To mark her official birthday today, The Queen attended a small version of Trooping the Colour at Windsor Castle. You can watch footage of the event below.
This was her first public appearance since lockdown, which she has spent at Windsor with husband, The Duke of Edinburgh.
Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images
Trooping the Colour had been cancelled in March, but we learnt a few weeks ago that a smaller, scaled-back and private version had been planned.
Wearing pale blue, The Queen entered the Quadrangle at 11am; when Trooping usually takes place, Her Majesty arrives into Horseguards Parade as the clock strikes 11.
Just a small detachment of Welsh Guards participated, keeping physically distant throughout. A new move of ‘feathering’, with soldiers move forward and fanning out, was added to help aid in spacing, too.
Unusually, the Monarch wore her Welsh Guards badge instead of her Guards’ Badge, likely because only one section of the Household Division was present.
Men of Harlech, and Cymru am Byth were amongst the pieces played by the band. Her Majesty could be seen smiling as her soldiers filed past.
It is thought Prince Philip was watching the parade from within the castle. The Duke of Edinburgh hasn’t attended Trooping since 2017.
Live: Queen celebrates official birthday in pared back ceremony at Windsor Castle https://t.co/S8nvjhKjHt
— ITV News (@itvnews) June 13, 2020
Major General Christopher Ghika, whose men will pay tribute to The Queen, said the event offers a ‘unique opportunity’ to commemorate the head of state’s milestone.
The Queen clearly enjoyed the treat of a military show today, even if it was just 20 minutes long! A parade of this sort has not been held at Windsor Castle for the Monarch’s birthday since 1895, when Queen Victoria celebrated her 76th birthday.
The BBC will show the parade again tonight.
A mini Trooping the Colour today at Windsor Castle (@RoyalFamily)
