Trooping the Colour, a highlight of the royal calendar, returns on Saturday, June 13, 2026. The King and Queen will enjoy a display of military precision and pageantry on Horse Guards Parade before heading to Buckingham Palace for the spectacular RAF Flypast. The event marks the King's official birthday, with members of the Royal Family gathering to support the monarch and witness the colourful proceedings.
RAF Flypast Route and Timings
The RAF Flypast concludes the day's events at 1pm, soaring over Buckingham Palace. Aircraft will take off from RAF Waddington, south of Lincoln, heading south towards Little Hale, then east over Boston and the Norfolk and Suffolk coast around 11am. They will hold a pattern before heading west. Shortly after midday, the jets will be visible over Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Reading, then North West London near 1pm, proceeding to Belgravia for the showcase. After passing Buckingham Palace, they continue west via Hounslow and Feltham, north over Windsor and Slough, then straight to Northampton, adjusting towards Colsterworth.
Route Map Areas and Timings
The Military Airshow website provides a detailed route map with the following areas and timings:
- Area A: between 11:00 and 2:00pm BST, up to 10,000ft
- Area B: between 12:30 and 1:25pm BST, up to 5,000ft
- Area C: between 12:35 and 1:25pm BST, up to 4,000ft
- Area D: between 12:35 and 1:25pm BST, up to 3,000ft
- Area E: between 12:40 and 1:25pm BST, up to 2,500ft
- Area F: between 12:40 and 1:25pm BST, up to 2,500ft
- Area G: between 1:00 and 1:40pm BST, up to 2,500ft
- Area H: between 1:00 and 1:40pm BST, up to 2,500ft
- Area I: between 1:00 and 1:40pm BST, up to 2,500ft
Aircraft in the RAF Flypast
The Ministry of Defence has not yet released the full list of aircraft for 2026, but the display typically features similar formations to previous years. In 2025, 29 aircraft participated, led by four Chinook helicopters, followed by a Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, a Phenom, a Typhoon, an F-35, and a C17 Globemaster. The event is expected to conclude with a red, white, and blue display by the Red Arrows.
How to Watch the RAF Flypast
To watch in person, the Mall offers one of the best vantage points, but arriving early is advised as crowds gather from dawn before the Trooping the Colour ceremony at 10am. For home viewing, BBC1 will broadcast the event live from 10:30am, including the Flypast at 1pm.
