The King was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne, the most senior tier of royals. All wore black arm bands at the King’s request as a show of support and solidarity for the victims of the recent Air India plane crash. A minute’s silence was also held in tribute of the 241 passengers (of which 53 were Brits) and crew who were killed when a Boeing 787 crashed in the Indian city of Ahmedabad shortly after take off.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Charles requested amendments to the Trooping the Colour program “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy.”
The King issued a written message soon after the plane crash, saying he was “desperately shocked by the terrible events” and expressed his “deepest possible sympathy.”
Trooping the Colour is a centuries old tradition and one of the most important occasions in the royal calendar. It dates to the 17th century when regimental colours (flags) were trooped in front of soldiers to ensure they could be recognized on the battlefield.
