London, UK. 1st June, 2013. First rehearsal of the Trooping of Colour by the 1st Batallion Welsh Guards. A vibrant display of ceremony and military history, Trooping the Colour, also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, marks the second of the Queen's two birthdays (this is the official one, her actual birthday is on 21st April).
A vibrant display of ceremony and military history, Trooping the Colour, also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, marks the second of the Queen's two birthdays (this is the official one, her actual birthday is on 21st April). It's a spectacular piece of pageantry but also a timely reminder of the role of the armed forces who are - in theory, at least - under the Queen's control. Hundreds of well-disciplined soldiers in full dress uniform march past at the Horse Guards Parade, and a different Battalion gives the Royal Salute each year, all accompanied by stirring military music from the massed bands. On the same day, a 41-Gun Royal Salute takes place in Green Park at and there's a 62-Gun salute at the Tower Of London at 1pm. But if you want to avoid the crush at the Mall, you can see the Horse Guards practicing for the grand parade at two smaller rehearsals in the days leading up to the grand event - namely the Major General's Review on Saturday 1st June 2013 and the Colonel's Review on Saturday 8th June 2013.
Size: 4582px × 2598px
Photo credit: © andrew chittock / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: bands, birthday, colour, foot, guardas, guards, horse, london, massed, parade, queen, trooping, welsh
