Happy Birthday Ma'am

Since 1748 the sovereign's birthday has been celebrated with a colourful military pageant called Trooping the Colour. The origin of this ceremony can be traced to a time when a regiment's colours, or flags, were used as rally points for the regiment's soldiers in the midst of battle. To help a regiment remember its colours junior officers would frequently walk the colours between the soldiers' ranks in slow pace during military parades. This year the Queen turned 80 so we were expecting something special.

Garry and I decided to watch this year's ceremony, or at least, catch the ceremonial march of troops down the Mall. We rose early to ensure we arrived in plenty of time to grab a prime viewing spot. We found a shaded place close to Buckingham Palace. Thank goodness for trees. The temperature climbed through out the morning, peaking around 29C later in the afternoon. The Mall was decorated with large Union Jack flags and Buckingham Palace balcony was draped with crimson and gold-embroidered banners.

We arrived in time to see the Grenadier Guards line up along the Mall as a guard of honour. The Guards are renown for their large furry black hemets and bright red jackets. You can see them guarding most royal palaces in London, including St James Palace and Buckingham Palace. This year they celebrate their 350th anniversary.



Eventually, the royal procession began. First, divisions of Guards marched up the Mall, each with its own bands playing. The march was quite a spectacle with row after row of bright red and black uniforms passing in unison.

Next came various members of the royal family in a series of open carriages. The first royals I spotted were Beatrice and Eugenie, daughters of Prince Andrew. I didn't spot Andrew, but Garry tells me he was sitting in the same carriage. Prince Edward and Sophie followed next, along with Princess Anne on horseback. Finally, the Queen herself came by, riding in a surprisingly simple black carriage. I stood ready to capture the perfect photo, only to have my autofocus fail me at the last minute. The following fuzzy images are the best I can share.

In a fitting finale, the Life Guards rode past on horseback. These aren't your sun-bronzed Aussie surf lifesavers in Speedos and zinc sunblock. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment are recognised by their tall, white feathered hats.

As quickly as the march began it was over, leaving nothing but piles of horse manure to show that anything had happened. Garry and I briefly considered watching the rest of the ceremony at the Parade Grounds, but quickly abandoned the idea, as was walked up the Mall through an increasingly dense crowd. Perhaps next year if the weather is a little cooler!