The Queen celebrates her official birthday today with the Trooping the Colour parade. The annual event seems more than 1,000 soldiers take part in the traditional display of pomp and pageantry. Members of the royal family will gather together on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the RAF flypast, which is set to take place at 1pm. The Queen, who recently had a successful eye operation to remove a cataract, will watch the Trooping ceremony from a dais in Horse Guards and later inspect the lines of guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins. Here are the latest updates (all times in BST).
12.00pm update: Queen celebrated her actual birthday in April The colour trooped this year was the flag of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards. Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle. Colours, or flags, were carried, or "trooped", down the rank so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. In the 18th century, guards from the royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to "troop the colours", and in 1748 it was announced that the parade would also mark the Sovereign's official birthday. The Queen's actual birthday was on April 21 when she turned 92.
Getty Prince William and Prince Charles arrive at The Royal Horseguards
AFP/Getty Meghan is attending her first Trooping the Colour parade
Getty Princess Beatrice and Eugenie and he Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise
11.20am update: Queen makes solo appearance at Trooping the Colour parade The Queen made her entrance onto Horse Guards in an Ascot Landau after making the journey from Buckingham Palace. Her procession was accompanied by a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets. The 7,500 guests seated in stands lining the parade ground stood as a mark of respect as the monarch arrived and began inspecting the massed ranks of the troops. The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 97th birthday on Sunday, has retired from official public duties and did not attend. The monarch received a rousing cheer from the crowds in the Mall as her procession went past. She wore a sky blue coat and dress by Stuart Parvin and a hat by Angela Kelly.
AFP/Getty The Queen travelled in an Ascot Landau
11.14am update: Kate and Camilla travel together The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge were travelling in another carriage during the parade. While a third carriage carried Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise. Kate wore a dress by Alexander McQueen - her wedding dress designer - and a hat by Juliette Botterill. Camilla wore a blue silk dress and coat by Bruce Oldfield and a hat by Philip Treacy.
Getty Duchess Of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge during Trooping the Colour on the Mall
11.07am update: First time Duchess of Sussex experiences Trooping the Colour parade The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have joined the nation and the monarchy in celebrating the Queen's official birthday at theTrooping the Colour ceremony. Meghan experienced the pomp and pageantry of the event for the first time when she arrived on Horse Guards Parade with Harry in a carriage, along with the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent. The couple were greeted by the sight of hundreds of Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins lined up on the parade ground - Henry VIII's former jousting yard - as the event began. The duke and duchess, who married exactly three weeks today, travelled from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to cheers from royal fans gathered in the famous London thoroughfare. The Duchess of Sussex wore a dress by Carolina Herrera and a hat by Philip Treacy.
Reuters The Duchess of Sussex is enjoying her first Trooping the Colour parade
10.59am: The Queen has arrived at the Trooping the Colour The Queen has arrived at the Trooping the Colour parade. Her Majesty is travelling alone in a horse-drawn carriage, with no Prince Philip by her side. The monarch’s husband has officially retired from royal public duties. She was wearing a cornflower blue suit and matching hat as she attends celebrations for her official birthday.
PA The Queen cuts a lonely figure as she arrives at the Trooping the Colour parade
10.43am update: Members of the royal family start to arrive The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have left Buckingham Palace in a carriage en route to Horse Guards Parade, where the Trooping the Colour ceremony is soon to begin. Meghan, who is attending the royal event for the first time, and Harry were joined by the Duke of Kent. The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall led the carriage procession travelling together in a coach. The crowds in the Mall cheered as Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Countess of Wessex and her daughter Lady Louise travelled past in the third carriage.
Reuters Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, take part in the Trooping the Colour parade
10.06am update: Trooping the Colour timetable These are the times for the Queen’s birthday parade today as the monarch celebrates her official birthday. 9.15am: Troops star forming up on Horse Guards Parade 10.45am: The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace in a grand procession escorted by the Household Cavalry 11am: The Queen arrives on Horse Guards Parade to take the royal salute. Her Majesty will then review Her Guards riding slowly down the ranks of foot guards and cavalry in a carriage. During the parade The Colour is Trooped through the ranks before the Foot Guards march past The Queen and then the Household Cavalry and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery rank past. 12.20pm: The Queen, at the head of Her Guards, returns up The Mall to Buckingham Palace. At the gates of Buckingham Palace HM The Queen dismounts from the carriage and mounts a dais to watch the parade march past in salute. 12.52pm: Following the parade the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the Queen’s official birthday. 12.55pm: The Queen and other members of the Royal Family make a balcony appearance at Buckingham Palace. 1pm: Fly past by the Royal Air Force
Trooping the Colour 2018 LIVE pictures Sat, June 9, 2018 The parade marks the official birthday of the Sovereign, even though the Queen's actual birthday is on April 21st. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 46 Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
AFP/Getty Images Trooping the Colour LIVE: Members of the Irish Guards march to Horseguards parade
She received a rousing cheer from the crowds in the Mall as her procession went past. The head of state, who travelled alone in an Ascot Landau, wore a sky blue coat and dress by Stuart Parvin, and a hat by Angela Kelly. She celebrated her actual 92nd birthday on April 21 but today marks her official birthday with the spectacular event in Horseguard’s Parade, central London.
GETTY The Queen arrives for Trooping the Colour
The monarch was joined by other members of the Royal Family, including grandson Prince Harry and his new wife Meghan Markle. Meghan experienced the pomp and pageantry of the event for the first time when she arrived on Horse Guards Parade with Harry in a carriage, along with the Queen's cousin the Duke of Kent. The couple were greeted by the sight of hundreds of Guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins lined up on the parade ground - Henry VIII's former jousting yard - as the event began. The duke and duchess, who married exactly three weeks today, travelled from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to cheers from royal fans gathered in the famous London thoroughfare. Meghan, Harry and the other members of the royal family took their place in Wellington's former office which overlooks the parade ground.
PA The Queen received a a rousing cheer from the crowds in the Mal
The Queen’s procession was accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets. The 7,500 guests seated in stands lining the parade ground stood as a mark of respect as the monarch arrived and began inspecting the massed ranks of the troops. The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 97th birthday on Sunday, has retired from official public duties and did not attend. But the Queen was accompanied by the royal colonels, all on horseback: Prince of Wales, Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards. Also riding in the ceremony for the first time was the Duke of York in his new role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
GETTY The Queen attends the Trooping the Colour
By Abigail Malbon 3 hours ago
Trooping the Colour 2018 has begun! The Queen’s annual birthday celebration is bigger than ever this year, thanks to the addition of new royal, Meghan Markle.
While Prince Louis won’t be seen on Buckingham Palace balcony, the rest of the royals will be watching the annual flypast from their positions, Queen Elizabeth stood front and centre on the 66th year of her reign.
Keep on top of the day's events with our live updates, below.
9pm AEST: Prince William arrives alongside Prince Charles
The father and son were joined by Prince Andrew and Princess Anne.
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8:40pm AEST: Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Sophie, Countess of Wessex arrive
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8:35pm AEST: Princess Anne and Prince Andrew take part in the parade
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8:10pm AEST: Kate Middleton and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive
The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive behind Her Majesty and Harry and Meghan.
Camilla is wearing pastel blue, while Catherine chose mint green.
(Getty)
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8pm AEST: Prince Philip does not appear to be in attendance
As the Queen arrives solo in her carriage, many onlookers have been left wondering where Prince Philip could be.
7:50pm AEST: Queen Elizabeth in blue for her birthday
(Getty)
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7:30pm AEST: First look at Meghan Markle
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex grin as they greet the crowds from their carriage. This is Meghan Markle's first Trooping the Colour, but she looks right at home in a regal blush-pink off-shoulder dress and matching hat.
(Getty)
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7:30pm AEST: The parade begins
7pm AEST: Some things you didn't know about Trooping the Colour
The royal women arrive at the event in carriages, a rule put into place in 1986 when the Queen decided to stop riding side-saddle. They are joined by Prince Harry and Prince Philip.
Queen Elizabeth is so dedicated to her own celebrations that she's never missed a Trooping -- except for 1955, when the whole event was called off due to a national rail strike.
The name dates back to the 17th century (of course), with "Colours" referring to the flags of different British Army regiments.
The royal men each have their own regiment, and the Queen is the colonel-in-chief.
In 1981 the Queen was shot at with a replica gun by a 17-year-old man who was arrested after firing 6 blanks. Her Majesty was visibly started, but regained control of her horse and continued on her route. The teenager, named Marcus Sarjeant, became the last person to date to be convicted under the Treason Act of 1842.
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Trooping the Colour.
Three intrinsically British words we all recognise and yet few of us really understand. What? When? Who? Why? Something royal, isn’t it? Well, yes. Let us explain.
Trooping the Colour, in layman’s terms, is the Queen’s birthday parade, which has taken place since 1748. It’s annual – birthdays tend to work like that – and, since the 1950s, has always fallen on the second Saturday of June, the monarch’s official celebration. This year, it takes place on June 9.
After travelling from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, The Queen inspects around 2,000 members of the Household Division and Horse Guards, made up of 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians, who give her Majesty the royal salute. Then the Colour is Trooped – that is, a regimental flag (the 'Colour') is paraded ('Trooped') in front of the Queen. Though the flag changes yearly, it always come from one of Five Foot Guards regiments, either the Scots, Welsh, Irish, Grenadier and Coldstream guards. This year the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards will be providing the Colour, the first time they have done so since 2009. Their Colonel is Prince William, who took the position in 2011. Back in the 1700s, the flag would be shown off so all troops would recognise it in battle.
This parade is not a simple wave and ‘what ho!’, though: it's an extravagant display of military prowess, involving 113 commands, and following strict timings. Troops begin to form at 9.15am, but things begin properly at 10.45am when the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace to begin her grand birthday parade down to Horse Guards Parade, which she reaches at 11am. Her Majesty then reviews the soldiers before heading back to the palace. At 12.52pm, there is a cannonade of artillery, followed by a Fly Past over Buckingham Palace by the Royal Airforce.
Until 1987, the Queen rode alongside the guards – including in 1981, when Marcus Sarjeant fired six blank shots at her, later being charged with treason – but now watches the entire parade from a carriage. Her Majesty has attended the event every year bar one since taking the throne in 1953: in 1955, a National Rail strike meant the entire event was cancelled.
Trooping the Colour is taken extremely seriously every year, with troops taking up to 12 hours to prepare their uniforms and reported 1200 pots of polish used each year. The streets also need taking care of: a team of road sweepers is employed by the Royal Parks to clear up after the horses, which can leave up to 4.5 tons of manure behind during the event.
Things kick off properly from around 10.30am, and will be broadcast live on BBC One. For those who want to watch in person, try lining the Mall or head up to the end of St James’s Park which looks over Horse Guards Parade, or pick up a standing ticket for £2. Tickets to watch from the stand at Horse Guards Parade finish going on sale on March 1.
Her Majesty's Trooping of the Colour Birthday parade takes place on Saturday June 9, 2018 at Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX. For more information and to enter the ballot, visit the British Army's website.
