Trooping the Colour is a British military tradition that dates back to the 17th century and is also the date on which we celebrate the official birthday of the Queen. It’s a fantastic occasion for anyone with an interest in the British monarchy and definitely one of the Top 10 things to do for visitors to the city.
Trooping the Colour happens on a Saturday in June and is essentially a military march past that is both participated in and watched by the Queen. It takes place on Horseguards Parade with members of the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry taking part and there are also numerous military bands with a total of more than 400 musicians, which makes for a pretty entertaining and lively atmosphere. There are lots of different stages to Trooping the Colour, including an inspection by the Queen, a booming a 41-gun salute by the King’s Troop and a Royal Airforce flypast watched from the balcony of Buckingham Palace by the Queen and various members of the royal family.
Fans of the British royal family love the Trooping of the Colour as it’s one of the only chances to see the Royal Family all in one place. As the tradition is so old and so full of military custom and pageantry it’s a rare opportunity to get a glimpse at the Great British Empire of old and tends to attract huge crowds. The occasion gets its name from the tradition of carrying the colours (flags) of the battalion down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. Since Edward VII the Trooping of the Colour has always been attended by the sovereign, who takes a personal salute, and the current queen has attended every year but one of her reign (other than in 1955 when a strike prevented it).
For anyone looking to witness the Trooping of the Colour, the procession usually starts around 10am and the flypast begins at 1pm. If the weather is fine, nearby Green Park is a great place for picnics and the celebratory atmosphere continues into all the nearby pubs and restaurants. If you’re planning on attending this year then why not use Fastlane International to send some royal memorabilia back home to mark the occasion? Here are a few of our suggestions.:
1. Mugs. Whether it’s a coronation mug or a baby’s birth, this is one of the most popular pieces of memorabilia.
2. Plates. Another favourite to mark occasions such as births and weddings.
3. The ‘Guardsman’ teddy bear – easy to post and super cute.
4. A Buckingham Palace key ring. Small and simple to parcel up and looks like you have the keys to the castle.
5. A Coronation carriage clock. The perfect item for the mantelpiece back home.
6. A royal baby celebration medal – timeless and a one off.
7. Buckingham Palace hand towels – make your guests think you’ve visited the royals at home.
8. A snow globe – wonderfully tacky, retro royal memorabilia.
9. A coat of arms tea towel – a bit of royal glamour for the kitchen
10. A crown tea cosy – for a right royal cup.
