trump’s Army Parade and King Charles’ Trooping the Colour ⁢Clash on June 14

⁣ Updated June 12, 2025

President‍ Donald Trump’s planned military ⁣parade in Washington,‌ D.C., celebrating‍ the​ Army’s​ 250th anniversary, will occur ​on the same day as ⁢King Charles III’s Trooping the Colour in London. The⁤ Army⁤ parade, also coinciding with Trump’s 79th birthday, stands in contrast to the customary British event.

While the British royals,including Prince William and Kate​ Middleton,gather with their children on ⁣the buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour,Trump’s parade promises a display of modern military ⁤hardware. The military might on display in Washington will include 150 vehicles, such as tanks ​and rocket launchers, at an‍ estimated cost between $30 million and $45 million.The Army has agreed to cover any damage to D.C. streets caused by the heavy equipment.

The D.C.parade unofficially kicks off the nation’s semiquincentennial year, leading up to 2026 celebrations. Trump’s desire for such a display dates back to his 2017 visit to France. He has⁤ sought to organize a large-scale military parade ⁤ in the capital, holding ‍smaller events on the Fourth of July in 2019 and 2020.

Army officials told The Washington Post that the parade is not intended as a birthday celebration​ for Trump. The permit for the event was initially filed a year prior, during Joe Biden’s presidency. However, planning intensified once Trump became⁢ involved.

Trooping the⁣ Colour,a traditional event held annually on a Saturday in June,combines a military parade with a royal family gathering.The tradition, loosely based on a⁤ Roman practice of parading a troop’s flag, dates back to the 17th century. The current‍ parade ground has‌ been used as 1805.

The soldiers participating in Trooping the colour are part of the Household ‍Division, which combines ceremonial training with regular military service. Historian Philip Mansel ​noted in his 1984 book, Pillars of Monarchy, that the Household Division evolved from the ‌royal guard that protected the sovereign, even considering themselves the ‍sovereign’s “personal troops.”

King Charles will not ride in this year’s parade.He rode in 2023 but ⁣joined Queen​ Camilla in a carriage ⁣in 2024 following his cancer diagnosis. The Times reports that his riding days are over for major events.

Both parades are expected to draw ‌protesters. Republic, an anti-monarchy organization, plans to protest⁢ Trooping the Colour with “Not My King” banners. In the U.S., progressive groups are organizing “No Kings” protests in approximately 1,800 locations.These protests have gained added meaning⁢ after Trump deployed the national Guard in⁣ response to immigration protests in Los Angeles, against the wishes of California Gov. gavin Newsom.

What’s next

Both the U.S.and‍ the U.K. will be closely monitoring security and managing potential ​disruptions ‌as these high-profile events unfold, balancing tradition and displays of power with the right ‍to protest.