At Trooping the Colour 2025, Princess Charlotte of Wales, aged 10, made a notable appearance alongside her family during the King’s official birthday celebrations in London. Wearing a refined light teal dress and a diamond horseshoe brooch, the young princess paid tribute to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in a moment that resonated with royal watchers and admirers of British tradition.
- Royal.uk – The Official Royal Family Website
- BBC News – Royal Coverage
- Instagram.com/princeandprincessofwales
- Getty Images – Official Event Photography
- The Guardian
A Thoughtful Tribute: Princess Charlotte’s Outfit and Family Connection
Princess Charlotte’s light teal dress stood out for its elegance and symbolic resonance. Accompanying the look was a diamond horseshoe brooch, widely recognized as a family heirloom that previously belonged to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The brooch is associated with Queen Elizabeth II’s lifelong love of horses and has deep sentimental value within the Royal Family.
While not officially confirmed by the Palace, the brooch has been worn by Princess Charlotte during other significant events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in September 2022, where the young royal honored her great-grandmother’s memory. According to BBC News and The Telegraph, Charlotte’s appearance then marked one of the youngest royal tributes in modern British history.
The horseshoe brooch is a classic royal accessory believed to represent both tradition and continuity. Its appearance at Trooping the Colour 2025 further highlights the way members of the Royal Family use clothing and jewelry to convey respect for past generations and to reinforce royal symbolism.
Royal Coordination: Matching Moments with the Princess of Wales
Charlotte’s outfit subtly mirrored that of her mother, Catherine, Princess of Wales, who wore a blue coat dress by Catherine Walker, a favorite designer among British royals. Catherine accessorized her outfit with the Irish Guards regimental brooch, reflecting her honorary role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, and the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings, which originally belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.
The shared use of heirloom jewelry and coordinated tones highlighted a common royal practice of conveying unity, especially during national celebrations. As reported by Royal.uk, fashion and symbolism play a significant role in royal appearances, with many choices reflecting historical connections, service affiliations, and personal tributes.
Trooping the Colour 2025: A National Ceremony of Tradition and Duty
Trooping the Colour is the British monarch’s official birthday celebration, held annually in June regardless of the monarch’s actual birthdate. The 2025 ceremony was particularly significant as it marked King Charles III’s second Trooping the Colour as monarch following his accession in 2022.
The ceremony involves more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses, and 300 musicians parading through central London in a meticulously coordinated event. Key components include the Horse Guards Parade, the inspection of the troops, and a Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast viewed from the Buckingham Palace balcony, where senior members of the Royal Family gather to greet the public.
Due to ongoing treatment for cancer, King Charles appeared in a carriage procession instead of on horseback — a choice confirmed by the Palace in a statement emphasizing his continued commitment to public engagements in a modified capacity.
A Slimmed-Down Monarchy on Display
As in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 Trooping the Colour featured a streamlined royal presence, consistent with King Charles III’s approach to a modernized monarchy. Notably absent from this year’s public balcony appearance were Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as well as Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
According to BBC News, the King’s strategy emphasizes focusing on working members of the Royal Family, with roles defined by public service, constitutional duties, and charitable patronages. This approach aligns with evolving public expectations and provides a clear structure for representing the Crown domestically and internationally.
A Generational Moment: Children of the Wales Family Take Part
Prince William and Princess Catherine were joined by their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — all of whom appeared alongside them during the balcony appearance and in a formal pre-event family photograph shared on the couple’s official Instagram account.
The image showed Prince William in ceremonial red military attire, reflecting his position as Colonel of the Welsh Guards. Princess Catherine’s blue ensemble and the children’s formal clothing further highlighted the formality of the occasion. The children’s growing presence at public events reflects their gradual introduction to royal life, supported by age-appropriate participation and media engagement.
Royal Family and Sustainability: RAF Flypast with Eco Focus
The Royal Air Force Red Arrows led the flypast that concluded the 2025 Trooping the Colour celebrations. According to The Guardian, this year’s display emphasized sustainability, incorporating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the environmental impact of ceremonial events.
This focus aligns with King Charles III’s long-standing commitment to environmental issues, dating back to the 1970s. It also resonates with the values promoted by the Earthshot Prize, an initiative founded by Prince William to encourage climate solutions across the globe.
Media and Public Reaction to Princess Charlotte’s Appearance
Media outlets and royal commentators praised Princess Charlotte for her poised appearance during the event. While much of the public attention centered on her tribute through the brooch and dress, coverage emphasized the importance of continuity and tradition within the Royal Family.
Royal fashion blogs and publications such as Hello! Magazine and Tatler noted the consistency between Charlotte’s attire and royal protocols, further establishing her as a young but significant presence within the Windsor family.
Public interest in Charlotte’s appearances has grown steadily in recent years, often drawing comparisons to earlier generations of royals. However, official coverage and photography consistently respect the Palace’s emphasis on privacy and age-appropriate media access for royal children.
Conclusion: A Young Royal Pays Homage with Grace
Princess Charlotte’s appearance at Trooping the Colour 2025 offered a moving tribute to her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, through thoughtful details in her outfit and accessories. Wearing a family heirloom with deep personal significance, Charlotte exemplified the Royal Family’s commitment to honoring its past while engaging the public with a message of continuity and duty.
As the Royal Family continues to balance tradition with modern values, moments like these — respectful, elegant, and symbolic — help shape public understanding of what it means to serve in Britain’s constitutional monarchy today. Through verified appearances and thoughtful representation, Princess Charlotte is becoming an integral part of this enduring legacy.
