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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Ella Wills

Duchess of Sussex attends Trooping the Colour ceremony in first outing since birth of baby Archie

New mother the Duchess of Sussex has joined members of the royal family for a Trooping the Colour ceremony to celebrate the Queen's official birthday.

Military pomp and pageantry was on display to mark the occasion, with the parade seeing some of Britain's most prestigious regiments stage the centuries-old spectacle.

Among the royals was Meghan, who joined her husband the Duke of Sussex as she attended her first official royal engagement since giving birth to son Archie just over four weeks ago.

The duchess has been on maternity leave caring for her baby born at a private London hospital on May 6, and Harry has already spoken about how parenthood has changed their lives, saying he cannot imagine life without his son.

Meghan joined Harry, the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge in a coach that was greeted by cheers from crowds in the Mall as it made its way to Horse Guards Parade in London's Whitehall for the Trooping ceremony.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall make their way along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, in London (PA)

In another horse-drawn carriage was Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, Princess Beatrice and the Duke of Kent.

Meghan has been on maternity leave caring for her newborn baby Archie (PA)

The Queen arrived in a procession full of pomp and pageantry featuring a Sovereign's Escort from the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.

Riding on horseback behind the Queen's coach were the royal colonels: The Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards and Duke of York, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

Trooping the Colour is social as well as a ceremonial occasion and in the stands overlooking the parade ground were the wives, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.

The Queen arrives in a horse-drawn carriage at Horseguards parade ahead of her Birthday Parade (AFP/Getty Images)

The event featured around 1,400 servicemen in total and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by the Queen.

The colour, or ceremonial regimental flag, being paraded this year was from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, a frontline infantry regiment of the British Army when not performing ceremonial duties.

Their lineage can be traced back to 1656 when the military unit was raised as the sovereign's bodyguards by King Charles II while in exile in Bruges.

Harry, Meghan, Kate and the other royals - including the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children the Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor - watched events from Wellington's office overlooking Horse Guards.

Among the guests was Theresa May who formally stepped down as Prime Minister on Friday, but will remain in office until an successor has been appointed.

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