Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, celebrated her first official Trooping the Colour celebrations on Saturday in regal style along with her husband, Prince William and the rest of the royal family.
The 29-year-old looked stunning in an Alexander McQueen coat and black hat, matching the mood of the occasion. Prince William, on the other hand, was dressed in the red Irish Guards uniform he wore at his wedding along with a traditional bearskin hat.
A long-celebrated tradition Trooping the Colour has been observed every year by the British and the Commonwealth armies since the 17th century. Held every second Saturday in June, the event also marks the official birthday of the British Sovereign and involves a Royal Procession by the Queen. Following the Royal Salute, the different troops of the Household Division are then inspected by the Queen herself. This basically involves over 1,300 soldiers who parade past and salute the Queen.
One of the Foot Guards regiments is then selected to troop their colour through the ranks of guards. Following the Royal Procession, the Queen the led the Royal Family onto the Buckingham Palace balcony for the traditional Royal Air Force flypast.
Take a look below to check out the visuals from the event including the stunning Duchess in regal style:
Kate Middleton and Prince William watch a fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011.Reuters.Kate Middleton and Prince William during the fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011.Reuters.Britain's Queen Elizabeth (C), Prince Philip (2nd R), Prince William (2nd L), his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (L), and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall walk onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony to honour the sovereign's official birthday.Reuters.Britain's Queen Elizabeth (6th R) and her husband Prince Philip (4th R) and members of the royal family watch a fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011. (L-R) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Sophie, Duchess of Wessex, Prince Edward, Louise Windsor, Tim Lawrence, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry, Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles.Reuters.Britain's Queen Elizabeth (C), Prince Philip (2nd R), Prince William (2nd L), his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (L), and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall walk onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony to honour the sovereign's official birthday.Reuters.Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip sit in a horse drawn carriage as they make their way from Buckingham Palace to attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony to honour the sovereign's official birthday.Reuters.Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip sit in a horse drawn carriage as they make their way from Buckingham Palace to attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London June 11, 2011. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony to honour the sovereign's official birthday.Reuters.
