King Charles Wears Unexpected Accessory Inspired By Princess Charlotte To Trooping The Colour

King Charles trooping friendship bracelet — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Trooping the Colour has to be the most over-the-top birthday celebration, commemorating King Charles’s birthday with a military parade, carriage procession, flypast, and more. While his actual date of birth is in November, the annual parade takes place in June in the hopes of better weather. The birthday boy–that is, King Charles III—wore his usual military finery for the event, but a sweet little accessory was peeking out, and we think Princess Charlotte might have something to do with it.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: (L-R) Queen Camilla and King Charles III watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 13, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

While on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the annual flypast, King Charles waved to the crowds as several braided friendship bracelets peeked out from the sleeve of his coat. The two colorful string bracelets were a stark difference to his red wool coat and military honors. The King has been seen wearing friendship bracelets in the past, rumored to be made by his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte. While The King doesn’t tend to wear jewelry, and once famously eschewed a wedding ring due to personal taste, these little bracelets keep appearing on The King’s wrist during public engagements.

Princess Charlotte has often sported the classic preteen-girl friendship bracelets, whether they are Swiftie-inspired beaded bracelets or braided thread, and gave others out to close family members. The young princess has been seen wearing several different friendship-style bracelets over the last few years, at events like Wimbledon and days out with her family. King Charles’s decision to wear the bracelets on such an important occasion seems to be a clear sign of how much he cares for his granddaughter.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping The Colour 2026 on June 13, 2026 in London, England. Trooping The Colour is a ceremonial parade celebrating the official birthday of the British Monarch. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 13: (L-R) Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent watch an RAF flypast&nbsp;from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour on June 13, 2026 in London, England. Trooping The Colour is a ceremonial parade celebrating the official birthday of the British Monarch. The event features over 1400 soldiers of the Household Division and King&amp;apos;s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, including over 400 musicians from the Massed Bands. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The King was surrounded by other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the flypast, including three of his grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The collection of working members of the Royal Family were all in attendance for the most important date in the royal calendar to celebrate King Charles’s birthday.

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Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.