Elizabeth II in uniform as Colonel-in-Chief of the Coldstream Guards at the Trooping of the Colour ceremony.

Trooping the Colour is a military pageant or ceremony commonly performed by regiments of the Commonwealth and the British Army. It has been a tradition of British infantry regiments for centuries and it was first performed during the reign of Charles II of England. The origin of this ceremony can be traced to a time when a regiment's colours, or flags, were used as rally points for the regiment's soldiers in a the midst of chaotic battles. For this reason, regiments would frequently have their junior officers (or Ensign) march with their colours between the soldiers' ranks in slow pace during military parades so that they would recognize what their regiments' colours looked like. As regiments no longer carry their colours to battles nowadays, Trooping the Colour has become a ceremony for regiments to display their past military achievements to the general public. HM Queen Elizabeth II on her horse Burmese during a Trooping of the Colour ceremony (c. ... HM Queen Elizabeth II on her horse Burmese during a Trooping of the Colour ceremony (c. ... Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in military dress uniform, with medals. ... In the British and other Commonwealth armies, the Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment is its (usually Royal) patron. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Coldstream Guards is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division. ... Jump to: navigation, search // Definition and linguistics The original phrase common wealth or the common weal is a calque translation of the Latin term res publica (public matters), from which the word republic comes, which was itself used as a synonym for the greek politeia as well as for the... Jump to: navigation, search The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... Jump to: navigation, search Charles II (29 May 1630–6 February 1685) was the King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland from 30 January 1649 (retrospectively de jure) or 29 May 1660 (de facto) until his death. ... In the Royal Navy this is the name given to the flag raising ceremony that happens every day when a ship is in harbour - Colours! Face aft and salute. At the end of the ceremony the order Carry on is given. ... An ensign is a distinguishing token, emblem, badge, or flag such as a symbol of office. ...

British Army regiments of Foot Guards and Horse Guards, collectively known as the Household Division, still Troop the Colour at Horse Guards Parade in London as part of the Queen's Birthday celebration. Known also as the King's or Queen's Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour by the Household Division has been performed annually since 1748 (except in bad weather, periods of mourning and other exceptional circumstances). While other regiments in the British Army and the Commonwealth still Troop the Colour, they do so much less frequently than the Household Division. Foot guards is a term used to describe elite infantry regiments. ... The Royal Horse Guards (RHG) was a Household Cavalry regiment of the British Army. ... Household Division is term used principally in the Commonwealth of Nations to describe a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings, or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Sovereign. ... Horse Guards Parade, London Horse Guards Parade is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... The Queens Birthday or Queens Official Birthday is celebrated as a public holiday in several Commonwealth countries (usually Commonwealth realms). ... Events April 24 - A congress assembles at Aix-la-Chapelle with the intent to conclude the struggle known as the War of Austrian Succession - at October 18 - The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is signed to end the war Adam Smith begins to deliver public lectures in Edinburgh Building of...

List of Regiments Trooping the Colour

2005: 1st Battalion, Irish Guards. The Welsh Guards did not appear in this parade.
2004: 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
2003: 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
2002: 1st Battalion, Scots Guards
2001: 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards (Nijmegen Company)
2000: 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards (No. 7 Company)
1999: 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards
1998: 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
1997: 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards (F Company)
1996: 1st Battalion, Irish Guards
1995: 1st Battalion, Scots Guards
1994: 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
1993: 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
1992: 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
1991: 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards
1990: 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards

The Sovereign's Birthday Parade

Trooping the Colour in London is an important national occasion as Britain does not have a national day as most countries with a less ancient historical continuity. Many do see the Queen's Official Birthday and the Trooping ceremony as equivalent to the country's annual national celebration. There are currently five regiments of Foot Guards and one regiment of Household Cavalry in the Household Division and each year a battalion of one of the Foot Guard regiments will be selected to troop its colours in the ceremony. Since the mid 1990s, the 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards have been in "suspended animation" - they are represented in the parade by the three incremental companies. It is extremely honoured for a young officer to be selected to carry the colour in this ceremony as historically only the most courageous Ensigns were assigned to carry the regiment's colours in battle. Nowadays the honour is normally given to Foot Guards lieutenants who are good at military drill and are physically fit. In 2005, Second Lieutenant Ben Pennington was the Ensign. The National Day is a designated date on which celebrations mark the nationhood of a country. ... Foot guards is a term used to describe elite infantry regiments. ... The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth of Nations to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions. ... Household Division is term used principally in the Commonwealth of Nations to describe a country’s most elite or historically senior military groupings, or those military groupings that provide functions associated directly with the Sovereign. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Grenadier Guards is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Coldstream Guards is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division. ... The Scots Guards are a regiment of the British Army and have a long and proud history stretching back hundreds of years. ... The Guards Division of the British Army contains a total of five battalions, one from each of the five regiments of Foot Guards. ... An ensign is a distinguishing token, emblem, badge, or flag such as a symbol of office. ...

The number of military personnel who participate in the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London has declined over the years due to defence budget cuts in Household Division battalions as well as the battalions' requirements to commit themselves to military and peacekeeping operations overseas. However, the format of the ceremony has remained the same over the centuries following routines of old battle formations used in the era of musket warfare, such as the Battle of Waterloo. In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... Jump to: navigation, search Map of the Waterloo campaign The Battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18, 1815, was Napoleon Bonapartes last battle. ...

The Ceremony

There are several parts to the ceremony:

1. A detail of Guardsmen bearing marker flags marches onto the parade ground and mark the positions of the six Foot Guard companies.
2. The six Foot Guard companies march on to the field, led by their regimental bands. The companies align in ranks of two on north side of the parade ground (next to the Guards Memorial), while the regimental band joins the Massed Bands. On the other side of the parade ground, the Escort for the Colour, three Guardsmen, forms. The King's Troop and the Household Cavalry squadrons form up in their position.
3. Arrival of the Sovereign. The Queen and the Prince Consort arrive in a carriage precisely at 11:00 a.m. The Household Division presents arms in the Royal Salute while the Massed Band plays "God Save the Queen."
4. Inspection of the Line: The Queen's carriage is driven before and to the rear of each Company while the Massed Bands play a slow march, then a quick march.
5. Massed Bands Parade: The senior drum major orders the Massed Bands to march and countermarch in slow and quick time. The slow march is always a waltz from Giacomo Meyerbeer's opera, "Les Huguenots." The band reaches the Escort for the Colour and countermarches. The drum major halts the Massed Bands and orders a quick march. During the quick march, a single drummer splits from the Massed Band formation and marches to two paces to the right of the No. 1. company.
6. Drum Call: The single drummer plays eight bars of a drum call. Officers in Number 1 Guard company quick march to the formation they will use as Escort for the Colour.
7. Escort for the Colour Forms: An orderly takes the pace stick from the Sergeant-Major of Number 1 Guard. He then draws his sword. The No. 1 Guard company, led by the commander, quick marches to the tune of "The British Grenadiers," with the Sergeant Major marching behind the company. Twenty steps away from the Escort to the Colour, the music halts and four paces later, the Escort halts. The Sergeant Major marches forward, followed by the Ensign, to the Escort. He then salutes the Colour with his sword, and takes it from the Escort, who then shoulders arms. The Sergeant Major about-faces, marches to the Ensign, and presents the Colour. The Ensign salutes the Colour with his sword, sheaths the sword, and accepts the Colour. The Escort now becomes the "Escort to the Colour."
8. Trooping the Colour: The Household Division again presents arms in a Royal Salute. Four NCOs at either end of Number 1 Guard turn outward as symbolic maximum protection for the Colour. The Escort to the Colour slow-marches to the position for starting the Trooping while the Massed Bands perform a "spinwheel" manuver to reorient themselves in restricted space. The Escort to the Colour then, in slow time, troops the Colour in front of the other five companies on the parade ground while the Massed Bands play "Escort to the Colour." The lines of the Escort and the other five companies interweave. For Numbers 2 through 6 Guard, a former commander described this as "a long Present Arms."
9. Form Divisions: The Brigade Commander orders "Officers, take post!" Officers take their post and the Numbers 1 through 5 Guard companies of the Foot Guard make a column right quick march into review formation. (Number 6 is at right angles to the other five companies and does not need to do this). Once intervals are established, the Brigade Officer salutes the Queen and informs her that the Foot Guard is ready to slow-march.
10. March Past in Slow Time: The Massed Bands play a "neutral" slow march (that is, a march that is not peculiar to one of the Guards regiments) while the six companies of the Foot Guards march around the parade ground. In 2005, this was O'Carolan's "Concerto." When each company reaches the saluting stand, the Massed Bands play the appropriate Regimental Slow March. A double beat from the bass drum indicates a change of march music four bars later. Once the last company has passed the reviewing stand, the Massed Bands play another neutral slow march. In 2005 this was "Dover Castle".
11. March Past in Quick Time: The companies halt. The Field Officer salutes the Queen and informs her her Guards are ready to quick march. In much the same manner as the slow march, the six companies march past again. In 2005, this was "Slathery's Mounted Fut" by Percy French.
12. Marching Away from the Saluting Base: The Massed Band, led by the Pipes and Drums of the Irish and Scots Guards, march away.
13. The Household Cavalry Massed Bands take the field and play a march for the walk past. The King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery leads the walk. The lead guns of the Troop are considered the equivalent of its Colours. Following the King's Troop are the Lifeguards and the Blues and Royals.
14. The King's Troop and the Household Cavalry pass by at the sitting trot, to the tune of "The Keel Row," which is common to both regiments.
15. The Massed Bands play the Royal Salute and the Queen leaves the parade ground following the Massed Bands. The Foot Guard forms up in company formations of six ranks each and follows the Queen up the Mall to Buckingham Palace. The Household Calvary follows the Foot Guard.
16. The Markers march off.

Giacomo Meyerbeer Giacomo Meyerbeer (September 5, 1791 – May 2, 1864) was a noted opera composer. ... Les Huguenots is a French opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer. ... William Percy French (May 1, 1854–January 24, 1920) was one of Irelands foremost songwriters and entertainers in his day. ... The trot is a gait of the horse where the diagonal pairs of legs move forwards at the same time. ...

Marches

Slow Marches

Grenadier Guards: "Scipio" by Handel
Scots Guards: "The Garb of Old Gaul"
Irish Guards: "Let Erin Remember"
Welsh Guards: "Men of Harlech"
Colstream Guards: "Non piu andrai farfallone amoroso" from Mozart's Il Nozze di Figaro

Quick Marches

Grenadier Guards: "The British Grenadiers"
Scots Guards: "Hieland Laddie"
Irish Guards: "St. Patrick's Day"
Welsh Guards: "The Rising of the Lark"
Colstream Guards: "Milanollo"

Incidents During the Ceremony

At the 1981 Trooping the Colour ceremony on 13 June, a teenager fired six blank shots in the direction of Queen Elizabeth II . Marcus Serjeant, a seventeen-year old former air cadet from Capel Le Ferne, Folkestone, Kent, had previously wished to assassinate the monarch, but could not obtain a suitable firearm. For the offence, Serjeant became the first person since 1966 to be prosecuted under the Treason Act (1842), under which he was sentenced for five years, serving three. He was released in 1984. However, as his mental condition deteriorated he was subsequently transferred to a secure hospital. Jump to: navigation, search 1981 (MCMLXXXI)is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jump to: navigation, search June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born 21 April 1926, is the Queen regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the... At the 1981 Trooping the Colour ceremony on 13 June, a teenager fired six blank shots in the direction of Queen Elizabeth II . ... Map sources for Folkestone at grid reference TR2236 Folkestone is a coastal resort town in the Shepway district of Kent, England. ... Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. ...

The Queen was attacked 15 minutes after she left Buckingham Palace as she rode down the Mall in the midst of royal colonels. As soon as the assault was apparent the Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry was ordered by the Gold Stick in Waiting to "close up" around Her Majesty. Serjeant was seized by Lance-Corporal Alexander Galloway of the Scots Guards, and several policemen. The Queen managed to regain control of 19-year old "Burmese" after a moments uncertainty. Jump to: navigation, search A queen regnant is a female monarch, who possesses all the monarchal powers that a king would have, without regard to gender. ... Jump to: navigation, search Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial. ... The Mall refers to famous sites in more than one country. ... The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth of Nations to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions. ... A ceremonial office dating from 1678 which is held jointly by the colonels of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals regiments of the Household Cavalry of the Household Division of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. ... Her Majesty is the name of a song written by Paul McCartney (although credited to Lennon-McCartney) that appears on The Beatles album Abbey Road. ... The Scots Guards are a regiment of the British Army and have a long and proud history stretching back hundreds of years. ...

External link

• Order of the Trooping the Colour
• Information about the Trooping the Colour from the UK Army homepage
• Photo of a Captain of the Irish Guards from 2004 Trooping the Colour (photo by andersja)