All eyes on gorgeous George! Prince steals the show with royal wave from Buckingham Palace balcony as mummy makes her first outing after giving birth to join in Queen's birthday celebrations
- Prince George has made his first appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside the Queen
- Was flanked by mother Kate who was making her first public appearance since giving birth to Princess Charlotte
- Royals were taking part in annual Trooping of the Colour parade to mark the Queen's official birthday
- The planned fly-past did not take place due to the cloudy weather, but the Red Arrows did make an appearance
Decked out in all their military finery, with bearskins, cavalry and soldiers galore, the Royal family assembled in central London today for the Trooping of the Colour to mark the Queen's official birthday.
But despite all the splendour on show, there was only one star, as gorgeous Prince George made his first appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave at the adoring crowds gathered below alongside the Duchess of Cambridge, making her first appearance since giving birth last month.
The young price was wearing a baby-blue outfit trimmed with white frills, in a deliberate echo of Price William's own outfit when he first appeared on the balcony held by Charles 31 years ago. When George had appeared at the window of the palace earlier in the day, he had been wearing a dark jumper.
Queen Elizabeth waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping of the Colour parade to mark her official birthday, alongside Prince George who delighted the adoring crowds waiting below
How times change: The royal family pictured 31 years ago as Prince William was taken on to the balcony for the first time during the Trooping of the Colour while being held by father Prince Charles (left)
Spitting image: Prince George, who was earlier pictured wearing a dark blue jumper, was dressed in a baby blue outfit with frills for his appearance - in deliberate echoes of his own father's outfit in 1984
Prince George waves from Buckingham Palace balcony flanked by father Prince William, mother Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, the Queen, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, pictured in the background, in his first official appearance on British soil
Prince George waves to the crowds at the Trooping the Colour parade during his first appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony
The inquisitive boy looked up at the sky as his beaming father and great-grandmother watched
Prince George, was earlier pictured smiling at the windows of Buckingham Palace wearing a navy blue cardigan from Trotters, ahead of his appearance on the balcony when he changed into an outfit mirroring that worn by his own father at the same event three decades ago
Familiar face: While being held up to the windows of Buckingham Palace, Prince George was pictured pulling an expression that bares a striking resemblance to the face Prince Harry pulled when he first appeared on the palace balcony
Out on the balcony George cuddled up to proud father Prince William, still dressed in his red tunic having ridden on horseback alongside Princess Anne and Prince Charles during the earlier parade.
Wife Kate, looking elegant as ever in a blue and white floral pattern dress by Catherine Walker, was riding separately in a open-topped Barouche carriage alongside Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Harry.
George’s appearance on the balcony comes weeks before his second birthday in July. Father, Prince William, and grandfather, Prince Charles, both of whom will be riding in the procession, attended their first Trooping at two.
Radiant: Kate was seen riding in a horse-drawn carriage alongside the Duchess of Cornwall in her first public appearance since giving birth to Princess Charlotte, while husband William was elsewhere in the parade riding on horseback
Queen Elizabeth, who turned 89 this year, has been celebrating her official birth at the annual Trooping the Colour parade in central London today alongside husband Prince Philip dressed in traditional bearskin and red tunic
Trooping the Colour is a military tradition dating back hundreds of years, but became associated with the royals in the 18th century. The Queen's actual birthday is on April 21
Prince Charles (left) and Prince William (right) wore traditional bearskin hats and red tunics in their roles as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and Colonel of the Irish Guards respectively
Prince Harry, who left the military last month after a decade in service and two combat tours of the Middle East, rode in the carriage with Camilla and Kate dressed in the uniform of the Household Cavalry, where he remains a Commissioned Officer
The Duchess of Cambridge's color choice brought out the blue in her sapphire engagement ring
The parade began at Buckingham Palace before moving through Horse Guards Parade, The Mall and Admiralty Arch to mark the Queen's official birthday.
The monarch, who turned 89 this year, was taken past cheering crowds in a horse-drawn carriage alongside husband Prince Philip, wearing full bearskin hat and accompanying red tunic which he is entitled to wear as he is Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
Prince Harry was also pictured dressed in the uniform of the Household Cavalry, where he remains a Commissioned Officer, having quite active service at the end of last month.
The Queen smiles as she heads back towards Buckingham Palace from Horse Guards Parade after taking part in the Trooping of the Colour
Members of the Household Guard march behind the Barouche carrying the Queen and Prince Philip during the Trooping of the Colour
The annual event has taken place for hundreds of years, but only became associated with the royal family during the reign of Charles II, when it was decided it would mark the official birthday of the monarch
Queen Elizabeth, who turned 89 this year, inspects the ranks of the Household Division during a parade to mark her official birthday
Sitting in front of ranks of the Household Division, the Queen and Prince Philip take part in the annual Trooping of the Colour parade
Following the parade, Prince Andrew, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were pictured on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
The royals await the arrival of Prince William, Prince George, the Queen and Prince Philip on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
While most of the fly-past was cancelled due to the cloudy weather, the Red Arrows still managed to play their part in the celebrations
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was riding in the open-topped Barouche along with Kate and Prince Harry, while Princess Eugenie and Beatrice occupied a third alongside their father Prince Andrew.
Princess Beatrice was wearing a black jewelled head piece from London milliner Juliette Botterill and an vintage inspired copper coat dress from London -based designer Suzannah. Princess Eugenie is wearing a cream hat also from London based milliner Juliette Botterill.
The only senior royals not present are the Earl and Countess of Wessex who will represent the monarch at a Swedish royal wedding.
Prince William raises his hand in salute while riding alongside Princess Anne during the Trooping of the Colour parade today
Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne take part in the Trooping the Colour parade while mounted on horseback. The Queen also used to ride during the parade, but swapped to a carriage in the late 1980s
Prince Philip, 94, is pictured wearing a bearskin hat which weighs 2lbs on its own, while Prince Harry is pictured wearing the uniform of an officer in the Household Cavalry, where he remains a Commissioned Officer
Charles, William and Anne are pictured moments after leading Buckingham Palace to take part in today's parade through central London
Prince Andrew was pictured riding in a third Barouche with his daughters Beatrice (right) and Eugenie
Beatrice (left) and Eugenie (right) rode in a carriage along with father Prince Andrew at the parade to mark the Queen's official birthday
Prince Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, are all due to attend the parade but will arrive on horseback rather than by carriage.
The Queen, who does still ride in her spare time, used to attend the parade on horseback, but switched to a carriage in the late 1980s.
Trooping The Colour is a military custom which dates back to the time of Charles II, when regiments would have their colours displayed daily to ensure their men could recognise them in battle.
Troops of the Welsh Guards present the Colour standard during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade in London today
Trooping the Colour is a military tradition based on parades that would usually take place before battle in which colours - or flags - were paraded so that troops could recognise them on the field (pictured the Household Division make their way to Admiralty Arch)
The parade sees soldiers of the royal palaces march through Admiralty Arch, down The Mall and then on to Horse Guards Parade, before going back into Buckingham Palace
Military marching music linked to the history of each regiment on display plays a big part in the ceremony, both to keep time for the marchers, and harking back to a time when battlefield commands were given using drummers
More than 1,000 soldiers have taken part in today's parade which existed as a military tradition before being associated with the monarchy during the rule of King Charles II
Guardsmen march past Buckingham Palace before the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in central London
Soldiers of the Household Cavalry wait for the arrival of the carriages during the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace
George III declared that it should take place to mark the king’s birthday, a tradition which continues today.
Colours, or flags, were trooped past ranks of soldiers so they could be seen and inspected prior to battle, and from the 18th century the tradition was taken up by the soldiers of the royal palaces.
In 1748 it was decided that the occasion would also be used to mark the official birthday of the monarch. The Queen's actual birthday was on April 21.
Members of the Welsh Guards march past the Queen while taking part in the Trooping of the Colour parade in London earlier today
Members of the Household Division make their way towards Admiralty Arch during the Trooping the Colour parade in London today
Policemen in their dress uniforms walk past lines of soldiers along The Mall as they prepare for the Queen to be taken past as part of her official birthday celebrations
Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment take up postition on The Mall prior to the Trooping The Colour ceremony
Carriages containing members of the Royal Family are paraded past the Household Guard on Horse Guards Parade as part of the Trooping of the Colour parade in London today
The event attracted hundreds of spectators, including this boy dressed in a bearskin hat of his own, sitting on his father's shoulders
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3122591/Look-s-mummy-daddy-Prince-George-watches-Buckingham-Palace-Kate-joins-William-appearance-Princess-Charlotte-s-birth-Trooping-Colour.html#ixzz3cz5VRHnJ
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