See How the Royal Family Has Changed Over the Years as We Look Back at Trooping the Colour

3 years ago

Every year, members of the extended royal family gather at Buckingham Palace for the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony. The event, which sees members of the British and Commonwealth armies parade for inspection, used to be purely a military ceremony, but since 1748, it has also celebrated the monarch’s official birthday. It’s an opportunity for the queen’s children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews to come together.

Over the years, new generations have swelled the ranks, and this year, the parade was extra special as Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis made their carriage progression debut at the parade. It also marked Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s joint return to the UK following their royal exit in January 2020. Though they didn’t stand on the balcony with the rest of the family, the couple was spotted watching the ceremony from the Major General’s Office inside Buckingham Palace.

Taking a look back at previous Trooping the Colour ceremonies offers an incredible snapshot of how the royal family has grown and changed. From Prince William’s first appearance – which was echoed years later when George made his debut – to bittersweet moments like the queen mother’s final turn on the balcony, take a look back now as we open the royal archives to explore the last few decades of the queen’s official birthday celebrations.

PA Images via Getty Images

1956

Pictured: Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Charles, Countess Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Prince Philip.

PA Images via Getty Images

1958

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Popperfoto/Getty Images / Paul Popper/Popperfoto

1960

Pictured: Lord Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Philip, Princess Anne.

Getty Images / Fox Photos

1964

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II (holding Prince Edward), Prince Andrew, Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Evening Standard

1968

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by members of the royal family, including the Queen Mother, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince Charles, and Princess Margaret.

Popperfoto/Getty Images

1970

Pictured: Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and members of the royal family.

Tim Graham/Getty Images

1980

Pictured: Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, Princess Michael of Kent, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Anne, Peter Phillips, and Alexander, Earl of Ulster.

Getty Images / David Levenson

1982

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Princess Diana, and Prince Charles surrounded by members of the royal family.

Getty Images / Georges De Keerle

1983

Pictured: Members of the extended royal family.

Sygma via Getty Images / Patrick Durand

1992

Pictured: Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Diana.

Getty Images / David Levenson

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II.

Getty Images / David Levenson

1984

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince William, Prince Charles, Princess Margaret, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / David Levenson

1985

Pictured: Prince Philip, Peter Phillips, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry, Zara Phillips, and Princess Diana.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Zara Phillips, Prince William, and Lady Gabriella Windsor.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Edward.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

1988

Pictured: Princess Margaret, Prince William, Price Harry, Princess Diana, Zara Phillips, Lady Gabriella Windsor, and Lord Frederick Windsor.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince William, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Harry, and Princess Diana.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

1989

Pictured: Lord Frederick Windsor, Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Margaret, Prince Harry, Princess Alexandra, Princess Diana, Prince William, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Harry.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

1990

Pictured: Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, Prince William, Prince Harry, Lord Frederick Windsor, and Lady Rose Windsor.

Getty Images / David Levenson

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Diana, and Prince Harry.

AFP/Getty Images / MARTYN HAYHOW

1999

Pictured: Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth II.

AFP/Getty Images / MARTYN HAYHOW

Pictured: Princess Anne.

AFP/Getty Images / DYLAN MARTINEZ

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Prince Charles.

AFP/Getty Images / MARTYN HAYHOW

2000

Pictured: Countess Mountbatten, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Princess Margaret.

AFP/Getty Images / SUNDAY MIRROR

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

Getty Images / Anthony Harvey

2001

Pictured: Members of the extended royal family.

Getty Images / Anthony Harvey

Pictured: Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

2002

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II.

Getty

2003

Pictured: Prince Harry, Prince William, Princess Anne, Timothy Laurence, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, and Prince Charles.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Scott Barbour

Pictured: Prince Harry and Prince William.

Getty Images / Scott Barbour

Pictured: Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward.

Getty Images / Scott Barbour

2004

Pictured: Members of the extended royal family.

Getty Images / Scott Barbour

Pictured: Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

2005

Pictured: Prince William, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne, and Timothy Laurence.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Charles.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Getty Images / MJ Kim

2006

Pictured: Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Timothy Laurence, and Lady Helen Windsor.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, and Princess Eugenie.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Philip, Prince Harry, and Princess Anne.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Princess Anne and Prince Charles.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA

2007

Pictured: Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Viscount Linley, and Princess Anne.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Princess Eugenie and Prince William.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

2008

Pictured: Members of the extended British royal family.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Princess Anne, Timothy Laurence, Queen Elizabeth II, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Prince William and Prince Harry.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Philip, Autumn Phillips, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

2009

Pictured: George Gilman, Lady Rose Gilman, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward, Prince Philip, Charles Armstrong Jones, Tim Laurence, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Lady Rose Gilman, Prince William, and Prince Harry.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

Pictured: Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Lady Louise Windsor.

AFP/Getty Images / ADRIAN DENNIS

2010

Pictured: Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Prince William, Prince Edward, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Michael of Kent, Prince Philip, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, and Lady Helen Taylor.

Getty Images / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William.

Getty Images / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice.

Getty Images / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Princess Anne.

WireImage / Tom Wargacki

2011

Pictured: Katharine, Duchess of Kent, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Michael of Kent, Lady Frederick Windsor, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry, and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Dan Kitwood

Pictured: Lady Frederick Windsor, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, and Prince Edward.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

Pictured: Kate Middleton and Prince William.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

2012

Pictured: Prince Andrew, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Timothy Laurence, Lady Louise Windsor, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William.

Getty Images / Dan Kitwood

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Kate Middleton and Prince William.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Prince William, Princess Eugenie, Prince Harry, and Princess Beatrice.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

Pictured: Lady Louise Windsor and Kate Middleton.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

2013

Pictured: Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, James, Viscount Severn, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Princess Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Prince Edward, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, James, Viscount Severn, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

PIctured: Prince Harry.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Prince William and Princess Eugenie.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

Pictured: Prince Harry, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate Middleton.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice.

GC Images / Keith Hewitt

2014

Pictured: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth II, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince Philip, Prince Edward, Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Prince Philip and Prince Harry.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Prince Harry, Kate Middleton, and Prince William.

WireImage / Anwar Hussein

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

2015

Pictured: Princess Anne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince George, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, James, Viscount Severn, Prince Philip, and Prince Andrew.

WireImage / Danny Martindale

Pictured: Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

WireImage / Danny Martindale

Pictured: Prince George and Prince William.

WireImage / Danny Martindale

Pictured: Prince George, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and James, Viscount Severn.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Prince Andrew and Kate Middleton.

Getty Images / Ben A. Pruchnie

2016

Pictured: Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall, Princess Anne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Peter Phillips, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

WireImage / Danny Martindale

Pictured: Prince William.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, and Prince Harry.

Getty Images / Max Mumby/Indigo

Pictured: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward.

WireImage / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Kate Middleton, Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, and Autumn Phillips.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

2017

Pictured: Princess Eugenie, Queen Elizabeth II, Timothy Laurence, Prince Philip, Princess Anne (just seen), Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Savannah Phillips, Peter Phillips, Isla Phillips, and Autumn Phillips.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

2017

Pictured: Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince William.

Getty Images / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip.

WireImage / Karwai Tang

Pictured: Princess Charlotte and Prince George.

WireImage / Karwai Tang

Pictured: Prince Harry, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate Middleton.

Getty / Chris Jackson

2018

Pictured: Members of the extended royal family.

Getty / NIKLAS HALLEN

Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Getty / Samir Hussein

Pictured: Kate Middleton.

Getty / Karwai Tang

Pictured: Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips, and Prince George.

Getty / Chris Jackson

Pictured: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Isla Phillips, Peter Phillips, Savannah Phillips, Autumn Phillips.