By Emeka Blast 
Solemn Tribute: King Wears Black Armband for India Plane Victims at Trooping the Colour
At the 2025 Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 14, King Charles III honored the victims of the tragic Air India plane crash by wearing a black armband on his military uniform. This gesture was made in tribute to the 241 individuals who lost their lives when a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed shortly after departing from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London Gatwick. The sole known survivor, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, recounted the harrowing experience from his hospital bed .
In addition to the King, Prince William and other members of the Royal Family in uniform also donned black armbands during the parade. The ceremony included a moment of silence and the sounding of the Last Post, following the King’s inspection of the troops at Horse Guards Parade. These changes were implemented as a mark of respect for the lives lost and the grieving families and communities affected by the tragedy .
Trooping the Colour is a longstanding tradition celebrating the British monarch’s official birthday. This year’s event was particularly poignant, as it marked the first time the Coldstream Guards trooped their color in front of King Charles, coinciding with the regiment’s 375th anniversary .
