The Duke of Kent delighted royal fans during Trooping the Colour
after he was spotted pulling out his mobile phone to film the
spectacular RAF flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The touching moment quickly became one of the most talked-about
scenes of the King’s official birthday celebrations, with many
royal watchers charmed by the sight of the 90-year-old royal
capturing the occasion for himself.
As King Charles, Queen Camilla and other members of the Royal
Family gathered on the famous balcony to watch the aircraft pass
overhead, the Duke of Kent was seen raising his phone to record the
display.
The rarely-seen royal, who is the oldest member of the Royal
Family, immediately caught the attention of viewers watching
coverage of the event.
One fan wrote on social media: “Love the Duke of Kent with what
I think is his mobile.”
Another asked: “Was the Duke of Kent on his cell phone?”
A third joked: “I have to ask… is the Duke of Kent playing on
his phone?”
Video footage shared online appeared to show the Duke carefully
filming both the crowds gathered below Buckingham Palace and the
flypast overhead as the celebrations reached their climax.
The heartwarming moment came after many viewers had already
expressed concern for the Duke earlier in the day when television
coverage appeared to show him standing apart from other members of
the Royal Family on the balcony.
Some royal fans admitted they had been left emotional by the
sight, with several commenting that he looked isolated as the
family watched the flypast.
The Duke of Kent has become an increasingly rare public presence
in recent years due to his age and health challenges, making every
appearance particularly special for royal supporters.
Last year was especially difficult for the Duke following the
death of his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent. The couple had been
married for more than six decades and were regarded as one of the
Royal Family’s most enduring partnerships.
Despite his advancing years, the Duke continues to carry out a
number of public duties and remains a highly respected figure
within the monarchy.
A first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, he has served the Crown
for decades and has attended Trooping the Colour throughout much of
his adult life.
Saturday’s balcony appearance saw him join King Charles and
Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children
Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, as well as the
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and Sir Timothy
Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Following the successful parade and flypast, the King issued a
message of thanks to the Armed Forces personnel who took part in
the ceremony.
“With thanks to the 1,400 members of the Armed Forces who took
part in today’s Trooping the Colour, and with special mention to
the Grenadier Guards who trooped their new Colour. We salute you,”
the statement read.