King Charles III has instructed members of the Royal Family to wear black armbands during Saturday’s Trooping the Colour ceremony in tribute to the victims of the recent Air India plane crash, Buckingham Palace announced.

As a further mark of respect, the King has also requested a minute of silence to be observed following his inspection of the troops, commemorating the 241 lives lost in the tragic crash near Ahmedabad, where only one person is known to have survived.

A Palace spokesperson said the gesture aims to honor “the lives lost, the families in mourning, and all the communities affected by this awful tragedy.” The King had earlier expressed his condolences in a personal message, saying he was “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad.”

The solemn tribute will precede the annual ceremonial parade marking the monarch’s official birthday. Despite undergoing treatment for cancer, the 75-year-old King is expected to attend the event by carriage, as he did last year, rather than on horseback.

This year’s parade will feature 1,350 troops from the British Army’s Household Division, with the Coldstream Guards presenting their regimental colours before the King on Horse Guards Parade in a tradition dating back to the 17th century.

Black armbands will be worn by royal coachmen, carriage attendants, and senior royals in military uniform, including the King and the Prince of Wales. While other royals not in uniform are not expected to wear armbands, flags at royal residences have been flying at half-mast since news of the crash broke.

The Trooping the Colour celebration includes a military procession down The Mall and concludes with the Royal Family’s balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace during the Red Arrows flypast.

This year’s event is expected to carry particular emotional weight. Last year’s parade marked a significant moment as the Princess of Wales appeared in public for the first time while undergoing cancer treatment. She is currently in remission.

Following a successful visit to Canada, King Charles’ continued public engagements have offered reassurance amid his health challenges. Saturday’s ceremony, blending tradition with mourning, is set to reflect both the solemnity of loss and the resilience of national unity.