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A soldier taking part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony today had to be carried away on a stretcher after being thrown from his horse - which then fell on him.

Military pomp and pageantry was on display at Horse Guards Parade to celebrate the Queen's official birthday - and new mother the Duchess of Sussex made her first public appearance since giving birth. 

But the soldier, Major Niall Hall, the Regimental Adjutant of the Irish Guards, added unexpected drama to the ceremony when he was thrown from his horse and his bearskin hat rolled off his head. 

He was photographed lying on the sandy ground with his head to one side and his bearskin hat lying next to him.

Major Hall, who was dressed in his ceremonial bright red tunic with gold buttons, white gloves and dark blue trousers with a red stripe, was seen being helped by fellow soldiers. 

A soldier taking part in the Trooping the Colour ceremony today fell from his horse and had to be helped by medics

Major Niall Hall, the Regimental Adjutant of the Irish Guards, added unexpected drama to the ceremony when he fell from his horse and his bearskin hat rolled off his head

He was then lifted on to a stretcher by other soldiers, one of whom was carrying a first aid bag. 

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Major Hall's injuries are not life threatening.   

They said: 'Major Hall was dismounted on today's Queen's Birthday Parade,' the spokesman said.

'He was immediately treated by a medical team and taken to hospital.'

Major Hall, who was dressed in his ceremonial bright red tunic with gold buttons, white gloves and dark blue trousers with a red stripe, was seen being helped by fellow soldiers and was lifted onto a stretcher

A soldier carrying a medical bag has his hand on the stricken soldier as he and a colleague prepare to carry Major Hall away on a stretcher

The Irish Guards are well-known for their ceremonial role of protecting royal palaces and can be seen marching and guarding outside Buckingham Palace.  

The Queen's milestone was marked with with the ceremony that saw some of Britain's most prestigious regiments stage the centuries-old spectacle.

And among the royals was Meghan, attending her first official royal engagement since giving birth to son Archie just over four weeks ago.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are whisked away in a carriage from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade 

The Queen, who celebrated her 93rd birthday in April, arrives to watch the parade in one of her luxurious horse-drawn carriage. She will watch the Trooping ceremony and also inspect the lines of guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins

The duchess has been on maternity leave caring for her baby born at a private London hospital on May 6, and Harry has already spoken about how parenthood has changed their lives, saying he cannot imagine life without his son.

Meghan joined Harry, the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge in a coach that was greeted by cheers from crowds in the Mall as it made its way to Horse Guards Parade in London's Whitehall for the Trooping ceremony.

In another horse-drawn carriage was Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, Princess Beatrice and the Duke of Kent.

Members of the Welsh Guards - the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British army - approach The Mall during the ceremony

The Queen arrived in a procession full of pomp and pageantry featuring a Sovereign's Escort from the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.

Riding on horseback behind the Queen's coach were the royal colonels: The Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards and Duke of York, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.

Trooping the Colour is social as well as a ceremonial occasion and in the stands overlooking the parade ground were the wives, girlfriends and parents of the guardsmen and officers on parade.

The nearly 2,000-strong parade is made up of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of musicians

Wellwishers line the streets as ceremonial soldiers ride horses during the parade in central London

Despite the dreary weather, thousands of spectators lined the streets to watch 1,400 troops, 400 musicians and 200 horses march in the parade 

The event featured around 1,400 servicemen in total and hundreds of Guardsmen were lined up on the parade ground waiting to be inspected by the Queen.

The colour, or ceremonial regimental flag, being paraded this year was from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, a frontline infantry regiment of the British Army when not performing ceremonial duties.

Their lineage can be traced back to 1656 when the military unit was raised as the sovereign's bodyguards by King Charles II while in exile in Bruges.

Harry, Meghan, Kate and the other royals - including the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children the Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor - watched events from Wellington's office overlooking Horse Guards.

Among the guests was Theresa May who formally stepped down as Prime Minister on Friday, but will remain in office until an successor has been appointed.