Trooping the Colour 2026: The King's Birthday Parade and Knightsbridge
Tomorrow, Saturday 13 June, London stages its most spectacular annual ceremony. The King's Birthday Parade, better known as Trooping the Colour, takes place at Horse Guards Parade, with troops processing from Buckingham Palace along The Mall and back again. It is a Westminster event, but it has deep roots in Knightsbridge: the Household Cavalry, whose mounted Sovereign's Escort is one of the highlights of the day, lives a short walk from Harrods.
The timings
According to the Household Division's official guide, the parade is scheduled for 10am at Horse Guards Parade, with events getting under way at around 10.20am. Spectators can make their way to The Mall or the edge of St James's Park from 9am. The day ends with the fly-past at 1pm, which happens on the King's Birthday Parade only and not at the rehearsals.
Two rehearsals have already taken place on the previous Saturdays: the Major General's Review on 30 May and the Colonel's Review on 6 June.
Where to watch
Grandstand seats at Horse Guards are allocated by ballot, with a limit of four tickets per application, so most people watch for free from The Mall or from the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade. Be aware that troops lining the route may partly block the view from these spots. The official guide marks the best public vantage points on its map, and arriving close to 9am gives you the best chance of a front-row position. For reference, seated tickets for the parade itself are priced at £30, with the reviews at £15 and £10.
The Knightsbridge connection
The Household Cavalry's home is Hyde Park Barracks, the long building on the south side of Hyde Park that most Knightsbridge residents pass every day. As a Knightsbridge London profile of its then commanding officer recounts, the regiment has been on the site for more than two centuries: the first barracks was built in 1795, rebuilt in 1868 and again in 1970, and the ceremonial gates opening onto the park come from the old barracks.
Daily life there starts early, with soldiers in the yard from around 6.30am and horses out between 7am and 8am, either being schooled or taken on a Watering Order through London's streets. Anyone walking in Hyde Park early on a weekday has a decent chance of seeing riders on exercise, which is perhaps the most Knightsbridge way to enjoy the Household Cavalry.
Getting there and around
From Knightsbridge, Green Park station, the closest to The Mall, is two stops east on the Piccadilly line; on a fine morning the walk from Hyde Park Corner through Green Park is a pleasant alternative. Roads around the route are closed during the parade, so allow extra time. For a quieter alternative, walk along the south side of Hyde Park afterwards and admire the barracks gates. More dates are in our events listings.
Lead image: Waterford_Man via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
