Grant Harrold Says Prince William Could Review 2025 Trooping The Colour
Grant Harrold said Prince William could review the two-birthday tradition when he becomes King, and he tied that possibility to the role Trooping the Colour plays now. He said the annual ceremony may have less practical need in future, even as 2025 trooping the colour is set for Saturday, June 13.
Harrold said there is no guarantee William will scrap the custom. But he said: "There is no guarantee that Prince William will scrap the two-birthday tradition when he eventually becomes King, but some royal watchers have speculated that he could choose to review it."
Harrold On The Two Birthdays
Harrold, a former royal butler to The King, said the arrangement dates to the 18th century, when King George II introduced the concept of an official birthday in the summer. He said: "The tradition of a British monarch having two birthdays dates back to the 18th century" and added, "As a result, the monarch has both a real birthday and an official birthday, which are celebrated separately."
He also linked the idea to weather, saying the summer choice reflected conditions "when Britain's weather was often cold, wet and unpredictable." King Charles was born in November, while Queen Elizabeth had an April birthday, and the official celebration now falls in June.
Trooping The Colour In June
Trooping the Colour is the monarch’s official birthday parade and has taken place annually since 1760. It was first held during the reign of Charles II, and the modern June timing keeps the ceremony separate from the monarch’s actual birthday when that falls in another month.
For this year, Prince William, Princess Kate and their children are expected to make their annual appearance on Saturday, June 13. Prince William’s birthday is on June 21, which keeps him within the same pattern of a separate official birthday and private birthday already used by the current monarch.
William And The Wales Family
The family has been part of the ceremony before. Prince Louis made his Trooping debut in 2019, and in 1987 Princess Diana, the Queen Mother and Prince William took part in the carriage procession at Trooping the Colour.
That is the practical tension in Harrold’s comments: the pageantry remains fixed for now, but the custom itself depends on the next reign. For readers watching the 2025 ceremony, the key point is that Saturday’s appearance follows the existing schedule, while any change to the two-birthday tradition would only come if William chooses to reopen it after he becomes King.
