Prince practises for Trooping the Colour next week when he will be stepping in for the Queen

Prince William was up early this morning to rehearse the Queen's annual birthday parade, Trooping the Colour. Prince William rose early to take part in the important rehearsal of the important Queen's birthday parade in London The Duke of Cambridge, 39, looked incredibly smart in his red and blue military uniform and black bearskin hat The famous salute at the real Trooping the Colour is usually performed by the Queen but William has stepped in this year Prince William, Duke of Cambridge salutes as he rides a horse across the parade ground during the Colonel's Review at Horse Guards Parade Prince William looked very serious at the rehearsal of the prestigious military birthday event in London for the Queen. Irish Guards wear a blue plume to the right of their bearskin The Colonel's Review is identical to Trooping the Colour, the Queen's annual birthday parade, which she will not be at Soldiers are seen on parade during the Colonel's Review - the second rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour, which dates back to 1748 This year, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Princess Royal will ride on the parade as colonels of the Welsh Guards, the Irish Guards and the Blues and Royals Members of the Household Division parade during the Colonel's Review ahead of the Trooping of the Colour next week The Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry and the Queen's drum horses parade during the review today Two people had to be rushed to a major trauma hospital and three others needed treatment from paramedics after a stand collapsed at the Trooping the Colour rehearsal on May 21. The five Household Regiments - Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards each take their turn each year Prince William, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, leads the Colonel's Review on Horse Guards Parade on May 28. The 'colour' in Trooping the Colour refers to the regimental flags of the British Army which were historically described as such because they displayed the uniform colours and insignia worn by the soldiers of different units Irish Guards march across the parade ground on Saturday during the 90-minute rehearsal By sheer coincidence, William's brother Harry was on horseback yesterday playing a polo match for his team in America The Queen will not take the royal salute at the Trooping the Colour for the first time in 70 years as she continues to delegate responsibility to senior members of The Firm.