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Showing posts with label trooping the colours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trooping the colours. Show all posts

Monday, 16 June 2014

Paparazzi


Who was arousing this much interest I hear you ask.  Why the Queen of course.  The paparazzi fixed on the palace for that shot when the Royals stand on the balcony and watch the red arrows fly over.

For overseas readers who may not understand what this all means, last Saturday was the day the nation celebrated the Queen's birthday.  It is not her real birthday, as that is in April, and we throw a party for her then as well.  However, as the weather isn't great at that time of the year we throw yet another party, a much bigger one, in June when in theory it should be summer.  It rained this year and last year as I recall, but I digress.

On her official birthday there is a procession "Trooping the Colours". The Foot Guards and the Household Calvary put on their finery and wear their colours (so the ranks can recognise their battalion), then they march from Buckingham Palace to the Horse Guards, (about a mile down the road). The Queen follows them in a golden carriage.  Once there she inspects them all and they salute her.  Then everyone returns to the palace for a cup of tea while a twenty one gun salute is fired from canons.  This is followed by a "flyover" by old fashioned planes. The highlight is the Red Arrows that create a trail of red, white, and blue smoke as they fly down the Mall before passing over the palace.


Friday, 15 June 2012

Birthday Bash

Tomorrow being the official birthday of the Queen pomp and pageantry is the order of the day. The trooping of the colour and the firing of guns is how she celebrates. Beats party hats and poppers.
If you want to witness the event, the parade leaves Buckingham Palace around 10:00 am and travels to the Horse Guards. The troops wait for the Queen to arrive and inspect them at exactly 11:00am . This is followed by a 41 gun salute in Green Park and then a 62 gun salute from the Tower of London.

Sunday, 5 June 2011

Rehearsing The Trooping of the Colours

Next Saturday is the real thing. The Trooping of the colours is an annual event held on the official birthday of the monarch. Unlike the rest of us she gets two birthdays. Her real one is 26 April, then the official one when she checks out her troops in this spectacular parade.

These big events have to be perfect. So there are a couple of trial runs. Yesterday was rehearsal number two. If you don't mind the carriages being empty, then these days are a great way to get a good view of proceedings. In fact you can apply to get a ringside ticket. It is done by ballot each year.

Friday, 19 June 2009

Skywatch Friday - Trooping the Colours

The Red Arrows fly over Buckingham Palace as part of the official celebrations for the Queen's 83rd birthday.

Check out other skies around the world

Sunday, 14 June 2009

Trooping the Colour

Yesterday was the 'trooping of the colours', a parade to mark the Queen of England's official (as opposed to real) birthday. Originally this parade happened so the soldiers would be able to recognise the flag they would be fighting under.
These men form part of the Irish regiment, recognised by their blue plume. Christian Lacroix recently remodelled and updated their uniforms. True soldiers, they endure hours in 27 degree heat dressed in thick wool uniforms and bearskin hats. And, true to military form there is a rule to cope with mishaps in hot weather - if you sense you are going to faint, you must fall forwards, not backwards or sideways. Now... one of the statements I have made today is simply not true - can you guess which one.
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