This weekend marked one of the biggest events in the royal calendar, and saw all the senior members of the Royal Family out in force to celebrate the occasion. Trooping the Colour took place on Saturday (13 June) to mark King Charles’ official birthday, and featured a grand carriage procession, flypast, military parade and more to mark the special day.
Waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, we saw The King and Queen alongside all the usual suspects, including Princess Anne and The Prince and Princes of Wales. Many will also have spotted a lesser-known face amongst the line up, however, wearing a strikingly familiar outfit. On the left on the balcony, the Duchess of Gloucester could be seen waving to crowds after taking part in the carriage procession with the rest of the royals. For the formal occasion, the Duchess ‘borrowed’ The Princess of Wales’ most iconic print; navy and white polka dots.
Karwai Tang
From left: Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and Duke of Kent.
Karwai Tang
From left: Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence (Princess Anne’s husband), Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Duke of Kent, Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Gloucester.
Mark Cuthbert
The Duke of Gloucester and Duchess of Gloucester in the carriage procession.
The Princess of Wales’ most worn print – especially at Wimbledon – is polka dots, with a number of her looks being in navy with tiny white polka dots. The pattern has spanned multiple dresses and skirts and is one of her most copied styles. The Duchess of Gloucester turned to this well-worn royal print for Trooping the Colour, with a single-breasted coat dress featuring a statement ruff collar and frill detailing around the cuffs.
Karwai Tang
The Princess of Wales often wears polka dots to Wimbledon.
Karwai Tang
The Princess of Wales in a navy polka dot skirt at Wimbledon in 2021.
Chris Jackson
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on the balcony for Trooping the Colour 2026.
Brigitte, Duchess of Gloucester attended the event alongside her husband, The Duke of Gloucester. The Duke (also known as Prince Richard) is the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and he married Danish-born Brigitte van Deurs back in 1972. The couple are both working royals, but choose to live largely out of the spotlight.
The Duchess’ key role involves supporting a wide range of charitable and military causes. This means travelling, ‘extensively across the UK and overseas to undertake engagements, many of which are related to the more than 60 organisations with which she is connected, across the arts, sport, health, welfare, education and the military,’ explains the Royal Family website.
Speaking about her role in a statement on the site, The Duchess said, that ‘charity work in Great Britain is a tradition. I don’t think I have a friend who has not involved him or herself somehow or other. How far back this tradition goes, I am not sure- it is one of the major aspects which makes me very proud to be British.’ She added that there is ‘another facet to voluntary work which I think is very important, and that is the sense of fulfilment and reward in the knowledge of the value of your contribution as a volunteer.’
Trooping the Colour takes place each year in June to celebrate the official birthday of the monarch of the time, regardless of when their birthdate actually is. King Charles was born on 14 November 1948, and will turn 78 later this year.