Why does the King have two birthdays? | Findmypast.co.uk
Discover the history of Trooping the Colour - the monarch's annual birthday parade.
www.findmypast.co.ukThe King’s Official Birthday is observed in many Commonwealth realms as the monarch’s public birthday, generally arranged in late May or June to suit weather and include a public holiday alongside the Birthday Honours list. Britain first marked it in 1748 for King George II, and a scheduled date has persisted since historic reforms post-1936. Trooping the Colour is linked to the official birthday, usually on a Saturday in June. Charles III’s official birthday has been observed in June since 2023, with a second celebration in 2024, reflecting the tradition of an independently scheduled date. Findmypast notes the parade as the royal birthday procession that follows the official date. The practice developed from a shift after 1936 to keep the celebration on a fixed annual date rather than the actual birth date. The birthday parade known as Trooping the Colour forms a key part of the public celebration surrounding the official birthday, highlighting the monarch’s ceremonial role.