Trooping the Colour: History and Background

Trooping the Colour is a ceremonial event performed every year on Horse Guards Parade in London, United Kingdom by regiments of the Household Division, to celebrate the official birthday of the sovereign, though the event is not necessarily held on that day. It is officially known as the Sovereign's Birthday Parade, or the King's Birthday Parade. Similar events are held in other Commonwealth countries. In the UK, it is the biggest event of the ceremonial calendar, and is watched by millions on television, on the streets of London, and in the stands at Horse Guards Parade.

Historically, colours were once used on the battlefield as a rallying point. They display the battle honours of a regiment, and are a focal point of Trooping the Colour. The ceremony has marked the sovereign's official birthday since 1748. Each year, one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division is selected to slowly troop (carry) its colour through the massed ranks of guards, who stand with arms (weapons) presented. During the slow march-past, the colours are lowered before the monarch, and during the quick march-past the colours fly. The monarch will salute the colours in return.

Prior to the start of the ceremony, the monarch processes down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade in a royal procession, with a Sovereign's Escort of Household Cavalry (mounted troops or horse guards). During the ceremony proper, after receiving a royal salute, the monarch inspects his troops of the Household Division and the King's Troop. Music is provided by the massed bands of the Foot Guards and the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry, together with a Corps of Drums, and pipers, totalling approximately 400 musicians. Once obtained, the colour is displayed at the head of the march past the sovereign in slow and quick time, by the Foot Guards, the Household Cavalry, and the King's Troop. (The latter two elements, being mounted, conduct a walk-past and a trot-past.)

Returning to Buckingham Palace, the monarch surveys a further march-past from outside the gates. Following a 41-gun salute by the King's Troop in Green Park, the royal family make an appearance on the palace balcony for a Royal Air Force flypast.

Source and attribution

Text excerpted from Trooping the Colour by Wikipedia contributors, available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. The extract is abridged and formatting has been adjusted; the adapted text on this page is shared under the same licence. Revision history.