We were invited to attend this year’s Trooping the Colour, which is a celebration of the Sovereign’s birthday and “gift” him with a display of military professionalism. King Charles III’s birthday is actually in November, but the national celebration has been taking place in June since 1901, thanks to King Edward VII. He said, “it’s much nicer to have a parade in June”. The irony of this makes me chuckle. While the intention might be good, we certainly did not experience ‘idyllic parade weather’. Most of these photos were taken between bouts of torrential downpour!
The pageantry consisted of over 14,000 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians from across Great Britian and Ireland. First to arrive was Irish Wolfhound Turlough Mor, also known as Seamus, mascot for the Irish Guards.
I loved this gray, a feisty 18-yr-old mare named Onyx, whose rider was the field officer in charge. The coloring choice of horses throughout the parade was quite interesting, and presumably strategic.
And now, the arrival of the Sovereign!
The King inspected the troops via carriage this year, instead of his usual horseback. Then, they disembarked to watch the pomp and circumstance.
This is the actual “Colour” (Regimental flag) that was “trooped” (paraded). The honor of Trooping the Colour rotates each year between the five regiments of Foot Guards. This year the Colour belonged to Irish Guards, whom Kate Middleton is the honorary Colonel.
While all this pageantry was fantastic to observe, what really delighted me was the mounted band! Lead by two Clydesdales, each equipped with two huge base drums. And the musicians beat those drums with two mallets! How do they steer the horse, you ask? With reins attached to the stirrups! I mean, that is some talent there. To ride a horse through the streets and a parade ground filled with tens of thousands of people, all making unpredictable movements and sounds, guiding it with your feet, while playing a musical instrument and keeping time with hundreds of other musicians. All outdoors, during a downpour, no less. Come one…that’s impressive.
I must have a thousand pictures of the band, but here are just a few, so you can see the other instruments. I don’t want to geek out that hard!
I mean, I feel like I could do this. I am a very skilled equestrian, if I might say so myself. I was marginal, at best, in the marching band. I am trying to learn the drums alongside T1. I’ve never ridden a Clydesdale, but I’ve drunk a few Budweiser’s in my day. I think that makes me decently qualified, right?! I think I missed my calling. I’m googling how to get into the mounted band right now.
And finally, we watched the royal parties depart through the pouring rain. I didn’t bother to crop the umbrellas out of frame for this one. Zoom in to see Kate and the kids.
Use Your Accent 