Trooping the Colour 2023 flypast: Time, flight path and which aircraft are taking part

15 June 2023, 16:33 | Updated: 16 June 2023, 13:24

King Charles alongside a picture of the Red Arrows emitting red, white and blue smoke
King Charles will see a flypast more extravagant than the Trooping the Colour usually has. Picture: Alamy

By Zoe Adams

King Charles's Coronation flypast has been rescheduled for his Trooping the Colour parade but what time is it? And where in the UK will you be able to see the Red Arrows and more? Here's all the details.

King Charles and his senior royal family, including Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, will gather on Saturday, June 17th, for the Trooping the Colour parade - his first as a monarch.

And while the parade itself, which will consist of more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, will be impressive, many are mostly looking forward to the flypast.

Not only will an incredible 70 aircraft be flying over London to celebrate the King's summer birthday, it will also be the display originally scheduled for Coronation weekend, but which had to be scaled back due to bad weather.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton said: "We are very proud to be able to showcase our capabilities to our Commander-in-Chief, on this historic occasion for His Majesty The King.

Read more: William and Kate's heartfelt gesture to replace all the stock stolen in a raid on a food bank

Read more: Prince Harry and William’s relationship started to ‘erode’ during phone hackings as it ‘sowed mistrust between them’

“We have planned a fitting and appropriate tribute for our monarch, that should be a true spectacle for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth."

Often one of the most highly-anticipated moments of a royal event, here's everything you need to know about the royal flypast including the time, route and a list of all the aircraft taking place.

Flypast aircrafts beginning formation before London
Over 70 aircrafts will gather on Saturday to perform the flyover meant for the King's Coronation. Picture: Alamy

What time is the Trooping the Colour 2023 flypast?

As usual, the flypast will be the finale of the day's events for the King's birthday parade.

Set to last around 15 minutes, the flypast will officially start at 1pm in London. However, the aircraft will begin gathering over various parts of the UK so you may be able to catch a glimpse of them beforehand.

What is the trooping the Colour flypast route?

The flight path is never revealed exactly due to security and safety issues, however, the 70 pieces of aircraft will officially pull together their formation over the South East ready to fly past Buckingham palace.

If the plan has remained exactly the same as the Coronation flypast, you will be able to see them in parts of Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. The areas where you are likely to catch a glimpse are:

Area A: North Sea and Norfolk Coast

Area B: Thetford, Norfolk and Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Area C: Ipswich, Suffolk

Area D: Colchester and Chelmsford, Essex

Area E: London

Area F: Croydon, London and Surrey

Area G: Reading, Berkshire, Swindon, Wiltshire and Oxford, Oxfordshire

Area H: Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire

Area I: Marlborough, Tidworth, Wiltshire

The Red Arrows emitting red, white and blue smoke above huge crowds outside Buckingham Palace
The Red Arrows are expected to perform their usual trick of emitting the Union Jack colours. Picture: Alamy

Which aircrafts will feature in the King's birthday parade?

Aircraft from all three branches of the armed services will take part in the flypast including historic aircraft, helicopters, combat air, air transport, training and display aircraft.

The event will feature a mix of aircraft ranging from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the C-130 Hercules, multiple Typhoon fighter jet aircraft and the Envoy IV CC1, making its flypast debut.

At the front of the flypast will be a Juno HT and of course, the famous Red Arrows will perform their tradition show of red, white and blue smoke.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Joe Biden (L), Benjamin Netanyahu (R)

US will stop supply of weapons to Israel if Rafah invasion goes ahead, Biden warns Netanyahu

John McDonnell and Mish Rahman have both questioned the move to accept Natalie Elphicke into the Labour party

Labour backlash after Keir Starmer welcomes former Tory Natalie Elphicke into party

Joe Biden

Biden says US won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah

Pro-Palestinian protests have been growing across campuses in the UK

Sunak warns university chiefs to protect Jewish students as pro-Palestine protests grow across UK campuses

Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara

Ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani to plead guilty in betting case

Armed forces at the scene

Bomb squad called and more than 100 homes evacuated after 'suspicious items' found by police as two arrested

The Belem, the three-masted sailing ship bringing the Olympic flame from Greece, sails past a container ship decorated with the Paris 2024 logo when approaching Marseille, southern France

Olympic torch begins journey across France after festive welcome in Marseille

Germany Politics Violence

German politician attacked amid concerns over violence ahead of EU elections

Russell Brand has posted a new picture of him hugging Bear Grylls in the Thames

Russell Brand hugs Bear Grylls in the River Thames after being baptised in a bid to ‘leave behind his sins’

Secretary of defence Lloyd Austin speaks during a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defence on Capitol Hill in Washington

Pentagon chief confirms US paused bomb shipment to Israel over Rafah concerns

Lauren Wasser lost both of her legs

Model, 24, issues stark warning to all women after losing both legs due to correct use of tampons

Georgia Harrison was the victim of Stephen Bear's revenge porn

Reality star Georgia Harrison says leaked sex tape filmed without consent by Stephen Bear 'spread like a house fire'

Supermarkets have been warned they must start selling items at the appropriate price levels

Grocery stores caught charging wrong prices for everyday staples including coffee and crisps - see full list of items

Andrew Tate has been served with civil proceedings papers at his home in Romania.

Four British women sue Andrew Tate over rape and physical assault allegations

Charles and Harry are not going to meet

King Charles and Prince Harry at London events just two miles apart - but no hope for reunion between father and son

Exclusive
John McDonnell and Mish Rahman have both questioned the move to accept Natalie Elphicke into the Labour party

John McDonnell 'shocked' by Natalie Elphicke defecting to Labour, as top official brands party 'dustbin for far right'