Meghan at Trooping the Colour in first royal engagement since giving birth

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, was making her first appearance at a public engagement Saturday since the birth of her son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, at the traditional Trooping the Colour, a celebration of the Queen’s official birthday.

She emerged from Buckingham Palace in a horse-drawn carriage, sitting next to her husband Prince Harry, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Wearing a blue hat, the Duchess of Sussex waved to thousands of people who had gathered along the Mall in London to watch the spectacle, in which more than 200 horses, 400 musicians and 1,400 officers are taking part.

Meghan made her first appearance at a public engagement Saturday.

The monarch is technically the head of Britain’s armed forces, and would traditionally lead an army into war. The parade, which gives the Queen a chance to review her army, moves from Buckingham Palace down the Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, with members of the royal family traveling on horseback or carriage.

Meghan and Prince Harry make their way in a horse-drawn carriage to Horseguard's Parade ahead of Trooping the Colour.

When the Queen was younger, she would ride side-saddle on horseback to greet the public. But in recent years, she travels by horse and open carriage.

This year the Queen was resplendent in cream as she traveled from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guard’s Parade in a state carriage.

The Queen traveled down the Mall in a carriage.

She was followed by Charles, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Duke of Cambridge, and her daughter the Princess Royal, who were all on horseback.

The Queen proceeded to inspect the troops at Horse Guard’s Parade before riding back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards. Once at the palace, the entire royal family gathered on the balcony to watch the colorful flypast by the Royal Air Force.

Prince Louis was seeing waving at the crowds during the flypast as he took part in his first royal engagement.

More than 200 horses, 400 musicians and 1,400 officers take part in the parade.

The event was also marked by a 41-gun salute in Green Park by the Horse Artillery.

The Queen’s real birthday is on April 21, but official celebrations always take place in June, and often for a whole weekend. The nation’s longest serving monarch turned 93 in April.

The Parade moves from Buckingham Palace and down the Mall to Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall.

According to the Royal Family’s website, the Trooping of the Color has traditionally marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for more than 260 years.

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, pose with their newborn son, Archie, at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, May 8.

Archie was born at 5:26 a.m. on Monday morning. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

Queen Elizabeth II looks at her new great-grandchild on Wednesday. Prince Philip is on the left. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, is next to her at right.

Archie is seventh in line to the throne, just behind his dad.

Unofficial town crier Tony Appleton welcomes the baby's birth outside Windsor Castle on Monday, May 6.

Prince Harry said becoming a parent was "amazing" as he held his son in his arms. "We're just so thrilled to have our bundle of joy," he said. "We're looking forward to spending some precious time with him as he slowly starts to grow up."

Harry's brother, Prince William, and William's wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, talk to the media about their new nephew on Tuesday, May 7.

Meghan said her son has the "sweetest temperament."

The baby's name is believed to have little precedent within the modern British royal family.

People take pictures of a notice, posted outside Buckingham Palace, that announced the baby's birth.

The couple leaves after posing for photos on Wednesday.

Meet Archie, the new royal baby

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A family affair

Although the duchess is still on maternity leave, a royal source told CNN that this is a family moment, where many members of the royal family will be in attendance.

According to the palace’s source, this is a separate affair from the duchess’ official duties of participating in a formal state visit.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) walks with US President Donald Trump (C) and other guests as they arrive through the East Gallery during a State Banquet in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace in central London on June 3, 2019, on the first day of the US president and First Lady's three-day State Visit to the UK. - Britain rolled out the red carpet for US President Donald Trump on June 3 as he arrived in Britain for a state visit already overshadowed by his outspoken remarks on Brexit. (Photo by Victoria Jones / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read VICTORIA JONES/AFP/Getty Images)

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Similarly, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, also attended a previous Trooping the Colour during her maternity leave, but did not carry out any official duties.

The duchess and her husband welcomed baby Archie into the world last month.

The duchess shared a photo of baby Archie on the couple’s Instagram account on her first Mother’s Day last month.

CNN’s Angela Dewan contributed to this report.