Each year, the King celebrates his official birthday with a grand parade of soldiers and music, known as Trooping the Colour. But what exactly is Trooping, and where did it come from? Read on to find out.
Also called the King’s Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour is a dazzling display of military precision, music, horses, and ceremonial pageantry. The event takes place at Horse Guards Parade, typically on the second Saturday of June. It originates from a centuries-old military tradition of trooping the regimental colours in battle as a rallying point for soldiers.
Image Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 15/06/2024. London, United Kingdom. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte ,Prince Louis, Prince Edward and Sophie and Lady Louise on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at Trooping the Colour in London. Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images
Today, one regiment is chosen annually to parade its flag — or “colour” — before the King, receiving a royal inspection and salute for the occasion.
This ceremony has marked the official birthday of the British monarch since 1748, during the reign of George II, and has been held annually since 1820, barring interruptions for bad weather or periods of national mourning.
The event features more than 1,400 officers, 200 horses, and over 400 musicians, epitomising the grandeur of British ceremonial traditions associated with the monarchy. Since the reign of Edward VII, the Sovereign has personally taken the salute.
Edward VII also moved the celebration to June, as his actual birthday fell in November, ensuring better weather for the London festivities. This adjustment also established the tradition of the monarch having two birthdays: the actual and the official.
What happens at Trooping the Colour?
The festivities begin at approximately 10:00 a.m., with bands and soldiers marching or riding down The Mall. Senior members of the Royal Family follow in carriages, making their way to Horse Guards Parade. Crowds lining the route and gathering in St. James’s Park enjoy live music and the chance to see the monarch and the Royal Family up close.
Early in her reign, Elizabeth II moved the event from Thursday to Saturday, allowing more of the public to enjoy the spectacle.
The King and Queen in a carriage for Trooping the Colour. (Defence Imagery)
The Princess of Wales made her first official appearance at Trooping, since the announcement of her cancer treatment (Defence Images)
The Monarch arrives at Horse Guards Parade at 11:00 a.m., taking the royal salute. The regimental colour being trooped is then carried down the ranks, accompanied by music performed by the bands.
Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry march past, followed by The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, with their ceremonial guns. This impressive display of soldiers, horses, and music is a personal tribute to the Sovereign by the armed forces.
Pictured: The Household Division on parade for Trooping the Colour for The King’s Birthday Parade.(Defence Imagery)
The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne riding in Trooping the Colour (Defence Images)
The late Queen often wore her Guards’ brooch for the occasion, highlighting her connection with the five Foot Guard regiments: the Grenadier Guards, Welsh Guards, Scots Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Irish Guards. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Household Division, her attire symbolised her role and personal bond with the troops.
In contrast, the King, as a male Sovereign, wears military uniform for the event.
The King and The Queen, seen here at House Guards Parade for Trooping the Colour and a spectacle of military precision and music (Defence Images)
At 12:52 p.m., gun salutes are fired from Green Park and the Tower of London, echoing across the capital. The ceremony concludes with a flypast by the Royal Air Force at 1:00 p.m.
The Royal Family traditionally joins the King on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the air display, often featuring the iconic Red Arrows. Following the event, the Royal Family typically enjoys a private lunch, one of the rare occasions when they gather as a group.
The Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for The King’s Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour (Defence Images)
The Royal Family at Trooping the Colour in 2018, watching the fly past (Andrew Parsons / i-Images)
Throughout her reign, the late Elizabeth II attended every Trooping the Colour except in 1955, when a national rail strike disrupted the event. In 1987, at the age of 70, she began riding in a carriage rather than horseback, finding the side-saddle position increasingly uncomfortable.
When she attended on horseback, Her Majesty would wear the Household troop’s uniform as Colonel-in-Chief, (note the change of feather in her hat, and the symbol on the collar in gold braid), along with the sash and star badge of the Order of the Garter, or the Order of the Thistle, if the Scots Guards were trooping.
Famously, during the 1981 parade, the late Queen demonstrated her calm demeanour and equestrian skill when a youth fired blanks at her horse on The Mall. Her Majesty steadied her mount and continued the parade without interruption, while police swiftly apprehended the individual.
How to see Trooping the Colour:
Tickets for the event must be applied for in January and February. Details are available online.
If you cannot attend in person, the BBC broadcasts the event each year, offering excellent coverage of both the ceremonial displays and the enthusiastic crowds gathered to celebrate the King.
Pictured: The Royal party and the Kings Lifeguard ride from Buckingham Palace, down The Mall towards Horseguards Parade ground (MoD)
Another chance to see Trooping?
The Saturday before Trooping (which usually takes place on the second Saturday of June) is the Colonel’s Review. Here, a Colonel of the Household regiment watches a rehearsal of the event and receives the salute; often, this is a member of the Royal Family, including The Prince of Wales.
A week prior to this, the Major General’s Review takes place; a similar event, but with the Major General inspecting.
Note, there are dress codes for the events if you attend in Horse Guards:
– The King’s Birthday Parade – Morning Dress, Lounge Dress, Lounge Suit or Jacket and Trousers, equivalent for the ladies (no denim). Military personnel may wear Ceremonial Day or other Service equivalent.
– Colonel’s Review – Lounge Suit or Jacket and Trousers, equivalent for the ladies (no denim).
– Major General’s Review – Smart Casual (no denim).
Trooping the Colour remains a cherished tradition, showcasing British military excellence and celebrating the enduring connection between the monarchy and the nation.
