Thank God that Britain's isn't an ordinary, mundane, run-of-the-mill republic, otherwise it wouldn't have lavish ceremonies such as Trooping the Colour.
The ceremony marks the official birthday of the Queen. She has two birthdays each year, her actual birthday in April, and her official birthday in June. The reason for this is that nice weather is more likely in June than in April, so the Trooping of the Colour is always held in June. So her official birthday is in June.
Trooping of the Colour is, without doubt, the world's most famous military parade, and involves all the pomp and ceremony and grandeur of which Britain is renowned.
More than 20,000 people watched the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
The event, which is over 400 years old, is an enactment of the traditional preparations for battle when the "colours", or flags, were "trooped" down the ranks so that they would be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
At this year's celebration, to mark Her Majesty's 84th birthday, the colour being paraded was the flag of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who only six week ago returned from an arduous tour of Afghanistan. They looked magnificent in their bright red uniforms.
It is the 58th time that Queen Elizabeth II has presided over the event during her long reign.
Her Majesty arrived on time at 11am. She and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rode down The Mall in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton drawn by a pair of grey horses. The moment the Queen arrived the Royal Standard was released and flown from the roof of the Horse Guards building. The Royal Standard is flown from royal buildings and other buildings whenever Her majesty is present.
The Queen inspected the Guards as the Massed Bands played first a slow and then a quick march.
The Guards also performed their marches around the parade ground to several famous military tunes. Some of their manoeuvres are amongst the most complex in the world and the way to perform some of them is a closely-guarded secret.
And, despite now being 84, the Queen, dressed in lilac, looked radiant.
Pageantry such as this also attracts tourists from across the world. "You simply cannot beat the British at this," one American tourist said enviously. "I feel proud and I'm not even British. It is no wonder you revere your Royal family so much."
Trooping of Colour marks Queen's Official Birthday
The Queen's 84th Official Birthday has been celebrated with a Trooping the Colour in Horse Guards Parade, with a flypast of military planes old and new to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
By Olga Craig
12 Jun 2010
Daily Mail
She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June. Photo: PA
She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June. Photo: AFP
She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June. Photo: GETTY
Royal Air Force flypast including two Typhoons, provided by RAF Coningsby, with two Tornado F3, provided by RAF Leuchars, in a box formation to mark the Queen's annual birthday parade, over Buckingham Palace, London. Photo: Corporal Laura Bibby/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire
It was a seamless and stylish display of pomp and pageantry: a colourful mix of the military bands and precision marching for which the British armed services are world renowned.
More than 20,000 well-wishers, many in top hat and tails, thronged the streets around Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall yesterday as the Queen's official birthday was marked with a Trooping the Colour.
Steeped in more than four centuries of history, the event is an enactment of the traditional preparations for battle when the "colours", or flags, were "trooped" down the ranks so that they would be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
A guardsman collapses on Horseguards during rehearsals for Trooping the Colour in celebration of the Queen's Birthday on June 12
The Grenadier Guard is taken off the parade ground by stretcher bearers
At this year's celebration, to mark Her Majesty's 84th birthday, the colour being paraded was the flag of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who only six week ago returned from an arduous tour of Afghanistan.
It was the 58th at which the Queen has presided. She first took the royal salute in 1951, when she deputised for her father, King George VI.
She has continued to receive the mark of respect every year since, with the exception of 1955 when there was a national rail strike.
Radiant in summery lilac and wearing a matching hat Her Majesty, appearing a little more frail and less sure footed than of late, was clearly delighted with the stunning display, clapping enthusiastically as she watched the soldiers of the Household Division and their parade commander, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker.
Daily Telegraph photographer Heathcliff O'Malley captured these behind-the-scenes pictures of the rehearsals at Horseguards Parade and Wellington Barracks
L Cpl Steven Scott checks himself in a mirror at Wellington Barracks before going out on the parade ground
As Lt Col Walker put both men and horses though their finely-honed paces Her Majesty craned forward in her seat, smiling broadly as the famous Drum Horses of the Mounted Bands passed by.
A lifelong horsewoman of some repute, the Queen attended the event on horseback until 1986, riding side-saddle.
She smiled visibly when old favourite Vagabond – an institution among the mounts of the Household Cavalry – passed by.
Notorious for teaching new troopers a lesson or two about horse management, usually with his teeth or feet, the 12-year-old is one of many horses in the Regiment to have a dedicated Facebook page.
The day had begun with overcast clouds, though they did little to dim the enthusiasm of the crowds both inside and outside the Whitehall parade ground, many of whom were determined to whip up a little carnival atmosphere before the more sombre, statesmanlike events began.
As the 400 musicians played a medley of well-known military tunes, many broke into an impromptu and uplifting sing-song.
"You simply cannot beat the British at this," one American tourist said enviously. "I feel proud and I'm not even British. It is no wonder you revere your Royal family so much."
Guardsman Dean Morgan gives the final touches to his highly polished drill boots
Captain Alex Rawlins inspecting the men of Nijmegen Company, 1 Grenadier Guards at Wellington Barracks before moving onto Horseguards for the Trooping the Colour rehearsals
In keeping with strict tradition Her Majesty's Royal Carriage arrived at Horse Guards Parade at 11am on the dot.
She and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Grenadier Guards, rode down The Mall in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton drawn by a pair of grey horses.
Accompanying them on horseback were His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (Colonel Welsh Guards); His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent (Colonel Scots Guards) and her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Gold Stick-in-Waiting and Colonel Blues and Royals.)
The moment the Queen arrived the Royal Standard was released and flown from the roof of the Horse Guards building.
Then it was her moment to inspect the line of assembled Guards.
There are at least two full dress rehearsals for the event each year as Her Majesty, it is said, notices every detail and notes any errors.
Major Richard Green buttons his tunic
Guardsman Duane Groom grooms his bearskin before going out on the parade ground
As she slowly inspected the Guards, the Massed Bands played first a slow and then a quick march.
Watching from the edge of the parade ground was Lieutenant Garth Banks of the Grenadier Guards, who lost both legs in Afghanistan in January.
"I am extremely proud of them," he said. "They are brave on the battlefield and professional on parade."
To the tune of The British Grenadiers, the parade officer lead forward the Escort for the Colour.
As the familiar tune boomed around the parade ground the crowd tapped its feet and swayed in time to its uplifting beat.
The tune is played each year regardless of which regiment is trooping its colour and signifies the fact that all infantry battalions once had Grenadier companies within them.
These were made up from the tallest and smartest men who enjoyed the honour and privilege of forming the right of the line (the senior positions).
Picture: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY
Picture: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY
Once the Colour was trooped, the Guards, in their poppy red tunics and well-brushed bearskins, filled the arena again giving a well-practised display of their foot-perfect precision marching.
As Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh left to return to Buckingham Palace, Prince William, his stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of York and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie could be seen watching from an upstairs window.
When the Royals returned to the Palace they watched a three-minute 40-second fly-past by the Royal Air Force at 1pm.
It was made up of 28 aeroplanes of 11 different types, from World War II aircraft to modern multi-role Typhoon fighters and the Red Arrows aerobatic display team.
The formation was lead by the Battle of Britain Memorial flight whose inclusion commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
It was, of course, the old stalwarts of World War II – the legendary Spitfire and Hurricane – which won the biggest roars of approval.
On the balcony of Buckingham Palace the Queen waved enthusiastically, as if acknowledging the place the planes hold in the nation's heart.
dailymail.co.uk
The ceremony marks the official birthday of the Queen. She has two birthdays each year, her actual birthday in April, and her official birthday in June. The reason for this is that nice weather is more likely in June than in April, so the Trooping of the Colour is always held in June. So her official birthday is in June.
Trooping of the Colour is, without doubt, the world's most famous military parade, and involves all the pomp and ceremony and grandeur of which Britain is renowned.
More than 20,000 people watched the ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
The event, which is over 400 years old, is an enactment of the traditional preparations for battle when the "colours", or flags, were "trooped" down the ranks so that they would be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
At this year's celebration, to mark Her Majesty's 84th birthday, the colour being paraded was the flag of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who only six week ago returned from an arduous tour of Afghanistan. They looked magnificent in their bright red uniforms.
It is the 58th time that Queen Elizabeth II has presided over the event during her long reign.
Her Majesty arrived on time at 11am. She and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, rode down The Mall in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton drawn by a pair of grey horses. The moment the Queen arrived the Royal Standard was released and flown from the roof of the Horse Guards building. The Royal Standard is flown from royal buildings and other buildings whenever Her majesty is present.
The Queen inspected the Guards as the Massed Bands played first a slow and then a quick march.
The Guards also performed their marches around the parade ground to several famous military tunes. Some of their manoeuvres are amongst the most complex in the world and the way to perform some of them is a closely-guarded secret.
And, despite now being 84, the Queen, dressed in lilac, looked radiant.
Pageantry such as this also attracts tourists from across the world. "You simply cannot beat the British at this," one American tourist said enviously. "I feel proud and I'm not even British. It is no wonder you revere your Royal family so much."
Trooping of Colour marks Queen's Official Birthday
The Queen's 84th Official Birthday has been celebrated with a Trooping the Colour in Horse Guards Parade, with a flypast of military planes old and new to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
By Olga Craig
12 Jun 2010
Daily Mail
She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June. Photo: PA
She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June. Photo: AFP
She celebrated her actual birthday on April 21, when she turned 84, but today's ceremony marked her official birthday, which is always in June. Photo: GETTY
Royal Air Force flypast including two Typhoons, provided by RAF Coningsby, with two Tornado F3, provided by RAF Leuchars, in a box formation to mark the Queen's annual birthday parade, over Buckingham Palace, London. Photo: Corporal Laura Bibby/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA Wire
It was a seamless and stylish display of pomp and pageantry: a colourful mix of the military bands and precision marching for which the British armed services are world renowned.
More than 20,000 well-wishers, many in top hat and tails, thronged the streets around Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall yesterday as the Queen's official birthday was marked with a Trooping the Colour.
Steeped in more than four centuries of history, the event is an enactment of the traditional preparations for battle when the "colours", or flags, were "trooped" down the ranks so that they would be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
A guardsman collapses on Horseguards during rehearsals for Trooping the Colour in celebration of the Queen's Birthday on June 12
The Grenadier Guard is taken off the parade ground by stretcher bearers
At this year's celebration, to mark Her Majesty's 84th birthday, the colour being paraded was the flag of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, who only six week ago returned from an arduous tour of Afghanistan.
It was the 58th at which the Queen has presided. She first took the royal salute in 1951, when she deputised for her father, King George VI.
She has continued to receive the mark of respect every year since, with the exception of 1955 when there was a national rail strike.
Radiant in summery lilac and wearing a matching hat Her Majesty, appearing a little more frail and less sure footed than of late, was clearly delighted with the stunning display, clapping enthusiastically as she watched the soldiers of the Household Division and their parade commander, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Roly Walker.
Daily Telegraph photographer Heathcliff O'Malley captured these behind-the-scenes pictures of the rehearsals at Horseguards Parade and Wellington Barracks
L Cpl Steven Scott checks himself in a mirror at Wellington Barracks before going out on the parade ground
As Lt Col Walker put both men and horses though their finely-honed paces Her Majesty craned forward in her seat, smiling broadly as the famous Drum Horses of the Mounted Bands passed by.
A lifelong horsewoman of some repute, the Queen attended the event on horseback until 1986, riding side-saddle.
She smiled visibly when old favourite Vagabond – an institution among the mounts of the Household Cavalry – passed by.
Notorious for teaching new troopers a lesson or two about horse management, usually with his teeth or feet, the 12-year-old is one of many horses in the Regiment to have a dedicated Facebook page.
The day had begun with overcast clouds, though they did little to dim the enthusiasm of the crowds both inside and outside the Whitehall parade ground, many of whom were determined to whip up a little carnival atmosphere before the more sombre, statesmanlike events began.
As the 400 musicians played a medley of well-known military tunes, many broke into an impromptu and uplifting sing-song.
"You simply cannot beat the British at this," one American tourist said enviously. "I feel proud and I'm not even British. It is no wonder you revere your Royal family so much."
Guardsman Dean Morgan gives the final touches to his highly polished drill boots
Captain Alex Rawlins inspecting the men of Nijmegen Company, 1 Grenadier Guards at Wellington Barracks before moving onto Horseguards for the Trooping the Colour rehearsals
In keeping with strict tradition Her Majesty's Royal Carriage arrived at Horse Guards Parade at 11am on the dot.
She and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel Grenadier Guards, rode down The Mall in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory-mounted phaeton drawn by a pair of grey horses.
Accompanying them on horseback were His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (Colonel Welsh Guards); His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent (Colonel Scots Guards) and her Royal Highness The Princess Royal (Gold Stick-in-Waiting and Colonel Blues and Royals.)
The moment the Queen arrived the Royal Standard was released and flown from the roof of the Horse Guards building.
Then it was her moment to inspect the line of assembled Guards.
There are at least two full dress rehearsals for the event each year as Her Majesty, it is said, notices every detail and notes any errors.
Major Richard Green buttons his tunic
Guardsman Duane Groom grooms his bearskin before going out on the parade ground
As she slowly inspected the Guards, the Massed Bands played first a slow and then a quick march.
Watching from the edge of the parade ground was Lieutenant Garth Banks of the Grenadier Guards, who lost both legs in Afghanistan in January.
"I am extremely proud of them," he said. "They are brave on the battlefield and professional on parade."
To the tune of The British Grenadiers, the parade officer lead forward the Escort for the Colour.
As the familiar tune boomed around the parade ground the crowd tapped its feet and swayed in time to its uplifting beat.
The tune is played each year regardless of which regiment is trooping its colour and signifies the fact that all infantry battalions once had Grenadier companies within them.
These were made up from the tallest and smartest men who enjoyed the honour and privilege of forming the right of the line (the senior positions).
Picture: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY
Picture: HEATHCLIFF O'MALLEY
Once the Colour was trooped, the Guards, in their poppy red tunics and well-brushed bearskins, filled the arena again giving a well-practised display of their foot-perfect precision marching.
As Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh left to return to Buckingham Palace, Prince William, his stepmother the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of York and his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie could be seen watching from an upstairs window.
When the Royals returned to the Palace they watched a three-minute 40-second fly-past by the Royal Air Force at 1pm.
It was made up of 28 aeroplanes of 11 different types, from World War II aircraft to modern multi-role Typhoon fighters and the Red Arrows aerobatic display team.
The formation was lead by the Battle of Britain Memorial flight whose inclusion commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
It was, of course, the old stalwarts of World War II – the legendary Spitfire and Hurricane – which won the biggest roars of approval.
On the balcony of Buckingham Palace the Queen waved enthusiastically, as if acknowledging the place the planes hold in the nation's heart.
dailymail.co.uk
