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A Solemn Tribute: King Charles III Honors Victims of Air India Crash
In a poignant display of respect and solidarity, King Charles III and members of the Royal Family paid tribute to the victims of the devastating Air India plane crash during the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday. The monarch, donning a black armband, observed a moment of silence alongside his family and troops, commemorating the lives lost in the tragic event.
[Image: King Charles III and the Royal Family during Trooping the Colour]
The Air India flight, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad to London, resulted in the loss of 241 lives on board and 29 on the ground. The monarch, as the head of the Commonwealth, which includes India and Canada, requested the symbolic tribute "as a mark of respect for the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy," according to Buckingham Palace.
A Historic Ceremony
The Trooping the Colour ceremony, a historic event filled with pageantry and military bands, dates back to a time when flags of the battalion, known as colours, were "trooped" or shown to soldiers in the ranks so they could recognize them. This year’s event featured 1,338 soldiers, including 244 musicians, who paraded past the King following the moment of silence.
[Image: The Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace]
The festivities began with King Charles III, wearing a scarlet military uniform, traveling to Horse Guards Parade in an open-topped, horse-drawn carriage accompanied by Queen Camilla. Prince William and other uniformed members of the Royal Family rode behind the King on horseback, followed by Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and her three children in another open-topped carriage.
A Touching Moment
The moment of silence, observed by the Royal Family and troops, was a touching tribute to the victims of the Air India crash. The ceremony, which is typically a celebration of the monarch’s birthday, took on a more somber tone as the attendees paid their respects to those affected by the tragedy.
Sustainable Aviation
The finale of the flyover was an appearance by the Royal Air Force aerobatic display team, known as the Red Arrows, which for the first time used a blend of sustainable aviation fuel to power their aircraft and generate their signature red, white, and blue smoke trails. This innovative move towards sustainability was a notable highlight of the ceremony.
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[Copyright 2025 The Canadian Press]
Content originally published by globalnews.ca
