Trooping the Colour 2018 from my position on The Mall
Trooping the Colour is an annual celebration that takes place in June, in London. This year, it took place on Saturday 9th June. The weather was warm with sunny spells, that grew in intensity as the day wore on. I’m sure the soldiers in their heavy uniforms appreciated the lack of extreme heat! I stood on the Mall, the road that leads up to Buckingham Palace. The crowds were in position, and an array of union flag-themed outfits were spotted! Some lucky ticket holders were seated or standing on Horse Guards Parade to watch the actual parade take place. They had to follow a strict dress code; morning dress, lounge dress, lounge suit or jacket and trousers for the men, and equivalent for the ladies. Tickets are obtained by a ballot.
The Beginning of the Parade
The first royals left Buckingham Palace before the main event began. In cars, I spotted the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. In two coaches followed other royals, who I believe may have included Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence, Peter and Autumn Philips, and a contingent of Gloucester’s and Kent’s. The Dukes of Gloucester and Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, and Princess Alexandra are all first cousins of the Queen, and working Royals.
The massed bands made their way down the Mall, accompanied by the soldiers of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who were trooping their colour this year. I saw the colour, which is a flag, being carried down the Mall. The colour has the battle honours of the regiment on it. The soldiers were wearing their signature Bearskin hats, although the Scots Guards who played their bagpipes wore their traditional tartan and kilts. The massed bands is made up of 10 different bands and corps of drums. The massed bands and soldiers of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards came in several groups. Some foot guards were lining the mall, every 10 paces, throughout the whole event. They faced in towards the Mall, so they could keep an eye on the royals to protect them, where as the Police faced outwards towards the public, to keep an eye on us!
The Royals
Then came the first group of royal carriages, 3 open-top carriages made their way from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade. The first contained the Duchess of Cornwall in light grey, and the Duchess of Cambridge in light blue; they both wore blue hats. Then came the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the second carriage. The Duchess wore light pink, and a wide brimmed but simple hat. However, the Duchess did wear a dress that exposed her shoulders, begging the question of whether this was going against royal protocol? I personally think she should have steered clear of looking too Hollywood-style glamorous, especially as the weather wasn’t even particularly hot. It didn’t look professional, but the colour suited her well. She had her hair down in curls, a style we haven’t really seen before. The Sussex’s were accompanied by the Duke of Kent, who used to ride with the other Royal Colonel’s behind the Queen, but due to his age, now rides in a carriage. He is Colonel of the Scots Guards. The third carriage contained The Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
The Queen
Then came to the procession we were all waiting for! Led by the Brigade Major, Lt Colonel Guy Stome of the Welsh Guards, who was in charge of the whole parade and its timings, came the procession escorting the Queen. The mounted band came, which I always admire, seeing them both ride their horses and play their instruments. They are so talented. Next came the mounted soldiers of the Household Cavalry, who escorted Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen wore blue, and rode in an open carriage. Her Majesty did look rather lonely sitting in a carriage by herself, since her husband the Duke of Edinburgh retired from public duty. Indeed, I felt emotional, which shows how close we all feel we are to the Queen, she is part of us, but I was inspired that she continues to serve alone. Prince Philip is missed, he became a staple of these events, and part of what we expected. He certainly leaves a very visual hole that cannot be filled. Behind her rode the Royal Colonel’s. Princess Anne, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, Prince Andrew, the newly appointed Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, a role he took over from his Father, when Prince Philip retired. Therefore, this was Prince Andrew’s first time riding horseback in the parade. Prince William rode, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, and Prince Charles, as Colonel of the Welsh Guards. Other Colonel’s, Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, Colonel of The Lifeguard’s, and Lt General Sir James Bucknall, Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, followed.
They all travelled up the Mall accompanied by huge cheers from the crowd, and some vigorous flag waving! It was so lovely to see the royals, and to see the Queen continuing to do her duty and play her role. The Queen provides a figurehead for the nation, and I think that the Queen’s Birthday Parade is a way for the Armed Forces, and the public, to celebrate her, and to thank her for being the Head of the Armed Forces, and that figurehead.
The Event
The Senior Director of Music was Lt Colonel Darren Wolfendale of the Irish Guards, and the Queen and royal family enjoyed a range of music linked to the Coldstream Guards who were trooping their colour this year, as well as traditional music that is played every year. The royal family watched from the Major General’s office, giving them an excellent view of the military precision that paraded around the Colour of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. The Queen inspected the troops as her carriage rolled around Horse Guards Parade. The Queen then watches from a covered platform, accompanied by the Duke of Kent, in his role of a Royal Colonel. The Queen had a seat provided, but remained standing, a sign that she wants to show respect to the soldiers parading before her. The Queen watches with an eagle eye, knowing the parade inside and out; she has been known to contact the Brigade Major and send words of congratulations on a parade well done, or even explain any deficiencies she spotted. The other Royal Colonel’s remained on their horses and watched from either side of the platform. Then the parade began, including the formation and movement called, “the spinwheel,” which involves the massed bands pivoting. The Officer in Command shouts out over 100 instructions throughout the parade.
The parade is steeped in history. The Queen has only ever missed one Trooping the Colour during her reign, in 1955, due to a national rail strike, when it was cancelled. Originally in battle, the colour of a regiment was trooped along the ranks, so that the soldiers could see it. In 1748 it was decided that the trooping would also be used to mark the sovereign’s birthday. The Queen’s actual birthday is 21st April, but Trooping the Colour always takes place in June, when it is hoped the British weather is better than it is in April! The Queen used to ride side-saddle, but started riding in a carriage in 1987.
The parade ended with each regiment marching passed the Queen in salute. The mounted band has two shire horses that carry the big drums, and the riders crossed their drumsticks as they rode passed the Queen, as their unique salute. The National Anthem played, and the Colour was lowered in respect.
The Procession to the Palace
They then regrouped to begin the journey back down the Mall. The Field Officer asked the Queen’s permission for the guards to leave, which she gave. Firstly, I saw the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who pull several big cannons, and wear distinctive uniforms. I could hear their uniform and the metal around the cannons making its distinctive jangle. They were named by King George VI, the Queen’s father, and kept the name of, “The King’s,” in tribute to him. Over 50% of the KTRHA are females. Later, I heard the cannons as they were ceremonially fired from nearby Green Park.
Then came the royal guests in their 3 carriages. They made their way onto the balcony when they returned, joined by the extended royal family who had travelled by car and coach, to watch the Queen and Royal Colonel’s as they returned. The Colour was paraded down the Mall on horseback. The mounted band, followed by the Household Cavalry, both the Lifeguard’s and the Blues and Royals, came next.The massed bands came in one group as opposed to the several groups that they paraded to Horse Guards Parade in, followed by the Queen and Royal Colonels, and other Colonels. They led the soldiers of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards; the tradition of the monarch leading the soldiers back was started in 1914 by the Queen’s grandfather, King George V.
The Balcony Appearance & RAF Flypast
I then had to wait for all the soldiers to leave the Mall, so I could walk down the Mall towards the Palace. Some of the soldiers then took up position in their sentry boxes outside the palace. The mounted police, and foot police, led members of the Brownies, Cadets, and Scouts, and those who had watched the parade at Horse Guards, in their formal outfits to fulfil the dress code, towards the palace. The general public then followed. I got a fantastic view of the balcony! The royal family had gone inside when the Queen arrived, and enjoyed a short celebration with significant personnel who helped lead the parade. The Queen then led the royal family out again, including Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and Savannah and Isla Philips, 2 of the Queen’s other Great-Grandchildren. It was the Duchess of Sussex’s first time on the famous balcony, although from my position she was difficult to spot, behind the Cambridge’s, but next to the Duke of Sussex.
The RAF flypast then completed the day. 23 aircraft took part, including the Battle of Britain memorial flight, and contemporary aircraft, finishing with the famous 3 red arrows, with red, white, and blue streaming out behind them. The National Anthem played, and the crowds sang along. I got a real sense of unity and Britishness!! Savannah Philips tried to cover Prince George’s mouth as he sang the national anthem, in a display of cheek! The Queen waved, and led the royal family off the balcony.
Closing Thoughts
A wonderful day! It was an intrinsic reminder that the Great British public, and indeed the rest of the world, love to take part in these events that celebrate our history, our present, and our future. It displayed our proud military prestige, and is part of our culture. I hope the tradition will continue, because tradition anchors us, and the Queen anchors us. Long may she reign over us. Happy Birthday to Her Majesty the Queen!