Read on for our introduction to Trooping the Colour, the annual military parade to mark the official birthday of the reigning British monarch.
What is Trooping the Colour?
Since 1748, the British Sovereign’s official birthday in June has been marked by the event known as Trooping the Colour. Over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and up to 400 musicians present a parade to mark the occasion.
The parade processes from Buckingham Palace and down The Mall to Horse Guard’s Parade, together with members of the Royal Family on horseback and in carriages. The parade ends with a now traditional fly-past by the RAF, which will be watched by King Charles and his family from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
The event has long been associated with the monarch's official birthday. In fact, Trooping the Colour is an older event than this, and was originally purely a military event. The various regiments would display their flags, or 'colours', allowing soldiers from different regiments to recognise their allies on the battlefield.
Why does the King have two birthdays?
You may remember that Queen Elizabeth celebrated her birthday on two separate days - both the actual date of her birth (21 April), and once again on a Saturday in June - her official birthday, and the cue for Trooping the Colour among other celebrations.
The same goes for King Charles. Like the rest of us, he celebrates the day of his birth (in his case, 14 November). Unlike the rest of us, he also has a state or official birthday - on that same Saturday in June.
Why is the King's state birthday in June?
The choice of the British monarch's official birthday owes much to that topic we all love to talk about - the fickle, changeable, often maddening British weather.
The tradition of a state birthday started back in 1748 with King George II. George's actual birthday was, like his modern-day successor's, in November. However, this chilly autumn-winter month wasn't the ideal setting for the kind of colourful, outdoor pageant that, for centuries, the Royal Family has revelled in.
Kindly King George didn’t want to drag his subjects out on a cold November's day and risk them all falling ill. So he took the decision to merge his own birthday celebrations with the annual Trooping the Colour parade, traditionally held (as we've seen) in June.
The monarch's official summertime birthday parade has been in place ever since. It's a public holiday in Commonwealth nations including Australia and New Zealand.
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When is the King's actual birthday?
Charles was born on 14 November 1948. A less suitable time of year for grand outdoor pageantry, to be sure.
When is Trooping the Colour 2024?
The monarch's birthday, and the Trooping the Colour celebrations, always take place on a Saturday in June. The 2024 Trooping the Colour takes place on Saturday 15 June. Presented by Regiments of the Household Division, it takes place on Horse Guards Parade, with the King attending and taking the salute.
Who will be taking part?
During the parade, the King’s Colour (Regimental flag) is 'Trooped', or carried aloft by one of the Regiment’s most junior Officers through the ranks of soldiers. This year that honour goes to Lieutenant Harry Winterbottom of the Irish Guards.
The honour of Trooping the Colour is rotated through the five Foot Guard regiments. In 2023, the Welsh Guards were the chosen regiment , and this year (2024) the honour falls to Number 9 Company Irish Guards.
Who are the Irish Guards?
Raised by Queen Victoria in 1900, the Irish Guards have given nearly 125 years of service to the nation and to the monarchy. This year will be the very first time that one of the Irish Guards Public Duties Companies will get to Troop Their Colour on a monarch's birthday parade. It will also be the first time that the Irish Guards have trooped in front of The King.
What bands will play at this year's Trooping The Colour?
Music is traditionally provided by the massed bands of the foot guards and the mounted Band of the Household Cavalry, together with a Corps of Drums, often with pipers, totally around 400 musicians.
What music will they play?
The music performed at Trooping the Colour varies from year to year, but will invariably include at least two renditions of the National Anthem – one for the arrival at Buckingham Palace, another for the end of the procession.
The parade itself, which involves at various stages slow marches and quick marches, will most probably include such favourites as ‘The British Grenadiers’ (a ‘quick’ 17th-century march probably heard since the original Trooping the Colour), ‘Freedom of Windsor’, and the march from Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots (a slow march often used at such events).
Given the Irish Guards's key role in the proceedings, the 2024 Trooping the Colour will have a distinctly Irish theme. As well as some familiar Celtic folk songs, you'll hear some new music composed specifically for this year’s parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied battles that helped to precipitate the end of World War Two in Europe.
When is the Gun Salute?
You will also hear The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery firing the official birthday Gun Salute of 41 Guns in London's Green Park at 1252hrs.
At the same time on the other side of central London, the Honourable Artillery Company will be at the Tower of London to fire a 62-round Gun Salute.
And when is the flypast?
The 2024 Trooping the Colour celebrations will also be marked by a tri-service flypast at 1pm. Craft will fly down The Mall and over Buckingham Palace, where members of the Royal family will watch from the balcony.