Trooping the Colour has commenced with a spectacular carriage procession in London. The Royal Family assembled for the King's birthday parade today, with the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children George, Charlotte, and Louis in attendance.
Carriage Procession and Ceremonial Display
Crowds will witness a royal carriage procession along The Mall as the King, Queen, and the Princess of Wales are guarded by a Sovereign's Escort provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Riding in the formation are the royal colonels: the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards; the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals; and the Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of the Scots Guards.
Guardsmen in scarlet tunics and bearskin caps will deliver a display of precision marching on Horse Guards Parade, honed over weeks of practice. This is part of their ceremonial duties when not serving as fighting soldiers.
National Celebration and Fly-past
The national celebration is a highlight of the royal calendar. Later, the royal family will assemble on Buckingham Palace's balcony for the traditional fly-past of RAF aircraft. The colour being trooped this year is the King's Colour of the Grenadier Guards, presented by the King earlier this week during a Buckingham Palace ceremony. It will be escorted by guardsmen from the King's Company.
New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis is expected to be among the spectators, along with other senior cabinet members including the Prime Minister. This follows the resignation of predecessor John Healey on Thursday over a dispute about long-term military funding.
Historical Significance
The Grenadier Guards were raised in 1656 in Bruges, Belgium, by the exiled King Charles II to protect him during Oliver Cromwell's rule. Charles, Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, visited his King's Company at their barracks in Aldershot on the eve of Trooping and wished them "great success" for the big day.
He told the company: "Since Easter you've been practising rigidly and I can hear from Buckingham Palace the sound of the drums thumping away regularly so I know you're all marching up and down trying to get ready for the parade." The King added: "...ever since the last 370 years of your existence you have made us all in this country so incredibly proud of your effort, your service and your sacrifice over all those years and I feel very proud and privileged to be here."
