King Charles and other senior members of the Royal Family today wore black armbands during the “Trooping the Colour” military parade, paying tribute to the victims of the severe Air India plane crash.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on Thursday immediately after taking off from Ahmedabad, India, en route to London. At least 270 people died, making it the deadliest civil aviation accident in the last decade.
Only one person from a total of 242 passengers and crew survived the accident. The plane crashed into a medical college dormitory, killing approximately 30 people on the ground. More than 50 British citizens were among the deceased.
After King Charles inspected the line of soldiers, a minute of silence was observed. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson stated that the King had personally requested changes to the parade’s protocol to honor the victims and their families. Senior officers participating in the event also wore black armbands.
While the British monarch’s official birthday is traditionally marked with a grand ceremony and military parade, this year’s edition was more subdued and marked by sadness for the plane tragedy. Charles and Queen Camilla departed Buckingham Palace in a carriage at the head of a procession that passed through the Mall to Horse Guards Parade, where hundreds of guards participated in a ceremonial display.
