PRINCE George wowed spectators today – towering over his family while the royals made their annual appearance during the Trooping the Colour celebrations.
The Firm watched in awe from a balcony of Buckingham Palace as the Red Arrows performed their flypast – with thousands of royal fans having lined The Mall for the procession.
Future King George – weeks away from his 13th birthday – looked all grown up as he joined his family on the balcony, towering over the current monarch Charles.
The young prince stood nearly as tall as his parents with dad William measuring in at 6ft 3in and mum Kate – who was likely wearing heels – coming in at 5ft 9in.
Spectators and social media users were quick to point out the young royal’s growth spurt with hundreds of posts online commenting on the prince’s height.
Second in line for the throne, George is in his last few months of prep school and will turn 13 on July 22.
Speculation on where the young royal will go after prep school is rife with many believing he will attend the prestigious Eton College like his dad.
Meanwhile, younger brother Louis, eight, playfully pulled faces after he was seen peeking through a window at the Palace as the family prepared to make their official appearance.
The royal procession itself involved over 1,350 soldiers, mounted and on foot, and 300 musicians.
Members of The Firm took part, with Kate, 44, and her three kids, also including Charlotte, 10, seen in a horse drawn carriage to Horse Guards Parade.
King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, rode in a separate carriage – while Wills, in his role as colonel of the Welsh Guards, rode on a horse called Darby as part of the formation of Royal Colonels alongside Princess Anne and Prince Edward into the parade ground.
The official inspection of the 1,400 soldiers was then undertaken by the King himself.
There was one less gun fired as part of a 41- gun salute during today’s ceremonies following the tragic loss of aRoyall Horse Artillery soldier last month.
Ciara Sullivan, 24, died after falling from her horse while leaving the Royal Windsor Horse Show earlier this month, in memorial for the soldier the ceremony today will feature one silent gun.
The RAF aircraft took off from multiple RAF bases across the UK and joined forces in the North Sea, before approaching London from East Anglia.
They reached Buckingham Palace at 1pm, with the flypast itself lasting for around six minutes.
They passed over several parts of the country before arriving in London to join the Trooping the Colour celebrations.
The King traditionally has two birthdays: Charles’ actual birthday on November 14, and an official birthday marked every summer by the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Taking place on the second Saturday in June, the event was started in 1748 by George II as the weather was so bad he couldn’t hold his Birthday Parade on the actual date in November.
Anti-monarchy protesters were warned to stay in a designated area on The Mall.
They were seen holding bright yellow placards and banners in protest against the former Prince Andrew.
The Met Police instructed Republic demonstrators to keep clear until officers and stewards allowed the public to proceed along the parade route.
Protesters were told not to display flags or use noise-making equipment until people are allowed to move forward.
They were also told not to display flags or use noise-making equipment until people are allowed to move forward.
The Metropolitan Police said the restrictions intended to ensure the event “passes off without serious disruption and with minimal disturbance to horses.”
Republic said it planned to protest “right outside Buckingham Palace” when the royal family assembles on the balcony.
Its chief executive Graham Smith said the restrictions were “contemptible” and would keep demonstrators in an area “where we won’t be seen by the royals.”
The King’s Birthday Parade was broadcast live on the BBC – while highlights are set to be available on BBC Two and the iPlayer from 7.05pm.
