King Charles is officially in charge now, but even monarchs like to stick to tradition! One longstanding custom King Charles plans on upholding isTrooping the Colour: a massive public celebration of his official birthday held every year where colourful regiments parade their colours before him (and a heck lot of tourists). While he’s still doing things much like past monarchs (that sword thing definitely looked familiar), there’s one BIG difference king Charles Jr is aiming for this Trooping the Colour—a change Kingly great-gramma, QE didn’t manage at his age ?! He basically wants to rebrand what we think of when “modern monarch,” and people are buzzing.
It all comes back down to horses ? . Think classic imagery: soldiers in fancy red uniforms, perfectly sculpted horses (don’t tell the royal vet!) but there’s often debate amongst old school Brits as to whether these beasts truly feel fit with parades like Trooping the Colour. Well, King Charles? He just doesn t think so , he has a different idea about what a proper king in the year 2023 looks like ?…
Let’s get down to brass tacks: horses are being replaced in this rebranded Trooping . So what is happening and why is everyone SO TALKING ABOUT THIS?! Buckle up, friends. ?
So King Charles is ditching some horses for Trooping the Colour… a big deal right? This changes more than just that parade, it shakes up how people view not just monarchs but even what “tradition” means these days.
Let’s dive into the hornets nest this has created amongst folks over a good pot of Darjeeling ?.
1.** The “Tradition Defenders:** You’ve NEVER, EVER seen Trooping without horses! They argue that it was part of Britain’s military heritage, part of what made kings “larger than life.” Take that, King Charles with his “smaller scale majesty”! They think this change is just symbolic rebellion – no real difference if parades become shorter anyway ?. Weaknesses: Tradition isn’t static. Think about that “coronetion” ceremony, it shifted loads without ruining English grandeur, horses just ain’t essential like platinum corvettes for some ancient king-god status ? (but they DO look cool).
2.** The “Practical Realists:** Look, animals need to be healthy, even royalty owned ones! Trooping the Colour on horses can be stressful- think crowd noise + baking in your uniform in JUNE and someone’s riding YOUR bum – ouch! There’s a lot of animal welfare now, and horses might tire out/get hurt over decades . Plus, some see military parades doing an actual march, not slow processions, better reflects modern defense – but that might upset fans wanting the horse-show spectacle?
Strengths: Animal health is NON-DISPUTTABLE , and military drills can feel more dynamic.
Weaknses: Makes things less “photogenic.” That big ceremonial carriage on day + those horses looking regal… it’s iconic media.
3.** The “Royal Rebrands & Public Sentiment”: This ISN’T even about horses, kid! This rebrand (whether a shorter King or swapping modes) reflects Charles WANTED to distance himself from the past queens. He knows image matters – we judge by appearance! Making a less grand, “horses-are-hard to manage now” parade could make him appear more in sync with people who care about horses AND cost + efficiency ??
Strengths:
Plays on the “he gets IT compared to” comparisons we already make.
Could actually lower his carbon paw-print, great PR ? ?
Weaknesses: Is he just doing optics?! Some see this as manipulating: you pick on something relatable so no one criticizes your core power ?
Who am I leaning towards? Tough to say, lots of angles! Seems to me Charles wants Trooping to be modern without actually cutting away tradition – it’s a tightrope. Only time + reaction from the BEGGING masses will truly tell ?
So Charles is ditching steeds for his big day – sounds simple, right? But this “Trooping” shakeup has unearthed some deep royal rabbit holes! Defenders of old traditions cry foul play (“Tradition ain’t ever static,” says my grandma!), while pragmatists cheer for better care (for horses AND modern military pomp). Then there’s Charles himself: is he truly about modernising monarchy or using this rebrand horse for optics, aiming to resonate with us all while staying on top ?️?
It’s more about public perception today right! The “traditional” imagery king stuff might just seem out-dated for some (think those ‘big horse carriage’ snaps – everyone uses horses LESS, right?). What happens when those iconic pictures we associate monarchy with are less present – can his vision REALLY be modernised if the visuals have *almost more power now”?
Big question looming: Can modernization bring change in the system without actually dismantling it? Monarchy survives on image and ritual, but does that rigidity clash with a fast-moving world seeking something “differently regal?” Perhaps future crowns might ask, not “what traditions stay?”, BUT “Are there old beliefs worth REFORGING to stay relevant?” Food for thought next Trooping! ? .