James Bowder Oversees 1,000-Troop King's Official Birthday Rehearsal
Major General James Bowder oversaw a full rehearsal in London on Saturday, May 30 for the king's official birthday parade, with around 1,000 soldiers and 200 horses taking part. The run-through was the first full rehearsal for Trooping the Colour 2026 and put the Household Division and King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, into full ceremonial dress.
The Ministry of Defence said the rehearsal lets Bowder inspect the soldiers and make sure “all timings, precision, and standards are perfect” in what it called the first formal, ticketed public review. Trooping the Colour marks the monarch’s official birthday and will again be staged on Saturday 13th June 2026.
James Bowder at London District
Bowder serves as Major General and General Officer Commanding, London District, and the Major-General commanding the Household Division. In that role, he is the officer allowed to inspect the troops as they rehearse the parade and check the timing of the ceremonial movements before the public event.
The rehearsal involved soldiers and horses from the Household Division and King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. They were on parade in full ceremonial dress, giving the first complete look at how the 2026 ceremony is being prepared.
Trooping the Colour 2026
This year, the King’s Company, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards will Troop their Colour in the presence of His Majesty The King on Saturday 13th June 2026. The event usually takes place in June each year and has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign since the practice was decided in 1748.
The parade later became an annual event after George III became King in 1760. The scale of the rehearsal shows how much of the ceremony depends on precision, since the first formal public review has to cover the soldiers, horses, and the sequence of the parade before the day itself.
Buckingham Palace Balcony
Trooping the Colour is one of the biggest events in the royal calendar, with a large display for the Royal Family and members of the public who line the streets. Military bands also perform, and the day traditionally ends with the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony watching the Red Arrows overhead.
Republic said on its website that it plans to stage a protest on Trooping the Colour, calling it “one of Republic's most iconic protests, targeting the Royal's balcony moment.”
