Prince Edward has made a royal first at Trooping the Colour today. The 59-year-old is among the guests joining the celebrations to mark the King’s first birthday as monarch, and he has added to the list of changes that will be made at this year’s event. The King is riding on horseback, which is the first time in more than 30 years that a monarch has done so – and Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne joined him.

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It had been anticipated that Prince Edward would join the King on horseback, with an army official commenting on it ahead of the special day.

Ahead of the event, Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw, Brigade Major to the Brigade of Guards and, by dint, head of the royal procession at Trooping the Colour, exclusively told HELLO!: “We’re going to see our new Royal Colonel [The Princess Royal] so it’s a first there – as well as seeing Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Princess of Wales all directly on the parade this year.

“The Duke of Edinburgh will also be riding on the parade for the first time. These firsts make it such an exciting and special event for us all.”

He added: “Our focus this year is on it being the first King’s birthday parade and I think that’s what makes it so exciting for us, being part of an event that is a first.

“The first King’s birthday parade since 1951, our first one in 72 years, and the first time the King has taken the salute since 1950. So all these things together make it such a special moment for us all.”

He also added: “This year we also have all five Foot Guard regiments. So we’ve got Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards – and we’ve not had that since 1989.”

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