The RAF Flypast at Trooping the Colour 2026: Red Arrows Route, Time and the Best Places to Watch
For a lot of people, the soldiers and the horses are the warm-up — the real spine-tingle is the moment the sky over Buckingham Palace fills with the thunder of jet engines and the Red Arrows streak overhead trailing red, white and blue. The RAF flypast is the finale of Trooping the Colour, and because it happens in the open sky rather than behind crowd barriers, it’s the part of the day you can enjoy from a surprisingly wide area — if you know where to stand and when to look up.
Here’s everything you need to time it right in 2026.
What is the Trooping the Colour flypast?
At the close of Trooping the Colour, the Royal Family gathers on the Buckingham Palace balcony and the RAF stages a flypast directly overhead. It’s a procession of military aircraft — historic and current — climaxing with the Red Arrows, the RAF’s aerobatic display team, releasing their signature red, white and blue smoke as they pass over the Palace. It’s brief, it’s loud, and it’s genuinely thrilling.
What time is the flypast in 2026?
The flypast is timed to coincide with the balcony appearance at approximately 1pm on the day of Trooping the Colour — which in 2026 was Saturday 13 June. The Red Arrows themselves take off from their base in East Anglia at around 11am, routing south-west across the country to arrive over central London for that 1pm slot.
A word on timing: flypasts run to the second when they go ahead, but they are also weather-dependent and can be reduced or cancelled at short notice if conditions are poor. Build in some patience, and don’t wander off at 12:55.
The route: where the aircraft come from
The formation approaches London from the north-east and runs in along an axis that brings it over The Mall and Buckingham Palace, where it’s timed to pass over the balcony. The aircraft then continue on and away to the west.
What that means for you: anywhere with a clear view of the sky on that approach line and around the Palace gives you a shot at seeing it. You don’t have to be packed onto The Mall itself.
The best places to watch the flypast
For the iconic view — jets directly over the Palace with the balcony in shot — you want the Queen Victoria Memorial and the Buckingham Palace end of The Mall. These are also the most crowded, so arrive early.
For more room with still-excellent sky views, try:
St James’s Park — alongside The Mall, with open sky and a gentler crowd.
Green Park — just north of the Palace, grassy and open.
Higher, open vantage points along the approach corridor, where you’ll catch the formation as it comes in.
If you only care about the aircraft (not the ceremony or the balcony), one of the parks is honestly the more pleasant experience — space to breathe, and a clear sweep of sky.
Tips for seeing the Red Arrows
Look north-east in the minutes before 1pm — that’s the direction the formation approaches from.
Listen first. You’ll often hear the aircraft before you see them; let your ears point your eyes.
Have your camera ready early — the Red Arrows pass quickly, and the smoke moment lasts only seconds.
Check the forecast and official updates on the morning — low cloud is the enemy of a flypast.
Don’t rely on phones for the timing in the crowds; signal gets patchy with so many people packed in.
FAQs
What time is the RAF flypast at Trooping the Colour 2026?
The flypast takes place at approximately 1 pm, timed with the Royal Family’s balcony appearance. In 2026 this was on Saturday 13 June. The Red Arrows take off from East Anglia around 11 am to arrive over London for that slot.
Where is the best place to see the Red Arrows in London?
The Queen Victoria Memorial and the Buckingham Palace end of The Mall give the classic view of jets over the Palace. For more space with open sky, St James’s Park and Green Park are excellent alternatives.
Which way do I look for the flypast?
Look to the north-east in the minutes before 1pm, as the formation approaches central London from that direction before passing over Buckingham Palace and continuing west.
Can the flypast be cancelled?
Yes. Flypasts are weather-dependent and can be reduced or cancelled at short notice in poor conditions such as low cloud. Check official updates on the morning of the event.
Do I need a ticket to watch the flypast?
No. The flypast happens in open sky and can be watched for free from public areas around Buckingham Palace, The Mall and the nearby Royal Parks. No ticket is required.
Last verified: June 2026. Flypast routes, aircraft and timings vary year to year and are subject to weather — confirm against official RAF and Household Division updates before the day.
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