Trooping the Colour for The Queen's Birthday – 14 June


As everyone east of the Atlantic is acutely aware, London celebrates The Queen’s official birthday in June each year with Trooping the Colour, a brilliant military parade that has taken place in London since 1820 when the Colours of a regiment where used as a rallying point in battle.

The annual event takes place on Horse Guards Parade in London’s St James’s Park, marking The Queen’s official birthday. This year, the parade takes place a week from today on Saturday 14 June. To get you ready, here’s the full 2013 version if you have a spare 2.5 hours.
 

 
The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is full of military pomp and pageantry as The Queen carries out an inspection of the troops from the Household Division. The Queen then leads the troops down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, one of London’s most famous landmarks.

The Queen salutes and guns are fired in Green Park and at the Tower of London. Finally she joins other members of the Royal Family on the balcony to watch the RAF flypast. It’s well worth the effort to go see if possible with over 1400 officers and men on parade, 200 horses and over 400 musicians.O


In: Odds & Sods