Every year, thousands of people line the streets of central London to attend one of the most British of events: the Trooping the Colour.
Few events are as lavish and ceremonious, but what exactly is this event?
Trooping the Colour: article summary
Trooping the Colour: at a glance
Trooping the Colour is a military parade held to celebrate one of the Queen's two official birthdays. It has been a royal tradition since 1748, but its origins go back even further.
On the second Saturday in June each year, over 1,400 members of the Queen's personal troops, known as the Household Division, take part in the parade.
You can hear the soldiers before you see them. That's thanks to the imposing drum rolls of the 10 military bands on display, with a total of over 400 musicians.
Horse Guards parade in color
When Queen Elizabeth was still alive, departure was at 10am. When she left the Buckingham Palace and rode in a horse-drawn carriage to Horse Guards Parade.
A journey she made on horseback when she was younger. She would first receive the royal salute from the army officers, before inspecting his troops.
The name "Trooping the Colour" refers to the ceremony of parading a military flag in front of the Queen.
"Coulor" is the name given to the flags of the various regiments of the British Army. They were used to ensure that soldiers could identify their correct units during the chaos of battle.
So that the troops knew what their flags looked like, they had to be flown regularly. And so a military tradition was born.
Trooping the Colour: a time-honoured tradition
The reason why this anniversary has become a royal tradition is due to Britain's notoriously unpredictable weather.
King George III was concerned that conditions would not be conducive to staging a parade to celebrate his birthday in November, so he combined it with Trooping the Colourwhich took place in summer.
A celebration much appreciated by royalty
during her long reign, the Queen has attended every annual occasion since she became Queen in 1952, except in 1955 for the rather prosaic reason that there was a national rail strike.
After displaying the flag, the royals returned to Buckingham Palace, where they stood on the palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force fly over at 1 p.m., before a 41-gun salvo was fired in the vicinity of Green Park.
While official tickets for the event at Horse Guards Parade have long since sold out, everyone can head to the Mall to watch the royal procession to and from St James's Parkand RAF overflights. Alternatively, you can watch the whole thing from the comfort of your sofa on BBC1.
Trooping the Colour: a ceremony still celebrated today
The celebrations didn't stop with the tragic death of the Queen of England. Indeed, it is now King Charles who is taking over this tradition.
In 2023, the event went ahead as planned. Like every year, there's a good chance that 2024 will also see the celebration of Trooping the Colour.
If you're in London for the event, don't hesitate to visit Buckingham Palace. to enjoy the parade with the Royal Family, as well as the aerobatics offered by the RAF.
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