King Charles presented new colours to the Irish Guards, of which the Princess of Wales is colonel, at Windsor Castle today ahead of it being trooped at his birthday parade on Saturday

King Charles during a ceremony with the Irish Guards at Windsor Castle today

King Charles beamed in full military uniform as he presented new colours to the Irish Guards ahead of Trooping the Colour.

Charles, who is Colonel in Chief of the seven Guards regiments of the Household Division, wore his Field Marshall’s uniform with frock coat and medals as he inspected the guardsmen and officers on parade at Windsor Castle at lunchtime before the Chaplain General consecrated the colours with a blessing.

The new colours will be worn by those trooped in Trooping the Colour at the King’s official birthday parade in London on Saturday. The King is expected to take part in the parade but will inspect the soldiers from a carriage rather than on horseback. Charles has recently returned to public-facing duties while still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Charles chats to the troops (Image: PA)

In March 2023, the Princess of Wales, who is also having cancer treatment, took over the role of Colonel of the Irish Guards from the Prince of Wales. On Saturday, Kate sent a letter to the regiment to apologise for not being able to take the salute and to wish them luck for the Colonel’s Review, which was held at the weekend. She spoke of her pride in them and added that being Colonel “remains an honour”.

Her letter came after the Mirror revealed that Kate has not been ruled out of making an appearance at the King’s official birthday celebrations on Saturday. She is understood to be considering making an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the Trooping the Colour ceremony if she is feeling well enough.

Palace sources have insisted that the Princess is not expected to return to official duties until given the all-clear by doctors and any appearances at royal events would be sporadic at best.

King Charles read a speech to the Irish Guards (Image: Getty Images)

Colours – adorned with a regiment’s emblems and battle honours – were originally used as rallying points for troops on the battlefield. They still accompany soldiers on operations and, more visibly, on ceremonial duties.

The presentation of new colours to No 9 and No 12 Company started with the Band of the Irish Guards marching them into Windsor Castle. They were led by the Irish Guards’ regimental mascot – an Irish wolfhound named Turlough Mor. The King was accompanied by the Irish Guards Regimental Lieutenant Colonel, Major General Sir Christopher Ghika KCVO CBE. There was a royal salute and the national anthem was played.

During the ceremony in Windsor Castle’s quadrangle, the King said: “In recent years, the regiment has continued to serve with immense distinction. Around the world, your achievements include vital work to counter terrorism in Iraq and to bolster security across Africa by providing high-quality training teams to work with local forces.

“At home, you played an indispensable role in assisting the civil authorities during the Covid pandemic and, only last year, training Ukrainian forces to enable them to defend their homeland. I was privileged to see the impressive results of this latter work for myself, during a visit to Knook Camp, on Salisbury Plain.

In this ever-changing world, it is no exaggeration to say that the whole regiment finds itself occupying a central role in defence’s contribution to the myriad challenges which societies must face. In all of this, you bring to your duty a blend of professionalism, courage and humour which has always marked out Irish Guardsmen.”

Trooping the Colour is held every year as an official birthday event for the monarch, even though Charles’ actual birthday is November 14. Royal sources said other members of the Royal Family were expected to attend in line with last year, where only working members of the family were present.