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Trooping the Colour is
a ceremony performed by regiments of the
Commonwealth and the British Army. It has
been a tradition of British infantry regiments
since the 17th century, although the roots
go back much earlier. On battlefields, a
regiment's colours, or flags, were used
as rallying points. Consequently, regiments
would have their ensigns slowly march with
their colours between the soldiers' ranks
to enable soldiers to recognize their regiments'
colours.
Since 1748
Trooping the Colour has also marked the
official birthday of the British Sovereign.
It is held in London annually on the second
Saturday in June on Horse Guards Parade
by St. James's Park, and coincides with
the publication of the Birthday Honours
List. Among the audience are the Royal Family,
invited guests, ticketholders, and the general
public. The colourful ceremony, also known
as "The Queen's Birthday Parade",
is broadcast live by the BBC.
The Queen
travels down The Mall from Buckingham Palace
in a Royal Procession with a Sovereign's
Escort of Household Cavalry (also known
as "Mounted Troops" or "Horse
Guards"). After receiving a Royal Salute,
she inspects her troops of the Household
Division, both Foot Guards and Horse Guards.
The King's Troop are also in attendance.
Each year, one of the Foot Guards regiments
is selected to troop their colour through
the ranks of guards. Then the entire assembly
of Household Division conducts a March Past
around the Parade past the Queen, who receives
their salute from the Saluting Base. (The
Mounted Troops perform a Walk March and
a Trot Past, and the King's Troop rank by
with their guns, which are their colour.)
The music
is provided by the Massed Bands of the Foot
Guards and the Mounted Bands of the Household
Cavalry, together with a Corps of Drums
and occasionally pipers, totalling approximately
400 musicians. On return to Buckingham Palace,
the Queen watches a further march past from
outside the gates. Following a 41-gun salute
by the King's Troop in Green Park, she leads
the Royal Family onto the palace balcony
for a Royal Air Force flypast.
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