One of the youngest members of the British Royal Family attended the Trooping the Colour yesterday to celebrate the Queen's official 83rd birthday.
Lady Louise, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, is a spitting image of her auntie, the Princess Royal, and a spitting image of her grandmother, the Queen, when they were young.
Lady Louise, the ninth in line to the Throne, was born with the rare eye condition exotropia, which means one eye turns outwards and affects her vision.
Yesterday she stood next to her mother, the Countess of Wessex, on the balcony of Buckingham palace to watch Trooping the Colour.
Trooping the Colour is a military parade which attracts tourists from across the world, and yesterday was performed in glorious sunshine on Horse Guards Parade in central London.
It has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier. On battlefields, a regiment's colours, or flags, were used as rallying points. Consequently, regiments would have their ensigns slowly march with their colours between the soldiers' ranks to enable soldiers to recognise their regiments' colours.
Since 1748 Trooping the Colour has also marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign.
It is held in London annually on the second Saturday in June.
A regiment's colours embody its spirit and service, as well as its fallen soldiers. The loss of a colour, or the capture of an enemy colour, were respectively considered the greatest shame, or the greatest glory on a battlefield. Consequently, regimental colours are venerated by officers and soldiers of all ranks, second only to the sovereign.
It has occurred annually since 1820 (except in bad weather, periods of mourning and other exceptional circumstances).
From the reign of King Edward VII, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person. It was Edward VII who moved Trooping the Colour to its June date, because of the vagaries of British weather.
Trooping the Colour allows the Household Division (i.e., the Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry) and King's Troop to pay a personal tribute to the Sovereign with great pomp and pageantry. It takes place on Horse Guards Parade. Crowds lining the route listen to music performed by Massed and Mounted Bands of around 400 musicians in total. Events at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's return include another march past, a 41-gun salute in the adjacent Green Park, and a flypast by the Royal Air Force. This is followed by the usual Changing of the Guard.
The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour in every year of her reign except when prevented by a rail strike in 1955, and survived the firing of six blank shots towards her in 1981.
Her Majesty started riding in a carriage in 1987.
The ceremony, during which British soldiers in their bright red uniforms march around the parade ground, is noted for the "pinwheel", probably the world's most complicated manoeuvre carried out on the parade ground. At one point during the manoeuvre, each soldier is carrying out a slightly different movement. It is performed nowhere else in the world.
Lady Louise, the spitting image of her Aunt Anne... and quite like Granny too
By Daniel Boffey
14th June 2009
Daily Mail
With her blonde curls and rosy cheeks, five-year-old Lady Louise Windsor may have stirred some fond memories for the Queen yesterday.
For the only daughter of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie bears more than a passing resemblance to her aunt, the Princess Royal, at a similar age.
And it appears that the cherubic features have been passed down through three generations – as archive pictures show the Queen herself looked remarkably similar as a toddler.
Giving some pointers: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, explains the action to Lady Louise
Yesterday, all three of those generations gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to witness the pageantry that marked the Queen’s official 83rd birthday.
Louise was born with the rare eye condition exotropia, which means one eye turns outwards and affects her vision. Standing beside her on the balcony, her mother, the Countess of Wessex, helped her follow the action.
Thousands of wellwishers had gathered in Central London as the Queen took the royal salute during Trooping the Colour, then moved to the Palace to watch the traditional air display.
As well as Lady Louise, who was on a relatively rare public outing, the celebrations were attended by Princes William and Harry, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Only Prince Andrew was missing from the direct family.
Lady Louise, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, is a spitting image of her auntie, the Princess Royal (above), and a spitting image of her grandmother, the Queen (below), when they were young.
Under cloudy blue skies, the Queen arrived in Horse Guards Parade to play her important role in the ceremony.
She first inspected the long line of troops from the four Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division taking part: the Irish, Grenadier, Scots and Coldstream Guards.
Then, as she travelled in Queen Victoria’s 1842 ivory mounted phaeton carriage, behind her on horseback and wearing ceremonial military uniform were Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards; Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards.
Camilla, and William and Harry – both in military uniform – watched from a room in the Horse Guards building that used to be the Duke of Wellington’s office. The family then gathered together on the balcony at Buckingham Palace where the Queen clapped her hands in delight at the flypast.
The Colour being paraded this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
Celebration: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace in a carriage and head down Horseguards Parade during the Trooping the Colour ceremony today
For decades the Queen has taken part in the event staged every June in London's historic Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.
This year the ceremony marked the 83rd birthday of the Sovereign who has reigned over the country since 1952.
The precision marching by hundreds of Guardsmen taking part was also enjoyed by their families and friends who watched from stands over looking the ground.
The Monarch first took the royal salute in 1951, when she deputised for her ill father George VI, and has continued receiving the mark of respect every year except 1955 when there was a national rail strike.
A happy birthday: The Queen, with the Duke of Edinburgh at her side, smiles during the Trooping the Colour parade today
Her first duty was to inspect the long line of troops - wearing their famous red tunics and bearskin hats - from the four Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division taking part - the Irish, Grenadier, Scots and Coldstream Guards.
As she travelled in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory mounted phaeton carriage behind her on horseback and wearing ceremonial military uniform were Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Anne, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Kent, Colonel Scots Guards.
Camilla, and William and Harry - both in military uniform - watched from a room in Horse Guards building that used to be the Duke of Wellington's office.
Show time: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip enter the Mall to attend the ceremony
The Queen's two grandsons are at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.
William, a Flight Lieutenant, is training with 60 Squadron to become an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot while his brother Harry, a Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry Regiment, is training with 660 Squadron to become an Army helicopter pilot.
Cross country: Television presenter and honorary Black Watch colonel Lorraine Kelly, right, inspects officer duties at the Royal Gun salute to mark the Queen's birthday at Stirling Castle in Scotland
Barmy army: Kelly has a laugh with the officers
Trooping the Colour is an important social occasion for the Guardsmen taking part, and gives their wives, girlfriends, parents and other relatives the chance to celebrate the achievements of the young men and enjoy the spectacle.
Some spectators in the stands which lined the parade ground were dressed in morning suits or smart suits, while many women wore summer dresses with wide brimmed hats.
The Colour being paraded on Horse Guards this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle.
Colours, or flags, were carried, or 'trooped', down the ranks so that it could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
Happy family: Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, stand with their daughter Louise on the Buckingham Palace balcony
In the 18th century, guards from the Royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to 'troop the colours', and in 1748 it was announced that the parade would also mark the Sovereign's official birthday.
The Queen's actual birthday was on April 21, when she turned 83.
Dressed in a blue coat and matching hat, she watched with Philip, who wore a red military tunic and bearskin, as the ceremonial flag was paraded past her followed by line after line of Guardsmen, first in slow time then quick as the Massed Bands played.
The duty of carrying the colour was given to Lieutenant Andrew Campbell, 24, who has been in the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards for five months.
Later the Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry played as the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, rode past the Queen first in quick time then in slow.
Family viewing: Prince William, Prince Harry, The Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Edinburgh watch a flyover from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Big crowds: Thousands of spectators also observed the fly-past of the Royal Air Force
As they passed for the second time the horses' hoofs kicked up clouds of dust from the gravel-covered parade ground.
When the Queen and the Duke left in their carriage they were applauded and cheered by the spectators and those lining the Mall as they made their way back to Buckingham Palace.The celebrations ended with the traditional fly-past over Buckingham Palace.
The aerial parade of 29 aircraft featured vintage machines and modern fighters.
The Queen watched the events from the royal residence's balcony with other senior royals including princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Charles and Camilla and a host of minor royals.
Thousands of well-wishers lined up to watch the fly-past spectacle that roared overhead for three minutes.
The display was led by the Battle of Britain memorial flight's Lancaster in formation with a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
This is the first year the Battle of Britain memorial flight has flown under the official patronage of William, who was on the balcony along with his brother Harry for the event.
Other aircraft taking part included four Tornado GR4s, six Eurofighter Typhoons - the finale saw the Red Arrows fly overhead trailing red, white and blue smoke.
Flying colours: British RAF Red Arrows jets fly past Buckingham Palace today for the Queen's official birthday
Ex-footballer Vinnie Jones with his wife Tanya watched the Trooping the Colour parade. The actor's son Aaron Ellison-Jones is a trooper in the Life Guards and was taking part in the parade
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly attended a Royal Gun Salute to mark the event in her first official duty since taking up an honorary post with the Black Watch.
Dressed in official uniform, the GMTV host acted as Inspecting Officer at Stirling Castle in Scotland where troops lined up in honour of the Queen's official birthday.
Glasgow-born Kelly, 49, is a keen supporter of the Armed Forces.
She was recently appointed to the role of Honorary Colonel of the Black Watch battalion's Army Cadet Force (ACF).
She said: 'I am passionate about working with young people and really want to help them develop. When I was originally approached, I was very keen to become involved as it offers me the chance to share some of my experiences so that the Cadets can learn different life skills.'
Brigadier Allfrey, Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade said: 'We were delighted when Ms Kelly accepted the role of Honorary Colonel.
'She is the perfect example of someone who can exert real influence over the development of young people and can bring a wealth of experience to the role.'
There are 44,000 cadets in more than 1700 Cadet centres across the UK.
A Royal Gun Salute was sounded at noon by 105 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers).
dailymail.co.uk
Lady Louise, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, is a spitting image of her auntie, the Princess Royal, and a spitting image of her grandmother, the Queen, when they were young.
Lady Louise, the ninth in line to the Throne, was born with the rare eye condition exotropia, which means one eye turns outwards and affects her vision.
Yesterday she stood next to her mother, the Countess of Wessex, on the balcony of Buckingham palace to watch Trooping the Colour.
Trooping the Colour is a military parade which attracts tourists from across the world, and yesterday was performed in glorious sunshine on Horse Guards Parade in central London.
It has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century, although the roots go back much earlier. On battlefields, a regiment's colours, or flags, were used as rallying points. Consequently, regiments would have their ensigns slowly march with their colours between the soldiers' ranks to enable soldiers to recognise their regiments' colours.
Since 1748 Trooping the Colour has also marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign.
It is held in London annually on the second Saturday in June.
A regiment's colours embody its spirit and service, as well as its fallen soldiers. The loss of a colour, or the capture of an enemy colour, were respectively considered the greatest shame, or the greatest glory on a battlefield. Consequently, regimental colours are venerated by officers and soldiers of all ranks, second only to the sovereign.
It has occurred annually since 1820 (except in bad weather, periods of mourning and other exceptional circumstances).
From the reign of King Edward VII, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person. It was Edward VII who moved Trooping the Colour to its June date, because of the vagaries of British weather.
Trooping the Colour allows the Household Division (i.e., the Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry) and King's Troop to pay a personal tribute to the Sovereign with great pomp and pageantry. It takes place on Horse Guards Parade. Crowds lining the route listen to music performed by Massed and Mounted Bands of around 400 musicians in total. Events at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's return include another march past, a 41-gun salute in the adjacent Green Park, and a flypast by the Royal Air Force. This is followed by the usual Changing of the Guard.
The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour in every year of her reign except when prevented by a rail strike in 1955, and survived the firing of six blank shots towards her in 1981.
Her Majesty started riding in a carriage in 1987.
The ceremony, during which British soldiers in their bright red uniforms march around the parade ground, is noted for the "pinwheel", probably the world's most complicated manoeuvre carried out on the parade ground. At one point during the manoeuvre, each soldier is carrying out a slightly different movement. It is performed nowhere else in the world.
Lady Louise, the spitting image of her Aunt Anne... and quite like Granny too
By Daniel Boffey
14th June 2009
Daily Mail
With her blonde curls and rosy cheeks, five-year-old Lady Louise Windsor may have stirred some fond memories for the Queen yesterday.
For the only daughter of Prince Edward and his wife Sophie bears more than a passing resemblance to her aunt, the Princess Royal, at a similar age.
And it appears that the cherubic features have been passed down through three generations – as archive pictures show the Queen herself looked remarkably similar as a toddler.
Giving some pointers: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, explains the action to Lady Louise
Yesterday, all three of those generations gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to witness the pageantry that marked the Queen’s official 83rd birthday.
Louise was born with the rare eye condition exotropia, which means one eye turns outwards and affects her vision. Standing beside her on the balcony, her mother, the Countess of Wessex, helped her follow the action.
Thousands of wellwishers had gathered in Central London as the Queen took the royal salute during Trooping the Colour, then moved to the Palace to watch the traditional air display.
As well as Lady Louise, who was on a relatively rare public outing, the celebrations were attended by Princes William and Harry, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Only Prince Andrew was missing from the direct family.
Lady Louise, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, is a spitting image of her auntie, the Princess Royal (above), and a spitting image of her grandmother, the Queen (below), when they were young.
Under cloudy blue skies, the Queen arrived in Horse Guards Parade to play her important role in the ceremony.
She first inspected the long line of troops from the four Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division taking part: the Irish, Grenadier, Scots and Coldstream Guards.
Then, as she travelled in Queen Victoria’s 1842 ivory mounted phaeton carriage, behind her on horseback and wearing ceremonial military uniform were Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards; Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards.
Camilla, and William and Harry – both in military uniform – watched from a room in the Horse Guards building that used to be the Duke of Wellington’s office. The family then gathered together on the balcony at Buckingham Palace where the Queen clapped her hands in delight at the flypast.
The Colour being paraded this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
Celebration: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave Buckingham Palace in a carriage and head down Horseguards Parade during the Trooping the Colour ceremony today
For decades the Queen has taken part in the event staged every June in London's historic Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.
This year the ceremony marked the 83rd birthday of the Sovereign who has reigned over the country since 1952.
The precision marching by hundreds of Guardsmen taking part was also enjoyed by their families and friends who watched from stands over looking the ground.
The Monarch first took the royal salute in 1951, when she deputised for her ill father George VI, and has continued receiving the mark of respect every year except 1955 when there was a national rail strike.
A happy birthday: The Queen, with the Duke of Edinburgh at her side, smiles during the Trooping the Colour parade today
Her first duty was to inspect the long line of troops - wearing their famous red tunics and bearskin hats - from the four Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division taking part - the Irish, Grenadier, Scots and Coldstream Guards.
As she travelled in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory mounted phaeton carriage behind her on horseback and wearing ceremonial military uniform were Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, Anne, Colonel Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Kent, Colonel Scots Guards.
Camilla, and William and Harry - both in military uniform - watched from a room in Horse Guards building that used to be the Duke of Wellington's office.
Show time: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip enter the Mall to attend the ceremony
The Queen's two grandsons are at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.
William, a Flight Lieutenant, is training with 60 Squadron to become an RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot while his brother Harry, a Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry Regiment, is training with 660 Squadron to become an Army helicopter pilot.
Cross country: Television presenter and honorary Black Watch colonel Lorraine Kelly, right, inspects officer duties at the Royal Gun salute to mark the Queen's birthday at Stirling Castle in Scotland
Barmy army: Kelly has a laugh with the officers
Trooping the Colour is an important social occasion for the Guardsmen taking part, and gives their wives, girlfriends, parents and other relatives the chance to celebrate the achievements of the young men and enjoy the spectacle.
Some spectators in the stands which lined the parade ground were dressed in morning suits or smart suits, while many women wore summer dresses with wide brimmed hats.
The Colour being paraded on Horse Guards this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle.
Colours, or flags, were carried, or 'trooped', down the ranks so that it could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
Happy family: Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, stand with their daughter Louise on the Buckingham Palace balcony
In the 18th century, guards from the Royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to 'troop the colours', and in 1748 it was announced that the parade would also mark the Sovereign's official birthday.
The Queen's actual birthday was on April 21, when she turned 83.
Dressed in a blue coat and matching hat, she watched with Philip, who wore a red military tunic and bearskin, as the ceremonial flag was paraded past her followed by line after line of Guardsmen, first in slow time then quick as the Massed Bands played.
The duty of carrying the colour was given to Lieutenant Andrew Campbell, 24, who has been in the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards for five months.
Later the Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry played as the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, rode past the Queen first in quick time then in slow.
Family viewing: Prince William, Prince Harry, The Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II, the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Edinburgh watch a flyover from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Big crowds: Thousands of spectators also observed the fly-past of the Royal Air Force
As they passed for the second time the horses' hoofs kicked up clouds of dust from the gravel-covered parade ground.
When the Queen and the Duke left in their carriage they were applauded and cheered by the spectators and those lining the Mall as they made their way back to Buckingham Palace.The celebrations ended with the traditional fly-past over Buckingham Palace.
The aerial parade of 29 aircraft featured vintage machines and modern fighters.
The Queen watched the events from the royal residence's balcony with other senior royals including princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Charles and Camilla and a host of minor royals.
Thousands of well-wishers lined up to watch the fly-past spectacle that roared overhead for three minutes.
The display was led by the Battle of Britain memorial flight's Lancaster in formation with a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
This is the first year the Battle of Britain memorial flight has flown under the official patronage of William, who was on the balcony along with his brother Harry for the event.
Other aircraft taking part included four Tornado GR4s, six Eurofighter Typhoons - the finale saw the Red Arrows fly overhead trailing red, white and blue smoke.
Flying colours: British RAF Red Arrows jets fly past Buckingham Palace today for the Queen's official birthday
Ex-footballer Vinnie Jones with his wife Tanya watched the Trooping the Colour parade. The actor's son Aaron Ellison-Jones is a trooper in the Life Guards and was taking part in the parade
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly attended a Royal Gun Salute to mark the event in her first official duty since taking up an honorary post with the Black Watch.
Dressed in official uniform, the GMTV host acted as Inspecting Officer at Stirling Castle in Scotland where troops lined up in honour of the Queen's official birthday.
Glasgow-born Kelly, 49, is a keen supporter of the Armed Forces.
She was recently appointed to the role of Honorary Colonel of the Black Watch battalion's Army Cadet Force (ACF).
She said: 'I am passionate about working with young people and really want to help them develop. When I was originally approached, I was very keen to become involved as it offers me the chance to share some of my experiences so that the Cadets can learn different life skills.'
Brigadier Allfrey, Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade said: 'We were delighted when Ms Kelly accepted the role of Honorary Colonel.
'She is the perfect example of someone who can exert real influence over the development of young people and can bring a wealth of experience to the role.'
There are 44,000 cadets in more than 1700 Cadet centres across the UK.
A Royal Gun Salute was sounded at noon by 105 Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers).
dailymail.co.uk