This year, King Charles will have two birthdays for the first time in his life. The Trooping the Colour parade on June 17 is traditionally seen as the public birthday of the reigning monarch, though Charles was born on November 14.

The King will take the Salute as Colonel in Chief of the seven regiments of the Household Division at the Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade, Buckingham Palace has announced. For the first time in 30 years, Charles will reinstate the tradition of the reigning monarch riding on horseback.

Yet there might be one considerable risk for Charles. As he’s experienced problems with his back – ironically as a result of riding a horse – the public celebration might leave him with a significant health issue in the long run.

Trooping the Colour has been a beloved royal tradition for hundreds of years. The Royal Museums Greenwich states that the tradition was first started by King George II in 1748.

What is Trooping the Colour? – history, origin
As his birthday in November was said to have been too cold to celebrate outside with a parade, they decided to have his military parade – Trooping the Colour – alongside the public celebration in the summer instead. Therefore, unless they happen to be born on the same day, Britain’s reigning monarch celebrates two birthdays a year. Trooping the Colour typically takes place every year on the second Saturday in June.

According to the Royal Museums Greenwich, Trooping the Colour has its origins on the battlefield. A regiment’s flag, also known as “colors,” was ever an important rallying point for soldiers in battle.

“To ensure that every soldier would be able to recognize their colors, the flag would be marched or ‘trooped’ regularly around the ranks. A regiment’s colors came to have huge significance for serving soldiers, and the gain or loss of colors were seen as decisive moments in battle,” the Royal Museums Greenwich shares on its website.