Trooping the colour, what’s it all about?

The familiar, and very British, sight of the Foot Guards trooping the colour

As we start again afresh, another undoubtedly busy year, we are going to look back on a British Army tradition that’s been around since the 17th Century, and forward to what the future may hold for this ceremony, as the Grenadiers take on the role in 2019.

Starting in 1748, it marks the official birthday of the British sovereign, not to be confused with Her Majesty’s actual birthday in a normally quite wet April. For Elizabeth II, it’s usually the second Saturday of June, which falls on the 8th this year. But the name? Why? The reason for Colours refers to regimental standards held and hence trooped around a troop of soldiers, in the past, so that soldiers could familiarise themselves with their standard, an early form of organisation. Although now, as battle equipment as advanced far from flags, this is purely ceremonial. The five regiments of the Foot Guards (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Welsh and Irish) take turns in displaying their colours year on year. Last year, the Coldstream Guards, this year, the iconic Grenadier Guards. And the Household cavalry are represented by their two regiments, the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards.

The Grenadier Guards, who will be trooping the colour this year. As with Trooping the Colour, they alternate their role of guarding Buckingham Palace with the other regiments of the Foot Guards. As well as their ceremonial role, the guards also participate in ordinary infantry roles, and can currently be found in South Sudan.

It is undoubtedly a ceremony that is and can, be enjoyed by all, with the rise of social media, this is only going to continue to gain in popularity, live streamed all over the world from Germany to South Africa, and at home in Britain, a record number tuned in to watch the 2018 display. And for a lucky few, tickets can be bought at https://qbp.army.mod.uk/ . With the Grenadiers on the ground and the Red Arrows in the air, it is not a spectacle in the calendar to be missed.

Soldiers and Horses of the Life Guards, who annually participate in Trooping the Colour, and who can be regularly found stationed at Horse Guard’s parade off Whitehall.