Trooping the Colour
Image courtesy Wikimedia CommonsThe King’s Birthday Parade takes place every year in June. Commonly referred to as Trooping the Colour, the ceremony takes place on Horse Guards Parade and has marked the Sovereign’s official birthday since 1748.
This year it is the turn of the Irish Guards to lead the military parade and troop, or carry, their colour through the ranks..
Image courtesy Wikimedia CommonsAt the head of the massed pipes and drums will be Turlough Mór, a beautifully bred Irish Wolfhound, known as Séamus. He will be wearing a solid silver collar and a specially tailored scarlet cape and will walk proudly beside his handler, Drummer Adam Walsh.
The ceremony starts at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 15th June.
I will be watching and praying Kate is all right (assuming she will be absent from the celebration).
ReplyDeleteShe has already sent her apologies. She is the Colonel of the Irish Guards. Some think she may appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the King returns there.
DeleteI have been reading and writing history since 1990 and never saw the word "trooping" translated. Is it used on holidays other than the King's birthday?
ReplyDeleteTrooping the Colour only occurs once a year, though the colours will be seen at other times in different ceremonies.
DeleteIt certainly is a lovely ceremony. Makes you feel quite patriotic.
ReplyDeleteThe music is very stirring and reminds us of a time when we had a sizeable army!
DeleteVery cool event. Seamus is very handsome
ReplyDeleteWolfhounds are like young ponies;-)
DeleteCJ - Ogunquit, Maine
ReplyDeleteI saw King Charles on TV last night, walking past his troops, and remembered a similar happening way back in 1981 when Charles and Diana came to Australia, to our small town to inspect the troops, my husband was still in the Army then so we got to watch the parade and after while we waited for cars to pass so we could walk home we saw Charles and Diana with baby William and waved, but I don't think they noticed us.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a strange life, being gawped at all the time, and always with the underlying fear of attack.
DeleteSeamus is beautiful & looks stunning in his red cloak. xx
ReplyDeleteWe will be there, hubby got tickets, very excited, off to London for a long weekend, photo's next week.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your day:-)
DeleteI do like to see the old traditions still being played out. It gives a real sense of history, something to remind us of our heritage (the good and not just the bad that everyone seems to concentrate on).
ReplyDeleteWe 'do' tradition extremely well, but it's all rather archaic. Nonetheless, I shall watch and be proud.
DeleteIt is a very colourful event. I've only ever been on the Mall watching the troops go by.
ReplyDeleteI like the incidental occurrences - a guardsman passing out, a riderless horse ruining the symmetry .
DeleteI didn't know different areas of the forces lead the parade each year. Pity Adam Walsh's face was cut from the photo.
ReplyDeleteLast year it was the Welsh Guards. This year it's the Irish Guards. Next year it will be a different regiment of the Household Division.
DeleteI like the dog pic that looks more excited than the soldiers
ReplyDeleteSéamus is so handsome. We hope his solid silver collar is not too uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he's strong enough to bear it.
DeleteWe do pomp and pageantry so well, always a delight to watch.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely to watch - no-one does it better.
DeleteThis must be a very exciting time to be in your country and see this in person if possible. I read where Princess Kate will not be attending. I do hope she is recovering.
ReplyDeleteYou see more of the detail on the television, but miss out on the atmosphere.
DeleteHi Janice - I love the traditions ... just hope the weather holds for them - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteA little sunshine, a gentle breeze would do just fine!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely! What a wonderful event, wonder if Seamus the dog feels the honor of his position. I think I see a bit of strut in his walk.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he responds to the grandeur of the ceremony.
DeleteWe will be watching it on television, and it's just been announced Kate will be there, which is great news.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
We've just watched it. It's good that the rain held off until the march back to the palace.
DeleteWe do tradition and pageantry so well. Seamus seems to be enjoying the day.
ReplyDeleteWe do - pageantry seems to be our industry, now.
DeleteIn 2022 I watched Trooping the colors and that was so good for me It was in the week after Rick died and we had to go for the funeral reception in the afternoon. And when the Queen died I was in Eastbourne and watched her funerals !
ReplyDeleteIt is a very stirring ceremony.
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