Trooping the Colour: King Charles III marks official birthday with military parade – live updates

Royals to honour air crash victims at Trooping the Colourpublished at 09:11 British Summer Time

09:11 BST

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from the Mall

Image source, PA Media

King Charles has asked the Royal Family taking part in the Trooping the Colour parade to wear black armbands, as a mark of respect to the victims of the Air India plane crash, Buckingham Palace said.

The King requested a minute’s silence, which will come after his inspection of the parade, in recognition of “the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy”, a Palace spokesman said.

The King had sent a message of support soon after the news broke of the air crash, which claimed the lives of all but one of the 242 passengers and crew.

Flags have been at half-mast at royal residences and the black armbands will add another sign of respect, with the King having said he was “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad”.

Coachmen and women on carriages in the parade are also likely to wear black armbands, along with those senior royals in military uniform in the parade, including the King and the Prince of Wales.

Those royals at the ceremony but not in uniform will probably not wear armbands.

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