The day dawned overcast but thankfully the skies did not look as threatening as they had yesterday. There was to be no sleeping in for us as we had to be seated for the Trooping the Colour by about 9:30 so we were up and dressed and heading to Trafalagar Square for breakfast by 8am. We ate breakfast at Pret before making our way to Horse Guards Parade for the main event.
The Trooping of the Colour dates back to around 1700. During these early days of land warfare, 'colours' (the brightly-coloured flags of a battalion) were used as rallying points so they would be visible above the smog and dust of battle. It became customary to carry these colours down the ranks at the end of a day's march and to solemnly accompany them to the 'billet' where they were kept for the night. The billet represented the headquarters of a unit and the battalion's assembly point in an emergency. The aim of the ceremony was to familiarise each man with the coloured flags that identified his unit, and to guarantee all ranks would recognise their assembly point, especially when stationed in an unfamiliar town. Each morning, the colours were escorted from the billet back to their position in the battalion ranks. Consequently, the colours came to express the spirit of the regiment and were held in the highest regard. In time the Regimental Colour has taken on a greater significance. Its folds of emboidered cloth are an important object of reverence and a memorial to lost comrades.
The aspects of the parade have changed very little since the age when it was known as 'Lodging the Colours'. The significant difference, however, is that only one colour, the Queen's Colour, is 'Trooped' by the Household Division today, wearing full dress, in honour of her Birthday. Hence it is also known as 'The Queen's Birthday Parade', although 21st April is the actual birth date of the Queen.
The earliest records of 'Trooping the Colour' can be found in order books of the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards of 250 years ago.
"The Colours be always trooped at the mounting and dismounting of the guard, except in very bad weather" 18 Feb. 1749
According to the Coldstream Order Book for 17 June 1768, the King ordered the Grenadier Battalion to mount guard 'on the day which His Majesty's birthday is ordered to be kept'. The guards, in the modern ceremony today, are assembled in two ranks, a reminder of Wellington's masterful tactics at Waterloo, a reminder too that these are soldiers that stand to give service for the Sovereign and Nation when called upon to do so.
We were seated early giving plenty of time for people watching. There was an amazing array of dress standards on display (but of course no denim!) There were gentlemen in top hat and morning coats and ladies in quite formal cocktail gowns and others with overly feathered hats. There were also quite a few undercover chavs who had obviously slipped under the radar of the fashion police. It was soon apparent that we were seated in the Australian section as we saw a few familiar faces in the crowd. At the start of the parade a few drops of rain appeared and amazingly up went umbrellas! In true Aussie spirit these rather silly people were quickly put in their place, umbrellas were lowered and we could all see at last. Luckily for all it was just a passing shower and by the time Her Majesty made an appearance the sun was shining through.
The Parade was all it should be full of pomp and ceremony and thoroughly entertaining.
Bear with me now for a few (of the many) photos taken throughout the parade:
A member of The King’s Troop Royal Artillery
A Chelsea pensioner is an in-pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army (In-pensioners, surrender their army pension and live within the Royal Hospital.)
I wonder if this lifestyle would suit anyone we know?
Kate and Harry arrive, followed by other member’s of the Royal Family
And finally the birthday girl herself
Inspection of the Line
The Sovereign’s Flag
Collection of the Colour to be trooped by the Escort (members of 1st Battalion Scots Guards)
Trooping the Colour through the ranks in slow time
Household Cavalry Mounted Bands – the two draught horses hold the rank of Major (the only animals to hold officer rank)
Home Time
With the parade over it was time for us to head back to the hotel and retrieve our luggage. I was glad at this point that I had sensibly packed some trainers in our day pack so I could slip off the heels and walk in comfort (if not style!) With our bag in hand and the tube line required closed for maintenance we treated ourselves to a cab ride back to Paddington Station. With an hour to kill before our train we settled down to lunch at the Mad Bishop and Bear giving me a chance to catch up on my blog before once again settling in with my book for the train journey home to the children.
What fun! I am assuming that you are not thinking of David as a Chelsea pensioner.
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