King Charles III wore a black armband and observed a moment of silence during his official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, to honor victims of the recent Air India plane crash that claimed over 270 lives.
The gesture, shared by other members of the royal family in uniform, was a solemn tribute amid the traditional military pageantry. According to Buckingham Palace, the king requested the symbolic observance “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy.”
The Air India flight, en route from Ahmedabad to London, crashed shortly after takeoff on Thursday, killing all 241 passengers and crew on board, as well as at least 29 people on the ground. Victims included 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian. One man is reported to have survived.
As head of both the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth — which includes India and Canada — King Charles used the national occasion to express solidarity with the international community impacted by the tragedy.
The annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, held at Horse Guards Parade near St. James’s Park, saw the king don a scarlet military uniform as he reviewed over 1,300 soldiers and 244 musicians. He arrived in an open-topped, horse-drawn carriage alongside Queen Camilla. Prince William, in military uniform, followed on horseback with other royals, while Princess Kate and her children rode in a separate carriage.
After the parade and moment of silence, the royal family returned to Buckingham Palace for the traditional balcony appearance and military flyover. The Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows concluded the display using sustainable aviation fuel for the first time, producing red, white, and blue smoke trails in tribute.
The king’s decision to blend royal tradition with remembrance underscored the monarchy’s role in acknowledging both national pride and global sorrow.
