When is the Trooping the Colour flypast and how can I watch it? (2024)

KING Charles III will be celebrating his birthday at the Trooping the Colour event on June 15, 2024.

Epic celebrations will mark the sovereign’s second birthday as King.

What time is the Trooping the Colour flypast?

Trooping the Colour will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

The parade is set to last for two hours, starting at 10.20am and ending at 12.25pm.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire the official birthday Gun Salute of 41 Guns in the Green Park at 12.52pm.

The display closes with an RAF flypast, watched by Members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

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The RAF flypast is scheduled for 1pm.

What is Trooping the Colour?

Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial parade that marks the sovereign’s birthday.

The tradition of celebrating the monarch's birthday in the UK dates back to 1748, which started during King George II's reign.

Even if their actual birthdays occurred in May or June, the festivities often took place on a different date.

Edward VII, who was king from 1901 to 1910 and born on November 9, chose to celebrate his official birthday during the summer to increase the likelihood of favourable weather.

And this tradition continued with Queen Elizabeth II typically celebrating her official birthday on the second Saturday in June.

King Charles III's first official birthday celebration took place on June 17, 2023, the third Saturday of the month.

More than 1,400 officers and soldiers and 200 horses from the Household Division will stage the display, with the colour trooped by Irish Guards from the 1st Battalion.

Trooping the Colour will take place this year on Saturday, June 15, 2024.

What route will the flypast take?

The tri-service flypast is due to fly down The Mall and over Buckingham Palace where members of the Royal Family are expected to appear on the balcony to watch.

The RAF flypast journey starts over the ocean near Suffolk's coast at approximately 11am before moving inland.

The aircraft will then fly across Suffolk, passing Ipswich shortly after 12:30pm and entering Essex by 12:35pm.

They proceed to travel over Colchester, then southward past Chelmsford around 12:40pm.

Entering London from the northeast, the planes typically pass over Hainault before navigating towards the city centre via Stratford, arriving there at the earliest by 12:40pm.

Following the palace flyover, the aircraft will leave the city to the northwest, heading towards Oxford's east before concluding their journey in Reading.

What planes will feature in the flypast?

The event will showcase the renowned Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which features a Lancaster bomber accompanied by 12 other aircraft including Spitfires, Hurricanes, a Dakota, and two DHC-1 Chipmunks.

More aircraft may join the lineup.

On the day of the event, there will be flight restrictions around the North Sea, East Anglia, Essex, and London to ensure the safe movement of the flypast over Buckingham Palace.

After the display, the aircraft will disperse to the west and northwest of London, covering areas in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.

Who are the Red Arrows?

The Red Arrows are the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, standing among the world's elite aerobatic display teams.

As representatives of the Royal Air Force's speed, agility, and precision, the Red Arrows play a vital role as the service's public representatives.

They contribute to military recruitment, serve as national ambassadors both domestically and internationally, and showcase the finest of British excellence.

The team operates the iconic Hawk fast-jets and comprises pilots, engineers, and crucial support personnel, all of whom bring operational frontline experience.

Known for their signature Diamond Nine formation, the Red Arrows combine tight formations with meticulous flying, a tradition since their inception in 1965.

Each pilot in the Red Arrows has experience flying operationally in advanced aircraft like the Typhoon, playing a part in the Royal Air Force's mission to secure the skies year-round.

As of early 2024, marking their 60th season, the Red Arrows are based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and have completed nearly 5,000 displays across 57 countries.

How can I watch the Trooping the Colour flypast?

If you have successfully managed to get a ticket, you can watch the parade from the specially constructed stands.

But if you missed out, you can always brave the crowds and look for a spot on the Mall or edge of St James' Park — but it is advisable to get there early.

Trooping of the Colour will also be broadcast live across the BBC.

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Coverage begins at 10.30am and finished at 1.10pm on BBC One.

If you want to see exactly where the planes will be flying through, the website Military Airshows has plotted the flypast areas on Google Maps.