Trooping the Colour
trooping colour ceremonial event performed every year horse guard parade london united kingdom regiment household division celebrate official birthday british sovereign also known sovereign birthday parade similar event held country commonwealth uk state opening parliament biggest event ceremonial calendar watched million tv street london historically colour used battlefield rallying point display battle honour regiment focal point trooping colour ceremony marked sovereign official birthday since year one five foot guard regiment household division selected slowly troop carry colour rank guard stand arm presented slow marchpast colour lowered monarch quick marchpast colour fly monarch salute colour return ceremony monarch process mall buckingham palace horse guard parade royal procession sovereign escort household cavalry mounted troop horse guard receiving royal salute monarch inspects troop household division king troop music provided massed band foot guard mounted band household cavalry together corp drum piper totalling approximately musician obtained colour displayed head march past sovereign slow quick time foot guard household cavalry king troop latter two element mounted conduct walkpast trotpast returning buckingham palace monarch survey marchpast outside gate following gun salute king troop green park royal family make appearance palace balcony royal air force flypast united kingdom trooping colour also known king birthday parade queen birthday parade monarch female first performed reign king charles ii – decided parade trooping colour mark official birthday sovereign accession king george iii became annual event member royal family attend prince george duke cambridge due court mourning death prince albert victor duke clarence queen victoria attended trooping colour held windsor castle although element parade remained fairly constant ceremonial seen today fixed edward vii kept trooping colour may june vagary british weather actual birthday november coincides publication birthday honour list usually take place horse guard parade st james park london followed gun salute noon green park flypast buckingham palace watched royal family palace balcony since typically held saturday june always held saturday june however held june june modified ceremony took place windsor castle due covid pandemic trooping colour held thursday date june coinciding anniversary queen elizabeth ii coronation june charles iii first birthday parade monarch took place june trooping colour first broadcast bbc radio commentary major j b bournemay retired officer coldstream guard first shown bbc television parade witnessed global tv audience many million year commentary annual live broadcast uk bbc provided huw edward also clare balding together expert guest interview personnel involved bbcs live broadcast become accessible international audience via live streaming britbox united state canada bbc also stream live youtube beginning edition platinum jubilee additional live video commentary parade international viewer provided sky news uk telegraph newspaper youtube channel sovereign participation queen elizabeth ii attended trooping colour every year reign except event cancelled due national rail strike ridden mare burmese queen rode carriage june horse startled unemployed youth marcus sarjeant fired six blank round starting revolver year attending horseback queen colonelinchief rode sidesaddle wore biretta guard regiment uniform medal awarded becoming queen order crown india defence medal war medal – king george v silver jubilee medal king george vi coronation medal canadian force decoration riband star order garter order thistle combination order depending regiment trooping colour wear uniform wore brigade guard badge th birthday marked large flypast plane led battle britain memorial flight culminating red arrow followed first feu de joie fire joy fired presence reign second fired diamond jubilee celebration flypast aircraft commemorated raf th anniversary first trooping colour charles iii king revived tradition sovereign riding horseback uniform flypast aircraft reprise display originally intended coronation curtailed due poor weather day trooping colour royal standard flown buckingham palace horse guard building information ensuing section drawn visuals music plus annual commentary analysis bbcs live broadcast well annual programme event no – guard – six company foot guard comprising officer rank – line two side perimeter horse guard parade extended l shape recall defensive formation known hollow square six company collectively commanded guard individually company number eg guard eight guard taken part number varying year guard ever seen parade seen parade held hyde park battalion trooping colour given year guard parade referred escort colour collected colour ceremony escort colour outset colour held colour party – colour sergeant two guardsman guard standing wellspaced northern side horse guard parade obtained regimental sergeant major guard colour borne rank no – guard ensign guard lining edge st james park king troop royal horse artillery household cavalry mounted regiment – life guard blue royal royal procession household cavalry termed sovereign escort two division ride king mounted horseback two behind life guard blue royal alternate position year three mounted officer drawn guard give drill command parade senior field officer brigade waiting rank lieutenant colonel assisted major parade field officer occupies central position parade ground third mounted officer adjutant garrison sergeant major london district mounted coordinate whole event parade ground approach road mall almost musician field led massed band household division music form integral part day massed band foot guard number musician joining since mounted band household cavalry musician band member royal corp army music also corp drum several regiment occasion pipe band scot guard irish guard per divisional tradition corp drum pipe band form behind massed band per queen elizabeth ii request scot irish guard troop piper would march front massed band play regimental quick march scot irish guard guard march past quick time entire parade best understood exercise several element carried slow quick march time trooping colour phase forming centrepiece sovereign inspects first foot guard household cavalry king troop slow quick march music respectively massed band troop sovereign slow quick time lone drummer break away guard drummer call signal guard – escort colour – march centre field obtain colour colour party massed band execute spin wheel manoeuvre escort colour guard slowly troop regimental colour rank guard no – forming division no – guard march past sovereign slow quick time music mounted band king troop lead household cavalry past sovereign first walkmarch sittingtrot ie slow quick time horse mounted band salute sovereign walk finally led sovereign escort massed band play sovereign back buckingham palace foot guard following king troop leaf horse guard first green park entire parade supervised field officer brigade waiting sometimes shortened field officer assistance brigade major adjutant horseback joined london district garrison sergeant major unmounted coordinate proceeding ceremony detail guardsman bearing marker flag march mark position no guard marker flag respective company colour regiment preceded regimental band no guard march position guard escort colour no guard align two rank west side parade ground facing horse guard building guard line perpendicular north side thus making l shape eight guard company may take part no guard present would line next guard reflect successful recruitment effort irish guard seven guard horseguards massed band south side garden downing street adjacent guard colour party made soldier snare drummer join march party take place drummer march colour casing removed revealing colour trooped king troop household cavalry mounted band form behind no guard foot guard home service order mounted band state dress uniform assembled rank household division make colourful spectacle guard halfcompanies line road horse guard parade provide security royal family arrive later marching mounted contingent preceding sovereign senior member royal family arrive barouche view ceremony central first floor window duke wellington former office horse guard building procession turn guard memorial guard opened rank allow carriage pas preceded sovereign escort king colonelinchief journey buckingham palace mall horseback directly behind king royal procession ride royal colonels—the prince wale welsh guard duke edinburgh scot guard princess royal blue royal carriage behind procession ride queen grenadier guard princess wale irish guard – followed nonroyal colonel regiment coldstream guard life guard officer household division royal household follow mounted including master horse majorgeneral commanding household division chief staff aidedecamp silver stickinwaiting regimental adjutant number king equerry king pass colour unit trooped salute king arrives royal standard prepared released flown roof horse guard king alight saluting base start ceremony field officer commences parade command guard – royal salute – present arm national anthem god save king played household division foot guard massed band led senior director music household division simultaneously royal standard formally released fly horse guard flagpole king ride saluting base behind long line assembled guard royal colonel following bbc television commentary every year emphasise king knowledge attribute guard single steadiness highly prized quality guardsman accompanying march always carry flavour regiment whose colour trooped day lending royal inspection unique atmosphere example welsh guard trooping colour music include traditional regimental march men harlech king pass six company foot guard left slow march air played phaeton turn around rear guard music change quick march king travel back line passing household cavalry king troop stationed right saluting sovereign standard household cavalry lead gun king troop quick succession acknowledging presence field inspection completed music cease conveyed back saluting base monarch mounted saluting base command troop given field officer confused trooping colour occurs later ceremony three strike bass drum give signal massed band start march field guard standing attention change arm command senior drum major massed band march countermarch horse guard parade slow quick time slow march music traditionally waltz le huguenot quick march segment lone drummer corp drum break away massed band marching two pace right guard take post band march stopping near colour party trooping colour phase ceremony initiated lone drummer eightbar drummer call signalling captain guard cede command subaltern guard move take new position right guard slope arm field officer directs company present change arm stand ease call sounded lone drummer return position massed band escort colour guard performs centrepiece parade orderly take pace stick regimental sergeantmajor rsm positioned behind escort colour thus freeing rsm draw sword – time british army infantry warrant officer ever parade subaltern command guard move close order dress led subaltern ensign following regimental sergeantmajor marching behind company escort colour quick march onto field british grenadier tune always used irrespective regiment colour trooped right flank every battalion used grenadier company guardsman behind colour party march forward towards colour sergeant colour party time escort approaching hand rifle colour sergeant salute colour leaf parade ground escort mark time massed band clear line march move front guard mark time fifteen step away colour party music halt four pace later escort colour halt place ordered open rank dressed followed massed band making turn guard called attention change slope arm direction field officer household cavalry also called attention commander sovereign escort rsm march around front escort followed ensign approach colour party saluted colour sword sergeantmajor take colour sergeant freeing change slope arm rsm turn march ensign present colour ensign salute colour sword sheathes sword without taking eye colour take possession obtained colour guard formerly known escort colour termed escort colour massed band line cleared face front corp drum pipe band senior director music leading first six bar god save king escort colour present arm simultaneously turning outward angle ° ncos noncommissioned officer four corner flank escort port arm described annual television commentary analysis protection colour escort colour colour party slope arm colour sergeant march right rear escort colour party ensign regimental sergeantmajor joined escort rsm reposition left behind escort subaltern order escort change arm order slow march massed band turn spinwheel massed band escort colour slowmarches field towards guard begin colour trooping massed band perform unique anticlockwise spinwheel manoeuvre ° turn restricted space performed playing slow march escort colour celebrated spinwheel largely individual instinctive wheel easy manoeuvre even small body troop block men normal wheel impossible massed band therefore pivot centre certain outer rank file march long distance hurry centre inner rank loiter extreme intent merely mark time yet others step sideways backwards well highly complex movement called spinwheel detail found drill book manual ceremonial complexity defies description truth known many participant know whither go arrival got spinwheel almost art form performance although similar essential different detail performer adjusting action suit need spinwheel moment adjusted movement quite otherwise occasion escort reach edge guard music stop field officer brigade waiting order entire parade except escort present arm trooping proper start music change grenadier slow march strain grenadier slow march escort colour troop colour long line no guard colour borne ensign front line guard rank escort interweave rank no guard maintain present arm position long trooping especially hot day requires stamen done massed band move back slow time original place eventually escort arrives back original position guard – first marched quick time captain temporarily ceded command subaltern resume command guard ordering present arm thus bringing escort back line no guard entire parade ordered field officer slope arm thus concluding trooping phase trooping phase followed marchpast slow quick time foot guard household cavalry king troop also slow quick time field officer give command officer take post no guard retire aboutturning rightforming review formation following adjutant command guide steady giving signal company guide resume position no guard aboutturn corp drum play since guard already standing right angle five company need execute movement instead move closeorder position right three no guard turn back advance position interval established field officer salute king informs foot guard ready march past turning command guard march past slow quick time slow march guard left turn advance form two rank marching parade started execute slow march guard – escort – lead six company two circuit horse guard parade saluting king pas corner field negotiated complex left form manoeuvre command change direction – left followed left guide right guide guard signalling right sir captain company reached position captain immediately order leftform end slow quick marchpast field officer ride salute king sword telling majesty guard ended marchpast slow marchpast neutral slow march start conclude section massed band march centre field take place guard preceded past saluting base field officer major parade salute king sword eye right strain regimental slow march no guard pass king eye right regimental officer saluting sword leading company guard – escort colour – particular honour ensign lower colour – flourish king acknowledges bow head royal colonel salute colour past saluting base colour raised – recover – eye front ordered company salute acknowledged king royal colonel quick marchpast circuit colour rear escort guard protected colour party regimental quick march played guard pass king eye right however quick march officer salute sword eye right instead slow marchpast neutral march start conclude section colour marched past saluting base king queen royal colonel salute massed band led corp drum pipe drum march away allow mounted band ground foot guard ended march back place dressed sole mounted band household cavalry state dress led two drum horse representing two constituent regiment household cavalry director music household cavalry ride slowly field traditionally tune preobrajensky turn household cavalry king troop complete two circuit horse guard parade horse slow quick time correspond walkmarch sittingtrot respectively since mounted contingent led commander king troop sovereign escort commander turn ride past foot guard present arm per field officer order order march past follows arrangement sovereign escort year walkmarch salute given king returned queen royal colonel colour pas royal horse artillery marching royal artillery slow march march aida first taking precedence unit parade gun king troop pass saluting base king acknowledges leading gun colour life guard red jacket white plume next followed blue royal blue jacket red plume officer salute sabre eye right segment sequence regimental march life guard slow march followed blue royal slow march royal riding rear household cavalry farrier one regiment carrying glinting ax flanked soldier regiment life guard farrier wear black plume rather usual regimental white blue tunic rather red two household cavalry regiment take turn parade job parading king cavalry standard either two regiment alternate yearly life guard blue royal standard pass flourished dipped presence king queen royal colonel walking past recovered trotpast state trumpeter either two household cavalry regiment play trot signal beginning sitting trotpast keel row traditionally played much dust raised horse king troop lead gun king cavalry standard dipped trotted past king royal colonel saluted eye right trotpast end mounted band salute king drumhorse rider crossing drumstick head proceed back east side horse guard parade halt place director music turn inwards horse signal field officer household cavalry king troop position formally end proceeding command field officer final royal salute parade render birthday wish regiment household division colonelinchief colour guard lowered ground ensign god save king played massed band forming division accompanied corp drum guard prepare march household cavalry king troop leave field field officer forming parade marchoff ride towards saluting base informing king guard ready march field rsm escort return sword scabbard orderly return pace stick king troop royal horse artillery leaf horse guard parade proceeds green park adjacent buckingham palace formally commence royal gun salute time tower london honourable artillery company hac take position tower ground special gun salute happen king arrives gun salute done hac royal anniversary led massed band king place head foot guard entire parade soldier musician march mall towards buckingham palace marker march ground carrying regimental company colour marker flag king troop hac place get ready commence firing respective gun salute royal family arrival palace time old new king guard performing changing guard palace forecourt time ceremony done also prepare royal carriage arrival salute king horseback arrives king return buckingham palace first division escort colour form two detachment new guard enters forecourt opposite old guard unlike usual changing guard regimental sergeant major participates ceremony remainder guard perform marchpast outside gateway quick time instead usual slow time king positioned central gateway receiving salute guard march past regimental march played massed mounted band respectively rest royal family observes marchpast balcony king pass palace old new guard guard saluting royal colonel usual semidaily changing guard continues forecourt palace gun salute begin arrival king buckingham palace king troop firing gun royal salute green park honourable artillery company firing gun royal salute tower london ground finally king royal family palace balcony witness flypast royal air force often featuring battle britain memorial flight red arrow followed national anthem special year feu de joie followed shouting three cheer king behalf entire household division link word music regimental march five foot guard regiment slow march grenadier guard march scipio composed first guard grenadier guard handel presented handel regiment inclusion opera scipione first performed title composer name anglicised regiment coldstream guard figaro tune non piu andrai mozart le nozze di figaro scot guard garb old gaul lyric music irish guard let erin remember lyric music welsh guard men harlech lyric music quick march music five regiment quick march grenadier guard british grenadier lyric melodynotation music coldstream guard milanollo march composed j v hamm honour pair violinplaying child prodigy sister teresa maria milanollo performed england midth century extensive european tour scot guard hielan laddie listen irish guard saint patrick day listen whose lyric poem pulse irishman beethoven composed arrangement march part song cycle scot irish tune welsh guard rising lark listen lyric music since one colour trooped rank time year single battalion five foot guard regiment selected troop colour nd battalion grenadier guard coldstream guard scot guard suspended animation represented parade three incremental company two new incremental company formed following conversion st battalion irish guard specialised infantry role new unit company company continue tradition nd battalion irish guard placed suspended animation number soldier participating trooping colour london declined year due defence budget cut household division battalion well battalion commitment military peacekeeping operation overseas give unit little time practise ceremonial function however format ceremony remained century following routine old battle formation used era musket warfare parade last five regiment participation parade reduced eight guard company six company sovereign birthday parade trooping colour parade conducted twice full two preceding saturday serve dress rehearsal main event held two saturday beforehand parade identical sovereign birthday parade exception soldier lining mall salute taken majorgeneral commanding household division held saturday beforehand salute taken royal colonel regiment whose colour trooped time parade includes guardsman line route along mall australia trooping king colour take place annually king birthday holiday staff cadet royal military college duntroon canberra formerly rmc parade ground rod point shore lake burley griffin queen colour trooped first time queen birthday parade practice continued since colour first presented corp staff cadet king george vi duke york visited australia colour lodged college patterson hall colour presented queen elizabeth ii may recently october brief visit australia coinciding rmc duntroons centenary year champion company corp staff cadet named sovereign company carry queen elizabeth ii banner first presented corp staff cadet queen elizabeth queen mother february sovereign company entitled carry banner ceremonial parade well escorting queen colour trooping colour governorgeneral australia king representative commonwealth reviewing officer parade since move rod field attended public well trooping colour hamilton held front street troop royal bermuda regiment make guard well supporting unit bermuda police service bermuda junior leader rbr presiding officer ceremony governor bermuda inspects unit start conclusion ceremony guard conduct feu de joie followed gun salute three cheer sovereign canada trooping colour ceremony parliament hill take place trooping king colour king member royal family governor general lieutenantgovernor remembrance day honour king birthday victoria day trooping colour ceremony also taken place rideau hall new colour may also trooped presented colour also trooped unit anniversary ottawa absent ceremony salute taken minister national defence chief defence staff regimental colour trooped instead ceremony first performed national scale canada royal tour year earlier version event held relation regiment one first occur since confederation canada taking place two week later july royal canadian regiment trooping champ de mar montreal first major ceremony since took place coronation day ceremony front centre block included trooping colour front governor general vincent massey became regular event july holiday list regiment trooping colour canada ghana traditional trooping colour ceremony held annually independence day celebration march escort colour mounted ghana army task retrieving ceremonial colour army navy air force alongside flag ghana escort present arm god bless homeland ghana escort colour march tune british grenadier guard slow time ceremony take place black star square national salute taken president ghana position commander chief gaf musical accompaniment provided combined massed band ghana armed force central band school marching band regiment take possession colour arab revolt kenya one three african country still practises traditional british ceremony trooping colour take place every december jamhuri day day kenya became independent nation later republic unlike british one three service kenya defence force take part trooping colour service branch whose battalion trooping colour provides number one number two guard ceremony normally begin arrival president kenya take national salute national anthem anthem east african community played massed band finishing inspection parade band play slow march followed quick march lone drummer break away take position beside number one guard play drummer call signalling officer guard take position receive colour guard rsm removing pace stick unsheathing sword escort colour march collect colour massed kdf band play either british grenadier locally composed march escort halt position hand escort present arm first verse kenya national anthem played escort colour march slow march tune grenadier slow march first tune normally played march slow time always land sea also part commonwealth malaysia performs trooping colour every first saturday june day official birthday yang dipertuan agong elected malaysian king first monday front yang dipertuan agong raja permaisuri agong prime minister malaysia deputy prime minister official government officer malaysian armed force king commanderinchief prescribed malaysian constitution amended malaysian trooping follows publication honour list king birthday week also incorporates many element british trooping ceremony including royal procession parade sovereign escort provided royal armored corp saluting base merdeka square national hero square merdeka stadium royal inspection duty field officer major parade adjutant officer nco duty regt sergeant major colour sergeant royal salute gun salute royal regiment artillery flypast flying malaysian flag flag armed force conducted malay includes prayer islamic tradition malaysian armed force motorized vehicle used royal procession royal malaysian police main difference five colour trooped covering three branch armed force march played locally composed threefold representation reflected composition colour party escort forto colour massed military band attendance event held friday june kem perdana sungai besi departure normal tradition saturday troopings first time malaysian history trooping colour held friday june closest king birthday rather traditional first saturday month old tradition resumed national hero square putrajaya celebration fall ramadan birthday parade held friday july hero day first time history traditional trooping colour held september tuesday malaysia day national hero square putrajaya given decision move king birthday monday following hari merdeka move september trooping colour putrajaya end month national celebration honour anniversary malaysian independence formation armed force old june date restored given malta history former british dominion armed force malta performs trooping colour every december celebration republic day st george square valletta national capital salute taken president malta commander chief afm unit provide colour official band st regiment armed force malta armed force malta band singapore armed force performs trooping colour saf day parade july held special occasion toned compared british version done awarding state colour best unit army navy air force new colour consecrated saf day usually included trooping otherwise trooped separate day escort colour guard usually formed singapore armed force military police command no guard composed personnel saf national day parade guard honour contingent unlike british parade supporting contingent march past well salute taken president singapore prime minister singapore chief defence force band attendance either saf central band saf ceremonial band singapore armed force band guard usually made personnel singapore army best army unit competition winner current year typically st commando battalion singapore armed force commando formation no guard recent ndps formed naval diving unit air power generation command hq digital intelligence service began provide guard beginning honor formation alongside saf day trooping also performed unit command anniversary ugandan armed force performs trooping colour independence day kololo ceremonial ground national capital salute taken president uganda april date later designated tanlwe chaung day rhodesian african rifle performed first ever trooping colour southern rhodesia presence governor general lord llewellin rhodesian light infantry trooped colour time july cranborne barrack mayor salisbury harare minister defence jack howman prime minister ian smith commanding officer rhodesian african rifle attendance regimental sergeant major robin tarr began proceeding rhodesian african rifle band drum began playing rlis slow march incredibles rli trooper marched onto parade square regimental colour trooped finally rli men performed marchpast slow quick time first world war partition ireland trooping colour performed annually march saint patrick day garrison battalion upper castle yard dublin castle presence lord lieutenant ireland jordan hosted first trooping colour – first middle east – june celebrating centenary arab revolt ottoman empire parade official celebration centennial great arab revolt arabic الاحتفالات الرسمية لمئوية الثورة العربية الكبرى arab revolt parade coverage online trooping colour officially known flag parade moved september held annually around troop take part parade held amman national capital al rayah square square emblem specially built occasion near royal court stand area square metre host people parade king award colour arab revolt one army battalion hold next trooping colour colour went th prince hussein bin abdullah ii ranger brigade colour awarded th jafar bin abi talib infantry battalion colour possession th prince mohammed mechanised battalion list march british armed force winston horse beating retreat presentation colour thai royal guard parade hanover schützenfest including largest marksman parade germany bayerischer defiliermarsch bavarian march used similar circumstance majesty queen birthday parade saturday june june official programme na guard changing guard trooping colour regiment norwich jarrold publishing pitkin guide revised edition published originally published macmillan press ltd isbn trooping colour bbc television coverage june june june binda alexandre heppenstall david ed masodja history rhodesian african rifle forerunner rhodesian native regiment johannesburg ° south publisher isbn binda alexandre saint rhodesian light infantry johannesburg ° south publisher isbn household division ceremonial event detail sovereign birthday parade date photo trooping colour official th birthday site queen order trooping colour information trooping colour uk army homepage prince william first trooping colour parade trooping colour parade behind scene trooping colour king troop sovereign parade april critchlow andrew june trooping colour life lesson learn drill square daily telegraph