Royals wear black armbands and observe emotional tribute during Trooping the Colour
Princess Catherine, King Charles, and Queen Camilla led a poignant tribute during the 2025 Trooping the Colour, observing a solemn minute’s silence in honour of the 241 lives lost in the tragic Air India crash earlier this week.
The London Gatwick-bound flight crashed near Ahmedabad on Thursday, with only one British passenger reportedly surviving. Among the victims were 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, one Canadian, and seven Portuguese nationals.
Following the traditional military parade at Horse Guards Parade, the Royal Family stood in silence as the Last Post was played, followed by Reveille, in a moment of national mourning.
King Charles, who appeared visibly moved, had personally requested the observance and instructed all uniformed royal family members to wear black armbands “as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy,” Buckingham Palace confirmed.
While Queen Camilla, Princess Catherine, and the Wales children—appearing in civilian attire—did not wear armbands in accordance with royal protocol, their sombre presence was a clear gesture of solidarity.
Other royals not in uniform, including the Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duchess of Gloucester, also refrained from wearing armbands.
In the wake of the disaster, King Charles released a heartfelt statement expressing his deep sorrow: “My wife and I have been desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning,” he said. “Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected… as they await news of their loved ones.”
