Trooping the Colour – Meghan Markle gives Prince Harry loving look as she joins royal family on balcony for first time to celebrate Queen’s birthday
Meghan experienced the pomp and pageantry of the event for the first time when she arrived on Horse Guards Parade with Harry in a carriage, along with the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent
NEWLYWED Meghan Markle joined the royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the first time to celebrate the Queen's official birthday at the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Royal fans gathered from early this morning to see Meghan and Harry, fresh from their honeymoon, exchanging loving looks and sharing jokes on the iconic balcony.
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The newlyweds gaze into each other's eyes on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: PA:Empics Entertainment
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Newlyweds Meghan and Harry shared a joke on the balconyCredit: James Whatling
Trooping the Colour – Meghan Markle and Prince Harry join Kate and William as they arrive to mark Queen’s birthday
The newlyweds wave to the crowds as they attended the Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: London News Pictures
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Kate and Meghan chat as the royals gathered on the Buckingham Palace balconyCredit: PA:Press Association
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The Queen waves to the crowds as she was joined by the other royals for her official birthdayCredit: Reuters
Meghan experienced the pomp and pageantry of the traditional summer spectacle for the first time when she arrived on House Guards Parade with Harry in a carriage, along with the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent.
Kate and Wills were in another carriage while a third carried Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise.
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Prince William keeps a watchful eye on his son, next to Savannah PhillipsCredit: � Max Mumby
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Savannah Phillips tells Prince George to be quiet during today's ceremonyCredit: James Whatling
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Something in sky seemed to distract the kidsCredit: James Whatling
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Savannah Phillips cheers as the planes fly over Buckingham Palace this afternoonCredit: BBC
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The royals gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypastCredit: Reuters
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Younger members of the Royal Family, along with Kate and Wills, look up at the RAF flypastCredit: Reuters
Meghan, the new Duchess of Sussex, wore a dress by Carolina Herrera and a hat by Philip Treacy.
Kate wore a dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Juliette Botterill, while Camilla was in a pale blue silk dress and coat by Bruce Oldfield and a hat by Philip Treacy.
The Queen, who recently had a successful eye operation to remove a cataract, wore a sky blue coat and dress by Stuart Parvin, and a hat by Angela Kelly.
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The Queen waves to the crowds during the ceremony to mark her official birthdayCredit: BBC
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The royals watch the RAF flyover from the iconic balconyCredit: Stephen Lock / i-Images
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RAF Red Arrows during a flypast over Buckingham Palace, in central London, following the Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: PA:Press Association
Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial spectacle that brings together prestigious regiments and the families of the serving men and women in celebration of the monarch's official birthdayCredit: PA:Press Association
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The Queen made her entrance onto Horse Guards in an Ascot Landau after making her journey from Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA:Press Association
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Meghan Markle attended her first Trooping the Colour paradeCredit: Reuters
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The Queen's procession was accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and RoyalsCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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The Queen rides in a carriage to attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony todayCredit: Splash News
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The Royals at the ceremony today (pictured left to right: Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne)Credit: Paul Edwards - The Sun
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The Duchess of Sussex is wearing a dress by Carolina Herrera and a hat by Philip TreacyCredit: Getty - Contributor
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The Duchess of Sussex arrives for the ceremony to mark the Queen's official birthdayCredit: PA:Press Association
She made her entrance onto House Guards in an Ascot Landau after making her journey from Buckingham Palace.
Her procession was accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.
The 7,500 guests seated in stands lining the parade ground stood as a mark of respect as the monarch arrived and began inspecting the massed ranks of the troops.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 97th birthday on Sunday, has retired from official public duties and did not attend.
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The Royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: Getty
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Kate and Meghan share a joke as the royals congregated on the balcony of Buckingham PalaceCredit: Pixel8000
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The royals gathered on the balcony of Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA:Press Association
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Meghan covers her mouth as she chats to Harry on the balcony of Buckingham PalaceCredit: Max Mumby
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The Duchess of Cambridge tends to Princess Charlotte on the Buckingham Palace balconyCredit: David Hartley
The newly married Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the Trooping the Colour paradeCredit: Getty - Contributor
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Newlyweds Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arriving to attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony todayCredit: � Max Mumby
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The annual event marks the Queen's official birthday. Her real birthday is in April, and she turned 92 this yearCredit: Paul Edwards - The Sun
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Camilla and Kate Middleton arrive in a carriage for the annual ceremony in central LondonCredit: �2018 Stephen Lock / i-Images
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Camilla and Kate wave to the crowds during the ceremony todayCredit: London News Pictures
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The Queen in attendance at the event to mark her official birthdayCredit: London News Pictures
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The Duke of Cambridge attends Trooping the ColourCredit: James Whatling
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Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during Trooping The Colour on the MallCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Camilla and Kate wave to the crowds on a sunny day in the capitalCredit: Splash News
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Beatrice and Eugenie attend the annual ceremony todayCredit: Paul Edwards - The Sun
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Meghan rode in a carriage with her husband, Prince Harry, greeted by hundreds of Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins lined up on the parade ground - Henry VIII's former jousting yard - as the event beganCredit: PA:Press Association
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The royals congregated on the balcony of Buckingham PalaceCredit: BBC
But the Queen was accompanied by the royal colonels, all on horseback: Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards.
Also riding in the ceremony for the first time was the Duke of York in his new role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
The royals later gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast, with the Red Arrows providing the finale.
The Queen was flanked by her sons, the Prince of Wales and Duke of York, at the front of the balcony, while the newlyweds stood behind her, surrounded by other members of the royal family.
Following her recent eye operation to remove a cataract, the Queen showed no ill effects and was not wearing sunglasses as she has at some outdoor events.
As the planes flew overheard, seven-year-old Savannah Phillips - daughter of Peter and Autumn - was seen covering Prince George's mouth and telling him to hush while the national anthem was played.
Princess Charlotte clapped excitedly when the thousands of people gathered at the gates of Buckingham Palace applauded the aerial display.
Other members of the royal family on the balcony included the Duchess of Cornwall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex and her children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, but the Earl of Wessex was not present as he is thought to be returning from an overseas trip.
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A fox amuses the crowd during the Trooping The Colour ceremony at The Royal HorseguardsCredit: PA:Press Association
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A fox runs in front of the watching crowd during the annual ceremonyCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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The fox runs across the parade ground during the parade in central LondonCredit: Reuters
The hot June weather led to one of the riders fainting on his way to the palace.
Welsh Guardsman Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, 79, was taken away by an ambulance for further treatment having fallen off his horse.
Pictures show Lord Guthrie on the ground, as officers rush to his aid while another officer leads his horse away.
Former SAS commander Lord Guthrie was head of the British Army until 1997 and then chief of defence staff until 2001.
RAF veteran John Nichol tweeted: "Hearing Field Marshal Lord Guthrie was thrown from his horse earlier. "#troopingofthecolour Really hope all is OK - a nicer General Officer you could not hope to meet. Wishing you well Sir."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed he was "receiving medical attention".
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Lord Guthrie, former Chief of Defence Staff, 79, after he fell off his horse in front of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: PA:Press Association
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Around 1,000 soldiers take part in the ceremony which marks the Queen's official birthdayCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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An excited spectator shows their colours at the annual event to mark the Queen's official birthdayCredit: WENN
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Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar (centre) of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards during the Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: PA:Press Association
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The Queen, who travelled in an Ascot Landau, is wearing a sky blue coat and dress by Stuart Parvin, and a hat by Angela KellyCredit: PA:Press Association
Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle. Colours, or flags, were carried, or "trooped", down the rank so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
In the 18th century, guards from the royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to "troop the colours" and in 1748 it was announced that the parade would also mark the Sovereign's official birthday.
This year the ceremony saw the Colour of the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards being trooped.
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Trooping the Colour has commemorated the birthday of the sovereign for more than 250 years and also functions as a display of army drills, music and horsemanshipCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battleCredit: Reuters
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Crowds line the Mall by Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on the MallCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Members of the queen's personal troops, the Household Division march at The Royal Horseguards during Trooping The Colour ceremonyCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Members of The Household Cavalry ride past Buckingham PalaceCredit: Reuters
Guardsman Charanpreet Singh Lall, 22, a Sikh from Leicester, became the first to wear a turban during the parade.
His turban features a ceremonial cap star to match the bearskin hats worn by the other soldiers.
"I'm quite proud and I know that a lot of other people are proud of me as well," he said.
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Armed police (pictured) on patrol this morning for the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremonyCredit: WENN
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Members of The Household Cavalry ride past Buckingham PalaceCredit: PA:Press Association
"For myself, being the first turban-wearing Sikh to troop the colour and to be part of the escort it is a really high honour for myself, and hopefully for everyone else as well.
"My mum was crying on the day I passed out so I wonder what is going to happen to her when she sees me in this."
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The event, which is held to mark the Queen's official birthday, stems from the traditional preparations for battleCredit: PA:Press Association
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Prince Charles,, Prince William and Princess Anne during Trooping The Colour on the MallCredit: Getty
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Members of the queen's personal troops, the Household Division during Trooping The Colour ceremonyCredit: Getty
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The Queen at the Royal Horseguards during the ceremony to mark her official birthday todayCredit: Getty
Trooping the Colour has commemorated the birthday of the sovereign for more than 250 years and also functions as a display of army drills, music and horsemanship.
Among the guests was Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, the Prime Minister Theresa May normally attends but is at a G7 meeting of world leaders in Canada.
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