Prince Louis has marked his grandfather’s first official birthday as monarch with a series of funny faces and antics fit for a King.
While watching the Trooping the Colour flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside his parents the Prince and Princess of Wales and siblings George and Princess Charlotte, the five-year-old appeared to pretend to ride a motorcycle and saluted the aircraft as they flew over.
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In pictures: King joined by royals for his first Trooping the Colour as monarch
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He had earlier made a show of holding his nose while travelling with his mother, brother and sister in a carriage – possibly to ward off the smell of the plentiful horse dung along the route.
The young prince has a track record of lightening the mood at formal royal events, having previously endeared himself to the crowds at both the coronation this year and the Platinum Jubilee last year with a series of cheeky gestures.
Royal correspondent
Trooping the Colour is a big day for the King and a significant moment for the monarchy. The King knows the drill, he’s seen the parade plenty of times before, but never as monarch.
Today was all about him, as his armed forces celebrate his official birthday. This is their gift to him, a symbol of the bond between monarch and military.
It is also a very visible moment for the royal family.
Senior working royals, and some junior ones too, all there to show their support for the King.
And although this is a formal occasion, it is also a family affair.
The crowds waited patiently for the parade, but rushed forward for the balcony moment. As the soldiers moved away, the people moved in to bag the best spots.
The last time we saw the King and his closest family together was on his coronation day.
This felt much more relaxed. The planes which had mostly been grounded for the coronation flypast, now able to take to the skies. A delayed display, finally on show.
There were cheers for the Battle of Britain, but the biggest cheer for the Red Arrows.
Prince Louis gave another scene-stealing star turn with a big wave, and a lingering salute at the end.
The balcony appearances are always a crowd-pleaser for royal fans.
But also a reminder, that while the faces we see may change, their traditions remain the same.
And Trooping the Colour is one of the last “firsts” of the King’s new reign.
Here are the many faces of Prince Louis at the Trooping the Colour parade.
Prince Louis at recent royal events
