A military aircraft flypast will occur over central London on Saturday as part of the King’s official birthday celebrations. The flypast, due to take place at approximately 1pm BST on 13 June 2026, is a traditional element of the Trooping the Colour ceremony and will be led by the Red Arrows.
The Flypast
The aircraft expected to take part were identified during a rehearsal over the North Sea on Tuesday 2 June, and the Ministry of Defence has indicated the following list is “likely”, barring any last-minute operational changes. The formation will begin with a Chinook helicopter, a heavy-lift workhorse of the Royal Air Force, followed by a Phenom T1, a small jet used for training and light transport. Next will come the A400M Atlas, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft capable of carrying troops and heavy equipment, and the C-17 Globemaster, a large strategic transport aircraft.
A Voyager air-to-air refueller will then fly alongside a Typhoon T3, a two-seat variant of the Eurofighter. The P-8 Poseidon, a maritime patrol aircraft employed for anti-submarine warfare and surveillance, is also set to appear. Several single-seat Typhoon Eurofighters will follow, before a pair of F-35B Lightning fifth-generation stealth fighters complete the military portion of the formation. The Red Arrows, the RAF’s aerobatic team, will bring up the rear and finish the flypast.
The Red Arrows will deploy all nine of their Hawk T1 jets in the “Diamond Nine” formation for this significant national occasion – a rarity in 2026, as the team is otherwise scheduled to operate with only seven aircraft at standard airshows owing to the ageing nature of the Hawk T1 fleet. All remaining Hawk T1s in RAF service are due for retirement in 2030. The team typically begins its smoke display with white trails before switching to red, white and blue as it approaches Buckingham Palace, with the colour change occurring anywhere from the Olympic Park to as close as Holborn.
The Ceremony
The flypast follows the annual Trooping the Colour parade, which has marked the sovereign’s official birthday since 1760. The connection between the parade and an RAF flypast dates back to 1913, when the Royal Flying Corps first participated. King Charles III’s actual birthday falls on 14 November, but the June date is chosen for its convenience and generally more reliable weather.
The parade at Horse Guards Parade typically begins around 10:20am or 10:30am and concludes by 12:25pm, involving more than 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians from the Household Division. The procession travels from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and back. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the BBC in the UK.
Where to Watch
While the flypast can be seen from anywhere with a clear view to the sky, the best vantage point is The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. In previous years spectators have gathered at the Trafalgar Square end, and once the Trooping the Colour crowds have made their way up to the Palace, the barriers will be taken down, allowing the public to enter The Mall. Other recommended locations include the gates of Buckingham Palace, St James’s Park, Green Park, Victoria Embankment and Hyde Park. It is strongly advised to arrive early – suggestions of 8:30am or 9am – as central London is expected to be extremely busy. Extensive road closures will be in place around Whitehall, The Mall and Buckingham Palace from early morning until after the flypast and crowd dispersal, and public transport is recommended. Tube stations including Green Park, St James’s Park, Victoria, Charing Cross, Westminster and Piccadilly Circus are likely to be crowded, with exit restrictions possible.
The aircraft will line up over Essex, passing Colchester and Chelmsford before flying over East London towards Buckingham Palace. The route will take them over Fairlop, Wanstead Park, the northern end of the Olympic Park and Shoreditch, before heading in a straight line toward the Palace. After passing overhead, the aircraft will disperse to the west and northwest over Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. The Red Arrows will head toward Heathrow before turning north toward Beaconsfield.
For those considering a view from a high building, Horizon 22 and the neighbouring Lookout offer an elevated perspective, but the viewing galleries face away from the main flightpath, meaning spectators will see the aircraft from behind as they cross the City of London. The National Air Traffic Service has issued Notices to Airmen detailing altitude restrictions, with a 10,000ft ceiling in the main area from 11am to 2pm and lower restrictions of 2,500ft in several zones from 12:40pm onwards. The weather forecast for Saturday is dry and sunny with light winds, temperatures around 23°C and a very low risk of rain, though all timings and routes remain subject to operational requirements.
