Another year, another Trooping the Colour.

The Queen and Prince Philip arrive at Horse Guards Parade

The splendid event is held on a Saturday in June each year to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday — her real one is in April.

As always, the BBC showed what a superb occasion it is with Huw Edwards describing the nuances and history in minute detail. He even had an exclusive interview with Prince Charles in full red and gold ceremonial dress.

Traditionally, the Queen processed down the Mall on horseback, riding an elegant sidesaddle. However, as age closed in and with the retirement of her faithful mount, Burma, she decided that a carriage would be more appropriate. The carriage itself has a lot of history behind it. It is Queen Victoria’s Ivory-Mounted Phaeton, first used in the 1840s.

Princes William and Harry and the Duchess of Cornwall

Prince William and Prince Harry arrived in a carriage together with the Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Charles rode down the Mall on horseback together with the Royal Colonels, Princess Anne and the Duke of Kent.

The Queen and Prince Philip take the salute

Finally, before the parade begins the Queen and the Duke take the salute and the National Anthem.

Although she didn’t raise a fist in anger all evening, Kate Middleton was the undoubted star of the Boodles Boxing Ball at the Royal Lancaster Hotel.

Outshining all others — even the glamorous Chelsy Davy, sultry in blue — Kate stood out among a distinguished audience comprising members of the Royal Family and other guests, who were there to support their favourite amateur boxers raise money for charity.

Attending on the arm of Prince William, one newspaper even referred to Kate and her boyfriend as “the Royal couple”. What does it know that we don’t?

Prince Harry and Chelsy sat at another table. Both couples hit the dancefloor to conclude the evening.

Prince Harry grinned and cavorted before an audience of pupils and staff from Cathays High School in Cardiff yesterday. In return he was greeted more like a pop star than a member of the Royal Family.

Prince Harry nursing a baby in Wales

On a first day of engagements in Wales, Harry was there to learn about the school’s work with disadvantaged children in Africa by forging links with a school in the kingdom of Lesotho, home to Harry’s own charity, Sentebale.

At one point Harry held a small baby and joked, “It’s not mine!” He then paused in front of Matthew Taylor, a red-haired 12-year-old who said after meeting the Prince: “We all thought he was going to walk past but he actually took the time to stop and talk to us. He said to me ‘I’m ginger - gingers love gingers.’”

Harry will be joining members of his regiment, the Blues and Royals, in Lesotho later this summer to help build care facilities and repair infrastructure for projects supported by Sentebale.

The Prince certainly demonstrated his common touch among the people of Wales yesterday. As the second son, his gurning and comedy routines are a breath of fresh air. For Prince William, though, they would be a performance too far.

The influential American business magazine Forbes, has named Prince William the world’s hottest Royal.

Prince William and Chelsy Davy at Prince Harry’s medal ceremony

The future Monarch of all he surveys easily edged out his brother Prince Harry and cousins Zara Phillips and Princess Beatrice to lead the field at forbes.com.

The magazine, which is famous for compiling rich lists, believes the top 20 Royals reign over nearly $60 billion in wealth and 15 Royal lineages.

Forbes assessed the international web and media presence of the contenders, as well as family wealth. It’s interesting that all 20 are single and under the age of 35 and have also become “successful in their chosen career paths”.

Princess Beatrice though, 4th, is only just finishing her gap year. One wonders which “career path” Forbes had in mind : international party-goer?

Nevertheless, the top four (all British) are certainly talented and destined for great things.

We are told that “The 20 Hottest Young Royals” — presumably a TV show — will premiere on Friday on the E! Entertainment network.

Forbes.com’s top five are:

1. Prince William
2. Prince Harry
3. Zara Phillips
4. Princess Beatrice
5. Charlotte Casiraghi

Jolly well done to them all.