Red, white, blue and green

Charles delighted as Red Arrows use eco fuel

- BY RUSSELL MYERS Royal Editor

KING CHARLES celebrated his official birthday at Trooping the Colour as the Princess of Wales returned to a starring role.

The monarch beamed at yesterday's display of military pomp and pageantry in Central London, which culminated in him watching a flypast including the Red Arrows at Buckingham Palace with his closest family by his side.

The environmentally conscious King was said to be "delighted" that the RAF's aerobatic display team used eco fuels for the event. They chose a blend of sustainable aviation fuel and normal jet fuel for their engines, and used renewable biofuel for their red, white and blue smoke trails.

The King is said to hope the example will lead to wider use of green fuels across the aviation sector. There was another heartfelt change to this year's Trooping the Colour, too, with Charles, 76, requesting a minute's silence at 11.10am in memory of those who died in the Air India plane disaster on Thursday.