Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Trooping the Colour: Duchess of Sussex attends first official public engagement since Archie's birth

Meghan wore a navy-blue ensemble by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller

Olivia Petter
Saturday 08 June 2019 14:56 BST
Comments
The Queen and Kate, Harry and Meghan arrive for Trooping the Colour

The Duchess of Sussex has made her first public engagement as a new mother at the Trooping the Colour parade to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday.

The parade marks the monarch’s 93rd birthday and usually takes place on the second Saturday of June.

The 37-year-old, who gave birth to her first child with the Duke of Sussex on 6 May, was joined in a carriage ahead of the ceremony by Prince Harry, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge.

For the occasion, Meghan wore a navy-blue short-sleeved dress by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, who also designed her wedding gown, and a matching hat by milliner Noel Stewart.

The Duchess of Cambridge chose a lemon yellow ensemble by Alexander McQueen, which she paired with a floral Philip Treacy hat.

The Trooping the Colour procession, which consists of more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, moves from Buckingham Palace down The Mall towards the Horse Guard’s Parade.

Members of the royal family ride either on horseback or in carriages as part of the proceedings.

The parade ends with a fly-past by the RAF, which the Queen watches with the royal family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The tradition dates back to 1748 and is often referred to as the Queen’s official birthday because she was actually born on 21 April, an event which is celebrated privately.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in