He paraded to celebrate the birthday of King Charles III.

About 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians and more than 200 horses were mobilized for the parade to celebrate the King's birthday.

King Charles III presided over the Trooping the Colour parade on June 17, marking his first birthday since his coronation. About 8,000 people flocked to the center of the British capital to witness the annual royal ceremony.

The horsemen and guards set off from Buckingham Palace, traveling more than a mile along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade. The 74-year-old king rode on horseback, followed by Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. Queen Camilla, Princess Kate and the children rode in a carriage.

King Charles leads a horse-drawn procession in London on June 17. Photo: AFP — King Charles III (front) rides a horse in a parade in London on June 17. Photo: *AFP*

At the Guards Parade Ground, King Charles III rode through the formation, inspecting the soldiers performing the flag-raising ceremony.

The tradition of the British monarch riding a horse to inspect the flag has been absent from the Royal Standard Procession for nearly four decades. The last time this ritual took place was in 1985, to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 59th birthday. For her 60th birthday, she decided to ride in a carriage because the horse she had ridden for 18 years was "retired".

King Charles III rode in a military parade to celebrate his birthday — King Charles III reviews the military parade on horseback. Video : *AFP*

About 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses were mobilized for the procession. After the ceremony at the Horse Guards Parade Ground, the British royal family returned to Buckingham Palace. King Charles III and his family appeared on the balcony to wave to the people.

A 41-gun salute was fired in Green Park in central London. Members of the royal family and members of the public watched a display by 70 military planes and helicopters, including Typhoon fighter jets, C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and the Royal Air Force's professional Red Arrows display team. It was larger than the display at the King's coronation in early May due to favorable weather conditions.

Prince William's family stands next to King Charles (second from right) and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, waving to the public on June 17. Photo: AFP — Prince William's family stands next to King Charles (second from right) and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 17. Photo: *AFP*

Bidisha Mamata, a British royal expert, said the celebrations for King Charles III's birthday this time "showed a more festive atmosphere" than the coronation in May.

"The coronation was more ceremonial, with many traditions from the medieval period. This event focused more on the image of the military, the connection between King Charles III and his time serving in the Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force," she assessed.

King Charles III's real birthday is November 14. However, the British monarch traditionally holds two birthday celebrations each year, one for the public and one for his family. The reason the British royal family chooses June for the parade and birthday festivities is because of the favorable weather and little rain. The tradition of the monarch's birthday parade began in 1748, during the reign of King George II.