Queen’s ceremonial birthday: Kate joins the parade

The queen turned 89 on April 21, her actual birth date, which is traditionally marked in private, with a public celebration held in June, when London’s fickle weather is more likely to be favourable.

London — Queen Elizabeth II has marked her ceremonial birthday with the traditional “Trooping the Colour” parade in the heart of London.

She was joined by senior royals including the Duchess of Cambridge, who made her first appearance in public since leaving the hospital with new born Princess Charlotte six weeks ago.

Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne were on horseback for the annual ceremony.

The queen turned 89 on April 21, her actual birth date, which is traditionally marked in private, with a public celebration held in June, when London’s fickle weather is more likely to be favourable.

Throngs gathered outside Buckingham Palace to view the festivities and to see the royals gathered on the palace balcony — even though the sky was cloudy and there was a cool breeze.

Elizabeth, wearing a peach and silver coat dress with a matching hat, inspected 1,100 soldiers from the Household Division at the Horse Guards Parade grounds near the palace.

She arrived in an open-topped Ascot Landau carriage with her husband, Prince Philip.

The Duchess of Cambridge, formerly Kate Middleton, wore a blue and white dress by Catherine Walker and a whimsical white hat by Lock and Co. for the occasion. She arrived with Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles.

Kate and William and their two young children have spent much of the time since Charlotte’s birth at their country retreat on the queen’s estate at Sandringham in rural Norfolk. William has resumed his job as an air ambulance pilot after taking a break for paternity leave.

There was no sign of Princess Charlotte but some onlookers said they saw young Prince George enjoying the parade from his vantage point inside the palace.