Charlotte's wave of affection: Young royal's gesture to the crowds on her Buckingham Palace balcony debut sparks outpouring of online love for the 'total cutie'
- The Queen observed the Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade as part of official birthday celebrations
- Royal Family returned to Buckingham Palace for balcony appearance including Princess Charlotte
- It was the first time the one-year-old has been seen in public since posing for a portrait with the Queen in April
- The youngster delighted fans across the globe by giving her first royal wave from her mother's arms
- Social media users shared their excitement on Twitter, saying the little princess was 'precious' and a 'total cutie'
- The royals watched an RAF fly-past from the palace at 1pm while a special flotilla sailed down the Thames
Thousands of people lined the streets of London today to take part in the Queen's birthday celebrations - but it was the monarch's great-granddaughter who was the centre of attention.
Princess Charlotte made her official debut on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as the Royal Family observed an RAF flypast to mark Her Majesty's 90th birthday.
It was the 13-month-old royal's first appearance in public since posing with the Queen and her other grandchildren and great-grandchildren for a special royal portrait in April - and featured her first ever royal wave.
The tiny gesture sent the Internet into meltdown, with hundreds of Twitter users sharing adoring posts about the 'total cutie'.
First of many: Princess Charlotte, pictured with father Prince William, right, brother Prince George, centre, and mother the Duchess of Cambridge, left, delighted people across the globe when she performed her first royal wave from Buckingham Palace
Up in the air: Prince George, centre, appeared to give the planes a salute while his 'gan-gan', second right, waved at the pilots soaring overhead. Also pictured (from left): Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Philip
Family affair: Princess Charlotte (centre) made her first public appearance since April on the balcony alongside (from left) Princess Anne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, her mother Kate, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, brother Prince George, father Prince William, the Queen, Prince Edward, Prince Philip and Sophie, Countess of Wessex
In the pink: Princess Charlotte, centre, made her balcony debut held by her mother Kate, left, and wearing a beautiful pink dress, while Prince George, right watched the planes eagerly
Captivated: The young prince was also seen wriggling in his father's arms, centre, as Prince William picked him up to give him a better view
We are amused: The Queen, right, appears to find something George has done very funny as Prince William, front centre, bends down to speak to his son and Prince Harry, back centre, looks on
Trooping the Colour may have impressed the crowds yesterday but it was the open and obvious happiness of the Cambridge family that delighted
Prince George gave a wave as his proud father took his hand and led him inside
Famous flyers: The Red Arrows, pictured, were among the planes performing stunts during the RAF fly-past over Buckingham Palace
Festive greeting: After the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, the Duchess of Cambridge, centre, led other Royals in watching the cavalry march past Buckingham Palace from the balcony
Procession: Hundreds of mounted soldiers made their way back to the palace along The Mall after the completion of the parade
One Twitter user wrote: 'Princess George and Princess Charlotte are the most adorable things'. Another said the royal siblings were 'too precious'.
Before the fly past the Queen attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, which is playing host to 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and more than 400 musicians.
The military event began at Horse Guards Parade at 10am and has been part of the monarch's birthday celebrations since the mid-1700s and will feature a fly-past by the RAF at around 1pm.
The Queen was dressed in bright green and was taken to Horse Guards Parade in a carriage alongside husband Prince Philip, who wore a large bearskin.
Prince Harry accompanied the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall in another carriage, who both looked glamorous dressed all in white.
Adoring public: Hundreds of social media users took to Twitter to gush over Princess Charlotte's first official appearance
Centre of attention: Princess Charlotte's wave from Buckingham Palace sparked a flurry of excited responses on Twitter this afternoon
Formation: A Sentinel R1 reconaissance plane, top, leads two Typhoon fighters, left and right, and an RC-135W Rivet Joint spy jet on the fly-past
The Queen's grandchildren Lady Louise Windsor and her brother James, Viscount Severn, right, joined Prince George and Princess Charlotte, left with the Duchess of Cambridge, at the event
Marching: A procession of the Household Division moved down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony
Masses: The troops were followed by a crowd of thousands who filled up The Mall in an effort to see the royals on the balcony
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice followed their grandmother's lead by opting for colourful outfits, with Beatrice wearing an orange fascinator and Eugenie modelled a feathered hat.
One of the traditions of the event is for the monarch to arrive on horseback, and although the Queen could not, Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne all did so in her place.
But the conditions got too much for one guardsman, who collapsed during the ceremony and was then stretchered away by officials.
It is not uncommon for a soldier to collapse at the event, with it happening before in 2013 and 2011, while a guardsman also passed out during rehearsals for this event last month.
The reason is usually a combination of the temperature - today a balmy 22C - and the heavy uniform and bearskin hats the soldiers have to wear.
River tribute: Royal barge Gloriana led a 40-strong flotilla down the Thames to mark the Queen's official birthday today
Chopper: A RAF Chinook helicopter flies over London towards Buckingham Palace as part of the fly-past for the birthday celebration
Bird's-eye view: The full extent of the crowds turning out for the big day can be seen from high in the air above Buckingham Palace
At one point, Kate gave her daughter a little kiss on the forehead, while the Prince of Wales beamed at his young granddaughter.
George chatted away happily to William. The Duke, who was wearing his red tunic uniform as Colonel of Irish Guards, crouched down and pointed out the helicopters, led by the Chinook, in the distance.
The prince, who is three next month, appeared to sneeze at one point, covering his forehead with his arm afterwards.
In excitement, he banged the top of the balcony with both hands as he watched the flypast.
Around 45 members of the royal family took to the front of the palace including the Princess Royal, Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall, Peter Phillips, the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and Viscount Severn.
The spectacle in Whitehall honoured the Queen's enduring ties with her Armed Forces and officially marked her milestone anniversary.
Over the weekend the nation is celebrating the monarch's long and rich life that has seen her become the longest reigning and oldest monarch in British history.
Cheers from the public in the Mall greeted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's arrival on Horse Guards Parade - Henry VIII's former jousting yard - where an audience of thousands were seated in stands.
The crowds were treated to the sight of the royal couple in a vintage carriage, Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton, and the imposing presence of The Sovereign's Escort, mounted troops from the Life Guards and Blues and Royals.
The procession included the royal colonels on horseback - the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards.
On the parade ground in their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins were the Coldstream, Grenadier and Scots Guards - while the Irish Guards lined the Queen's processional route from Buckingham Palace.
The Queen in Green: The monarch appeared dressed in near neon green alongside Prince Philip in an open top carriage to begin the Trooping the Colour ceremony
Taking her place: The Queen left her carriage to take her seat on a dais where she watched the rest of the ceremony
Fainted: One guardsman collapsed during the ceremony in a repeat of the 2013 event when a similar incident occurred
Stretchered off: The guardsman was carried away by officials for medical attention after likely struggling with the heat in his uniform
Premier position: Prime Minister David Cameron enjoyed a front row seat for the festivities at Horse Guards Parade
Playtime: Some children were not as interested in the festivities as the adults, preferring to sit and play with hankerchiefs
Watching from the Duke of Wellington's old office that overlooks Horse Guards were members of the Royal Family including the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge who had arrived together in a carriage.
Kate looked chic in an Alexander McQueen coat and hat by Philip Treacy while Harry was dressed in his military uniform.
They were joined by the Duke of York and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Trooping the Colour is an important social occasion for the Guardsmen taking part, and gives their wives, girlfriends, parents and other relatives the chance to celebrate the achievements of the young men and enjoy the spectacle.
Some spectators in the stands which lined the parade ground were dressed in morning suits or smart suits, while many women wore summer dresses with wide brimmed hats.
They all rose from their seats as a mark of respect as the Queen's carriage passed by, with the monarch wearing a vibrant green coat and dress by Stewart Parvin and a matching hat by Rachel Trevor Morgan, while Philip, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, wore a bearskin and scarlet tunic.
On her shoulder the head of state wore the Brigade of Guards brooch.
After watching the parade, the royals returned to Buckingham Palace to watch the Household Cavalry procession down The Mall, with several members of the family watching from the palace balcony.
All white: The Duchess of Cornwall, left, and the Duchess of Cambridge, right, look glamorous in white as they are taken to Horse Guards Parade by carriage
Generations: The crowds were just as excited to see Prince Harry, left, as they were to see his grandparents, right
Prince William, left, centre, with Prince Charles and Princess Anne, and the Duchess of Cambridge, right, are expected to bring Princess Charlotte out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the first time today
Posing: For the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh much of the crowd was obscured by mobile phones as supporters young and old snapped photos
The Colour being paraded on Horse Guards this year is the flag of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, the unit last performed this special role in 2007.
Among those taking part today was Britain's Got Talent winner and Household Cavalry bandsman Richard Jones whose skill as a magician saw him triumph in the popular show.
As a member of the Household Cavalry band he played trombone while on horseback dressed in his gold coat.
Among the audience of thousands watching the spectacle was Second World War veteran Fergus Anckorn, 97, whose story was the focus of the serviceman's magic trick that earned him the title.
Mr Anckorn, was a prisoner of war and forced to work on the Burma Railway and the infamous bridge on the River Kwai.
He said: 'It's great to be here, I've never seen Trooping the Colour before, this week I've already been to the Japanese Embassy and Buckingham Palace.'
Attention: Trooping the Colour is an important social occasion for the Guardsmen taking part, and gives their wives, girlfriends, parents and other relatives the chance to celebrate their achievements
Royal occasion: Princess Anne looked focused on her duties as she arrived at the ceremony today on horseback, pictured
The 97-year-old joked about the Queen's birthday: 'I remember her being born, it was common knowledge where I grew up in Kent.'
The monarch first took the royal salute in 1951, when she deputised for her ill father George VI, and has continued receiving the mark of respect every year except 1955 when there was a national rail strike.
Her first duty was to inspect the long line of troops - wearing their famous red tunics and bearskin hats - from the Coldstream, Grenadier and Scots Guards.
As she travelled in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory mounted phaeton carriage behind her on horseback and wearing ceremonial military uniform were the royal colonels Charles, Anne and William.
With her detailed knowledge of the ceremony the Queen cast an expert eye over the troops as she passed.
And then she was taken past the Sovereign's Escort - mounted troops from the Life Guards and Blues and Royals - the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who will late fire royal gun salutes, and the Mounted Band of the of the Household Cavalry.
Trooping: Nearly 1,500 soldiers in the Household division are involved today, lining up so they could be inspected by the monarch
Having a blast: The bands of the foot guards provided the music for the occasion as the troops marched around the Parade
On the march: Members of the Grenadier Guards, pictured, taking part in Trooping the Colour walk in formation past Buckingham Palace
This afternoon the royal rowbarge Gloriana will also lead a flotilla of boats down the River Thames on Saturday to honour the Queen's 90th birthday.
Prime Minister David Cameron and wife Samantha were also at the event, smiling as they watched the festivities from front row seats.
Around 50 craft, including the Havengore - which carried Sir Winston Churchill's coffin at his state funeral, and Dunkirk Little Ships, will take part in the procession on Saturday as part of three days of celebrations.
Former Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave will be one of Gloriana's oarsmen, accompanied by Paralympians and ex-servicemen.
Lord Jeffrey Sterling, chairman of the Gloriana Trust, said: 'There will be two flotillas, one rowed, then alongside that the second part will be preceded by the Havengore, the boat which carried Churchill's coffin at his funeral.
'A boat from each of the decades over which the Queen has been monarch will also be taking part.
'There will be all the fire service ships. There will be something like 50 craft on the river - it will be pretty spectacular stuff.'
The Gloriana will set off east from Tower Bridge and travel upstream to Parliament, where it will be joined by other vessels before making a return journey.
The procession, which is reminiscent of the Diamond Jubilee flotilla in 2012, will perform a salute at the Tower of London, as the Tower's guns are fired.
It will coincide with the Royal Family appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the RAF flypast. 29 aircraft that will mark the milestone birthday with a flypast over Buckingham Palace at 1pm on Saturday.
Smile for the camera: Camilla beams as she waves to the crowds waiting to catch a glimpse of the Queen ahead of the parade
Princesses Beatrice, left, and Eugenie, right, of York were also trooping their own colours, with the former opting for an orange fascinator
Royal wave: Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, were all smiles as they greeted the large crowds along The Mall
Tomorrow The Mall will be filled with 1,000 tables and 10,000 chairs to await guests arriving from 10am. The party will go on until 4.30pm. A £150 ticket will provide guests with lunch, entertainment, rain ponchos and suncream.
Guests will enjoy a wicker hamper lunch provided by Marks & Spencer with sandwiches, smoked salmon mousse and Pimm's and apple juice.
The event is ticketed, so those wishing to watch should go to 'live zones' in St James's Park or Green Park, although it is also being broadcast live from BBC One from 1.15pm to 4.15pm.
The street party in The Mall will be followed by a colourful, carnival-style parade, entertaining the Queen and her guests and featuring iconic moments from her life and reign.
Say cheese: The jubilant crowd was made up from people across the globe, many of whom were scrambling to take a picture
Marching band: More than 400 musicians are taking part in today's event in London alongside 1,400 soldiers and 200 horses
First in line: Crowds are building up along The Mall to see the Queen make her way to Horse Guards Parade for today's Trooping the Colour
Getting into the spirit: Some of the monarch's more passionate fans were easy to spot, such as this man dressed head-to-toe in Union Jack-themed clothes and waving flags
A royal good time: Fans are dressed in crowns and Union Jack-themed clothes to show their support for the monarch
The parade will have themes for each era, kicking off with nautical themed props and a giant puppet of the Royal Yacht Britannia to represent 1952 and beyond.
A flower power theme will dominate the '60s, while a 1980s 'neon' vibe will see Rubik's cubes and leg warmers dominating the parade.
Yesterday Prince William, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge led the throng of celebrity guests, high-profile politicians and dignitaries who turned out to a special thanksgiving ceremony in London to mark Her Majesty's birthday.
In a moving speech to more than 2,000 people who gathered inside St Paul's Cathedral, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, praised the way the Queen had ruled 'through war and hardship, through turmoil and change during the course of her 90 years' and asked the congregation to look back on her rule 'with deep wonder and profound gratitude'.
Others, including David Attenborough, also paid tribute to her long rule as smiled gracefully alongside her husband Prince Philip – who is celebrating his 95th birthday today – and gave fans a royal wave.
Despite the planned weekend of festivities, Prince Harry said today that the best birthday present his grandmother could receive would be a 'day off so she could lie about and do nothing'.
Weekend of pomp and pageantry: Events including the Trooping the Colour on Saturday and a 10,000 people street party on The Mall on Sunday, will take place to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday
Picture perfect: One enthusiastic Brit waits for the right moment to get some snaps of the Queen as the parade continues down the Mall
Dressed to impress: One gentleman, pictured, wore a suit bearing photographs of the royals, left, in tribute to the Queen's official birthday, while another displayed an impressively decorated hat, right
Hard at work: Efforts were underway early this morning to clear The Mall ahead of the 10,000-strong street party taking place tomorrow
Born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York on April 21 1926 - the year of the General Strike - she was never expected to be Queen.
But she has become the longest reigning and oldest monarch in British history - and now the first to reach 90.
Over the decades, Britain has undergone major transformations from technological advances such as computers and supersonic flight to developments in society and the political landscape.
During her 64-year reign the monarch has been served by 12 prime ministers from Sir Winston Churchill to Mr Cameron, while Barack Obama is the 12th US president to hold office over the same period.
In preparation for the Trooping the Colour the Major General's Review kicked off from Buckingham Palace on May 28 in a vibrant display of pomp and pageantry.
More than 1,400 officers and men took part in the first of two rehearsals for the Queen's annual birthday parade, the Trooping the Colour, on June 11.
As colossal Union Jack flags fluttered from the tree-lined streets, members of the Household Cavalry - Her Majesty's official bodyguard - paraded down with two hundred horses.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3636413/Thousands-gather-outside-Buckingham-Palace-ahead-Trooping-Colour-Queen-s-official-90th-birthday-celebrations-Princess-Charlotte-steal-spotlight.html#ixzz4BPAKZZUg
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