Buckingham Palace© Getty

Zara Tindall

In the same year, Princess Anne's daughter, Zara Tindall, was spotted taking a peek at the crowds down The Mall, when she was just three years old.

Peter Phillips' first appearance at Trooping the Colour in 1980© Getty

Peter Phillips

Princess Anne's son Peter was two and a half when he made his debut at Trooping the Colour in 1980 and seemed to be fascinated by the crowds as this shot shows. Meanwhile, Anne, the Queen Mother, Princess Alexandra and the Duchess of Gloucester all co-ordinated in gold and yellow outfits that year. 

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