Trooping the Colour occurs annually on the second week of June and celebrates the official state birthday of the reigning monarch — though it is not the actual day they were born. Of course, in Diana’s time, this was Queen Elizabeth II, her mother-in-law. In 2024, however, June 14’s Trooping the Colour will celebrate Charles.Typically, crowds watch the Royal Family walk in a parade to Buckingham Palace before they then stand on the balcony of the famous landmark to enjoy an impressive RAF fly-past.Diana rode in a carriage alongside Prince Andrew while Charles participated in the Royal parade on horseback.Marcus Sarjeant, who was 17 years old at the time, fired six blank cartridges at the Queen. Though the shots didn’t cause injury, the sound startled her horse, Burmese, who the Queen had ridden at birthday parades since 1969. Fortunately, the 55-year-old monarch was able to keep composure and calm her horse.
Though she was visibly shaken, the Queen and the rest of the royals continued the parade as planned. Diana later joined the family on the balcony as the royals refused to let the incident derail their day.
