Prince George, Charlotte and Louis wave to crowds at Trooping the Colour 2026
The royal children rode with Kate in the Ascot Landau, drawn by the Windsor Greys horses
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis waved to crowds lining the route at this year's Trooping the Colour parade, travelling alongside their mother, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, in the Ascot Landau.
The historic four-wheeled carriage, which features a convertible roof, is one of five landaus maintained by the Royal Mews and was first acquired during the reign of Queen Victoria. It is primarily associated with the Royal Meeting at Ascot but also appears at state visits, royal weddings and other ceremonial occasions.
Kate's outfit and the Ascot Landau
For the occasion, the Princess of Wales wore a blue Catherine Walker design, accessorised with a Philip Treacy hat and her Irish Guards brooch. The Ascot Landau was drawn by the Windsor Greys, the distinctive grey horses that have served successive monarchs in ceremonial duties since the Victorian era, maintaining a tradition spanning more than a century.
Royals on horseback
Several senior members of the Royal Family participated in the parade on horseback, each riding a mount with a particular connection to the Crown. Prince William, Prince of Wales, rode Darby — a horse presented to the Royal Family by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2019 to mark both the 80th anniversary of the RCMP's breeding programme and the 50th anniversary of their first gift horse, Burmese.
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, rode Noble, a horse given to King Charles III in 2023, which carried His Majesty during that year's birthday parade. Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, rode Sir John, a horse presented to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2016 to celebrate her 90th birthday.
The RCMP's royal connection
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police's association with the Royal Family stretches back to Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953. The Mounties went on to present Her Late Majesty with eight horses throughout the course of her reign, cementing a longstanding ceremonial bond between Canada and the British Crown.
