Trooping the Colour LIVE: Kate Middleton will make her first public appearance since cancer diagnosis alongside King Charles as Royal fans and Republic protesters gather at the Mall

The skies have opened in London as royal fans and protestors alike have whipped out their umbrellas

It is clear that rain will not deter the crowds from watching this year’s Trooping the Colour.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: ‘Kate’s appearance today is pivotal as the royal family is much weakened by two senior members fighting cancer. It is especially significant as we have not seen her on an official engagement since December.

‘It is clear, both from the moving video message in March and from the statement released yesterday, that she is resilient.

‘They will have a very special cachet as today’s Birthday Parade will. She is a very special person with a place in all our hearts.’

Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw told BBC news: ‘It just lifts the whole occasion for us and it means we’ve got to be even better today’

Despite grey skies, the Mall near Buckingham Palace is filling up with fans eager for Trooping the Colour to begin.

But chants of ‘not my King’ and ‘down with the crown’ echo down the mall.

Republic, a group which advocates abolishing the monarchy, wrote on X: ‘Apparently this guy called Charles is coming by in an hour or so. We’ll be there’.

Royals fans are dressed to impress this Saturday morning ahead of Trooping the Colour.

One fan, who was seen earlier with a cardboard cut-out of King Charles, seems to be showing off the entirety of her very royal collection.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Royal Air Force confirmed that over 30 aircract will ‘take to the skies’ at 1pm – ‘subject to weather, serviceability and operational requirements.

Republic, a group which advocates abolishing the monarchy, shared a post of activists gathering outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the King’s official birthday parade.

It read: ‘It’s a sunny day (so far) for a protest! Join us, outside Buckingham Palace from 9.00am.’

Read the full story on MailOnline here:

Anti-monarchy protestors have started to line The Mall ahead of Trooping the Colour today.

It comes as crowds arrive to support the Princess of Wales ahead of her first public appearance this year.

Ahead of today’s Trooping the Colour, we reminisce on the smiles, laughter and chaos of last year’s event.

Read the full story on MailOnline here:

Decked out in British regalia, royal fans have been camping out close to Buckingham Palace in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Princess of Wales.

Although the traditional ceremony officially begins after 10am, they have been waiting since early this morning.

One fan is even joined by a very special cardboard companion…

If you don’t fancy facing the hordes of tourists and royal fans on The Mall today, MailOnline reveals how to watch Trooping the Colour from the comfort of your own sofa.

The parade will be broadcast live on the BBC.

Live coverage begins on BBC One from 10.30am running all the way through to 1.10pm.

If you are too busy to watch the event live, you will be able to catch up on BBC iPlayer.

The Princess of Wales will join other royals on Buckingham Palace’s balcony later today, and staff have been busy getting it ready this morning:

The Trooping the Colour ceremony takes place to celebrate the birthday of the reigning monarch in the UK and has been held every year for the past 260 years.

The popular event will attract big crowds, who will be seen waving flags as the parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, alongside Members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages.

During the ceremony, King Charles will be greeted by a royal salute, before carrying out an inspection of the troops, who are fully trained and operational soldiers wearing the ceremonial uniform of red tunics and bearskin hats.

Read the full story on MailOnline here:

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers have been deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees:

The ceremony begins at 10am and lasts until around 1pm. The route is as follows:

• The Princess of Wales will travel with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a state carriage down the Mall and watch the parade from the Major General’s Office with the rest of the royal family.
• The King will travel down The Mall from Buckingham Palace with an escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
• Once the clock on Horse Guards strikes 11am the King will arrive to take the Royal Salute from the officers and men of the Household Division.
• Following the salute, The King will go up and down the ranks, inspecting the troops.
• The bands will then perform a musical ‘troop’ and the Regimental Colour will be escorted up and down the ranks of Guards.
• The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past His Majesty, The King’s Troop and Royal Horse Artillery with their guns.
• The King will head back to Buckingham Palace ahead of his guards before taking the salute in front of the Palace railings as the troops march past on their way to their barracks.
• The ceremony is due to finish at 12.25pm.
• The King joins other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a flypast by the Royal Air Force at approximately 1pm.

The Royal Family, led by Prince William, will support Kate as she make her ‘significant’ return to public duties today. Read the full story on MailOnline:

Organisers have advised the public to stand on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9am.

The Trooping the Colour parade will start at 10am, with the RAF flypast at 1pm.

Scotland Yard has a ‘substantial’ policing operation for the event, with anti-monarchy group Republic allowed to protest but banned from using amplified sound.

In a post on X today, Republic said: ‘It’s a lovely sunny day (so far) for a protest! Join us, outside Buckingham Palace from 9.00am. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy.’

Hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers will be deployed on the ceremonial route to ensure the safety and security of attendees, with tens of thousands expected.

Royal fans began to gather on The Mall today ahead of Trooping the Colour. Read this morning’s top story on MailOnline about the procession and what to expect:

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as the Princess of Wales is set to make her first public appearance this year, joining her family at Trooping the Colour.

Kate, who has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since late February, will ride in a carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the traditional procession today.

Later, she is expected to gather with the King, the Prince of Wales and other royals on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for the fly-past.

Stay with MailOnline throughout today for live updates.