The Queen celebrated her official birthday with a display of pomp and pageantry that lived up to the glorious celebrations for this, her Golden Jubilee year. Hundreds of guardsmen in red coats and bearskin hats saluted the monarch at the Trooping of the Colour ceremony, one of Britain’s most splendid parades, on Saturday.
The parade is part of the official celebration of the Queen’s birthday, although she actually turned 76 on April 21. Applause and cheers rang out from the amassed crowds as Queen Elizabeth moved from Buckingham Palace down The Mall to the Horseguard’s parade ground in an open carriage drawn by two white horses.
She was followed on horseback by the Duke of Edinburgh, in uniform as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, and the Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards. Alongside them were the Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards, and the Princess Royal, of the Household Cavalry. At 81, Prince Philip is the oldest person ever to ride in the parade.
The Duke of York with his daughter Princess Beatrice, 13, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, were also present. Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie watched the proceedings from a VIP stand.
Looking serene in a light green suit, a matching wide-brimmed hat and white gloves, the Queen stepped down from her carriage and climbed the raised dais to receive the official salute as a military band played the national anthem. She then returned to her carriage to inspect rows of soldiers who stood to attention with bayonets fixed before taking her seat back on the dais for the march past.
The ceremony, which lasted more than an hour, dates from the early 18th century. Every year, a regiment is chosen to represent its colour, or flag, to the reigning monarch. This year it was the Scots Guards who were celebrating their 360th anniversary, and whose Colour was paraded for the Queen’s first Trooping of the Colour in 1952. The colour – a flag of crimson silk embroidered with the battalion badge, battle honours and motto En Ferus Hostis (Latin for “Behold a Fierce Enemy”) was presented to the 1st Battalion Scots Guards by the Queen at Windsor Castle in April.
The monarch later took her place at the head of the military ranks for the grand procession, which traveled back along The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Along the route, at regular and precise intervals, were sentry-like guardsmen in full-ceremonial dress.
For a finale, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery gave a 41-gun salute in nearby Green Park, as the Queen made a traditional appearance with her family on the palace balcony. Queen Elizabeth has attended the Trooping of the Colour every year of her reign, except 1955 when a national rail strike forced its cancellation. The 700 troops and 400 musicians taking part in the parade on Saturday were drawn from the Household Division of the Army, whose special privilege it is to guard the monarch, their Colonel-in-chief.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
As a finale to the celebrations, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery gave a 41-gun salute in Green Park, as the Queen made a traditional appearance with her family on Buckingham Palace's balcony
Photo: ©Alpha
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The Duke of Edinburgh, in uniform as Colonel of the Grenadier guards, rode on horseback in the colourful parade. At 81, Prince Philip is the oldest person ever to take part in the ceremony
Photo: ©Alpha
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The Princess Royal also rode in the parade in the uniform of the Household Cavalry
Photo: ©Alpha
