Victims of the recent Air India crash were honoured with a minute’s silence during King Charles III’s official birthday parade on Saturday in London. Members of the royal family, some wearing black armbands, joined the solemn moment of reflection.
King Charles III, who turned 76, had ordered changes to the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace explained, “The King requested amendments to the parade as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy.”
The Air India crash
The Air India crash occurred on Thursday when an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, headed for London’s Gatwick Airport, crashed while taking off from Ahmedabad in eastern India. The disaster claimed 279 lives, including passengers, crew, and people on the ground. Among the deceased were 52 British citizens. The only survivor, British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh from Leicester, has been receiving treatment in hospital, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him.
Following the Air India crash, King Charles expressed his sorrow in a written message, saying he was “desperately shocked by the terrible events” and offering his “deepest possible sympathy” to those affected.
Trooping the Colour, which dates back more than 200 years, marks the official birthday of the British sovereign. The ceremony begins at Buckingham Palace, proceeding down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where the King receives a royal salute and inspects the troops.
In attendance were Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Catherine (who is still recovering after revealing her cancer battle), and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Catherine, 43, recently shared that she is “in remission” after her diagnosis in March 2024.
The parade also drew large crowds along The Mall, with some anti-monarchist protesters holding signs such as “Not my king” and “Down with the crown.”
Notably absent from the celebration were Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan. The couple, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States, continue to have strained relations with the royal family. British media reports that Prince Harry and his brother William are barely in contact.
While the Trooping the Colour takes place each June, King Charles’ actual birthday falls in November. The tradition of a summer birthday parade dates back to King George II in 1748, who preferred a public celebration during better weather.
The event unfolded on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump marked his 79th birthday with a military parade of his own in Washington.
Trooping the Colour remains one of Britain’s most iconic royal ceremonies, featuring over 1,500 soldiers and nearly 300 horses, and concludes with the royal family’s appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony for a flypast by the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.
