Category Arts & Culture

What happened at Trooping the Colour 2025?

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There were over 1,350 soldiers of the Household Division and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in this year’s Trooping the Colour celebration, which held on Saturday, June 14.

Occasionally, the British sovereign celebrates his birthday two times annually, including Trooping the Colour on the second Saturday of June; since the reign of King George II, whose November birthday was considered too cold for a celebratory parade. The British Army refers to Trooping the Colour as the ‘King’s Birthday Parade’.

Every Trooping the Colour celebration is highlighted by an appearance of the British royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony, to watch the Royal Air Force (RAF) or Red Arrows flypast.

According to BBC live reports, members of the British royal family who stood on the palace balcony to watch the Red Arrows flypast this year include: King Charles III, Queen Camilla, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester Richard and Birgitte, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Edward and Sophie, The Prince of Wales William, Prince Louis, Prince George, The Princess of Wales Catherine, Princess Charlotte, The Duke of Kent Edward, The Princess Royal Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Thousands of people, reportedly descended on central London to attend the parade, including anti-monarchy protesters who chanted “not my King”, while the people chanted “we love the King” and “God save the King”.

Sources:

Coughlan, C & Cole, H (2025). King and Queen join royals on Buckingham Palace balcony for Red Arrows flypast. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk

Court, M (2025). Why does King Charles III have two birthdays to celebrate? The National. https://www.thenational.scot/news/25239586/

The British Army (2025). Trooping the Colour – The King’s Birthday Parade – The British Army. https://www.kbp.army.mod.uk

‘Black Panther’ Director Pens Open Letter to Fans as Movie Keeps Breaking Box Office Records

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Black Panther

Photo: Marvel Studios

The director of Black Panther Ryan Coogler has reportedly written an open letter of appreciation to lovers of the superhero movie.

According to a news article on CNBC’s website, Coogley reveals how he is “struggling to find words to express” his gratitude to fans of the movie who “bought out theaters”, posted about the movie on social media and even picked Wakanda-themed costumes to wear. In the emotional letter, published on the social media accounts of Marvel Studios, the director confesses: “To see people of all backgrounds wearing clothing that celebrates their heritage, taking pictures next to our posters with their friends and family, and sometimes dancing in the lobbies of theaters — often moved me and my wife to tears.”

Meanwhile, Variety.com reports that Black Panther has added $21 million to its box office earnings on Tuesday, making the highest Tuesday gross for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie.
The superhero film which has grossed $462.3 million worldwide, reportedly recorded $263.1 million in the first week of its debut in US movie theaters. Variety predicts that the movie could be one of over 30 films with $1 billion worldwide earnings, by the end of its run.

Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright and Daniel Kaluuya.

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Meet Amanda Gorman, America’s First Youth Poet Laureate

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Amanda Gorman | via Instagram

Amanda Gorman (Pictured with Hillary Clinton)

Amanda Gorman, a 19-year-old Harvard University sophomore is the United States’ first National Youth Poet Laureate. Gorman was reportedly named America’s Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate in April, 2017 by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

While growing up Amanda Gorman struggled with a hearing impairment and speech impediment but it was never going to hinder her from becoming the poet, activist, author and brand ambassador that she is today.

@amandascgorman | via InstagramGorman is the first youth to become Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, prior to her becoming the Inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of the West (Western USA). The OZY Genius Award winner was subsequently brought to the attention of Michelle Obama and now, Gorman is a HERLead Ambassador for Vital Voices, a global women network founded by Hillary Clinton.

Amanda Gorman, according to the New York Times, “writes poetry with a cleareyed mix of autobiography, social issues and historical motifs”. She read her poem ‘An American Lyric’ at the inaugural reading of her friend, Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, at the Library of Congress — the first time a youth poet ever opened for a Library of Congress Poet Laureate Consultant.

Gorman’s 1Pen1Page organization helps “students storytellers to change the world”. Despite all of her achievements at such a young age, Amanda Gorman told the New York Times that she would love to run for the office of the President of the United States (POTUS) someday. In fact, her Instagram bio reads “President 2036” and she wants you to “put that in your iCloud calendar”.

 

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