Hollie Cole
Reporting from the Mall

Image source, Reuters

​​The sun is still shining here on the Mall and the crowd is getting smaller as the pomp and pageantry from this year's Trooping the Colour draws to a close.

I’ve been in and among the crowd today, speaking to spectators who gathered in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the ceremony and the Royal Family.

As a reminder, the Trooping the Colour is a military parade which has long been used to mark the official birthday of the British Sovereign - in an effort to hold the event in better weather.

Soldiers, marching bands and horses made their way along the Mall earlier today, before King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, attended the Horse Guards Parade.

After an extravagant display, the Royal Family returned to Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast on the balcony, to rapturous cheers from the thousands who attended.

Many who witnessed the events are now sat in St James’ Park or Green Park, soaking up the remaining sun and enjoying some lunch.

We are closing our live coverage, but you can read more about the ceremony today here.

This page was edited by Neha Gohil, with reporting from the BBC's royal correspondent, Sean Coughlan, and Hollie Cole from the Mall.

Hollie Cole
Reporting from the Mall

​​Several people have stopped to ask Satvinder Cubb for a photo because of her Union Jack dress.

Today isn’t her first time watching a royal spectacle. She tells me that she came to watch the RAF flypast at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations in 2022. She also attended Trooping the Colour last year.

​​ ​​Her Union Jack dress was made just for today, she says, adding that she wanted to show her support to the Royal Family because they’ve been going through a “tough time” - referring to King Charles and Princess Catherine being treated for cancer. ​​ ​​

“They are still human beings,” Satvinder says, adding that she also wanted to watch the soldiers performing in today’s parade to express her thanks for their service. ​​ ​​

She adds that she’s met “such lovely people today”, with some from Australia and American asking to keep in touch with her.

Image source, Reuters

There were several Royal Family members who stood on the balcony outside Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast.

From left to right, the full list of members are:

• The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Richard and Birgitte
• The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie
• Queen Camilla
• King Charles III
• Prince Louis
• The Prince of Wales, William
• Prince George
• The Princess of Wales, Catherine
• Princess Charlotte
• The Duke of Kent, Edward
• The Princess Royal, Anne
• Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Mall

Image source, Reuters

The King and Queen and the Royal Family are on the balcony to watch the flypast.

The Red Arrows for the first time are using an eco-friendly fuel, as we've been reporting, although they were moving too fast to see if they have green registration plates now.

Hollie Cole
Reporting from the Mall

The Royal Family are now stood on the balcony and people are starting to chant “God save the King” and “we love the King”.

Anti-monarchy protestors, who have also attended the parade, have responded by chanting “not my King”. ​

​ ​​The sound of the RAF flypast cuts through the chants and people turn their heads to the skies to watch the planes soar past.

Image source, Reuters

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have walked out on the balcony to rupturous cheers at Buckingham Palace to witness the RAF flypast.

The pair are joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, alongside their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

You can see the Royal Family on the balcony - and the ongoing ceremony - by clicking Watch Live above.

Gun salutes are taking place at Green Park, one of the many traditions for the Trooping the Colour parade.

The rounds are being fired at ten second intervals, which will take six minutes - leading up to the flypast over Buckingham Palace shortly.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Mall

The big French windows behind the Buckingham Palace balcony will soon open.

Some of the Royal Family, including Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, had been outside on the balcony earlier to watch the end of the parade.

If you're wondering what's behind those famous balcony windows, it's a room full of Chinese decorations and furniture, with a massive light fitting which you can often see in the background of photos.

The balcony railing itself is much shallower than you might expect, so you wouldn't want to get too close to the edge.

Earlier today, King Charles III reviewed his troops during the Horse Guards Parade, alongside Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales.

Now, crowds are making their way along the Mall to watch the RAF flypast and catch a glimpse of the Royal Family's annual appearance on the balcony.

Stick with us.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Mall

Image source, Reuters

The parade is returning to Buckingham Palace, with the sound of horses hooves and a marching band coming up the Mall.

This is a military parade, but it's a photo-friendly, historic display, with swords, musical instruments and braid glittering in the sun.

It's very different from military shows of strength, with tanks and missiles thundering along the streets.

Hollie Cole
Reporting from the Mall

​​The pomp and ceremony is back here on the Mall, with some people clapping and cheering at the soldiers marching past and at the music filling the air. ​​ ​​

We’ve just seen the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ride past in a carriage, smiling at the crowds as people try to get as close to the fences lining the pavement as possible. ​​ ​​

“Are you recording?” I hear one man say to someone he’s stood with. Many here are trying to capture today’s moments on their phones.

The cheers are increasing in volume as the King and Queen ride past in their carriage.

I’m stood on the tips of my toes to see them - I think I might need stilts to see over the crowd.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are making their way back along the Mall to Buckingham Palace as the Horse Guards Parade concluded.

The Princess of Wales and her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis are in a separate carriage following the King and Queen.

As a reminder, the Royal Airforce Flypast over central London will take place at 13:00 BST. We are expected to see the Royal Family watch the flypast from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Stick with us for the latest.

Hollie Cole
Reporting from the Mall

​I’ve just been speaking to Jodie and Lucy, who have travelled from north London to watch the ceremony near Buckingham Palace today.

They say they have made it their annual tradition to attend the parade and were "drenched" in rain last year. In stark contrast, the two friends are happily enjoying the weather today.

The pair are joined by Lucy's dog, Bonnie, who is also enjoying the sunshine. “I’ve always got a dog with me,” Lucy says, adding that last year she brought her dog Hank with her. ​​ ​​

The pair are sat away from the barriers, telling me that “we’ve got the best spot” out of the hot sun.

​​ ​​“Britain, we put on the best show,” Lucy adds.

Image source, Getty Images

As the ceremony continues, let’s have a look at what this military parade of more than 260 years is all about.

Although King Charles’ birthday is 14 November, this event has long been used to mark the official birthday of the British Sovereign - in an effort to hold the event in better weather.

It’s performed each June by more than 1,350 soldiers and 300 musicians, and the military parade includes an inspection by the King, music, pageantry, a gun salute, and an RAF flypast over central London.

During the event, a regiment flag is “trooped” through the ranks of soldiers, with this being rotated among the five regiments of Foot Guards.

“Colours” is the name given to the different flags representing different regiments of the British Army and was used so soldiers could easily spot their unit when on the battlefield.

The colours of the Coldstream Guards are being presented this year.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Mall

Image source, Reut

The big finale of Trooping the Colour is the flypast by the Red Arrows over Buckingham Palace - and there will be an eco-friendly twist to this year’s appearance.

For the first time at a public event, the Red Arrows will be using a more environmentally friendly blend of fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel and a biofuel for the trademark vapour trail.

That will please the King, an environmental champion, who has been encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuel where possible on royal flights and wants to promote its wider use.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Mall

Image source, PA Media

Prince William is on horseback in the Trooping the Colour parade.

He's riding a horse called Darby that was given to his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He's part of the military parade, wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, a regiment of which he's the colonel.

He's also wearing a black armband in honour of the victims of the Air India air crash.

A minute's silence is taking place for the victims of the Air India plane crash, as requested by King Charles III.