INSIDE TROOPING OF THE COLOUR
Trooping the Colour is an annual highlight of the Queen’s calendar and it marks her official birthday, even though it is held in June and Queen Elizabeth was born in April. The name ‘Trooping the Colour’ comes from the fact various regiments would show off their different coloured flags back in the 1700s. Here New Idea takes a look inside one of the most popular events of the year.
“The event dates back to the 1600s but it became the sovereign’s official birthday ceremony in 1748 so that it could be celebrated in warm weather, whenever the king or queen was born,” says royal expert Phil Dampier.
The Queen first took part in 1947 as Princess Elizabeth, and since becoming Queen there has only been one official cancellation, in 1955, because of
a train strike and another reported in 1909 due to thunderstorms, although the former is the only one reported on the royal website.
The spectacle, featuring 1500 Guards from the Household Division and some 250 horses, draws tourists and royalists from around the world and is aired live on TV in many countries.
However, one of the world’s most famous events was once marred by tragedy.
“Unfortunately, the most memorable moment was in 1981 when 17-year-old antimonarchist Marcus Sarjeant, who wanted to make a name for himself, fired six blank shots at the Queen from a starting pistol,” Phil recalls.
The Queen was riding her 19-year-old horse Burmese down the Mall and was widely praised for her calmness.
“She didn’t know the shots were blanks but soon brought Burmese under control and carried on after patting him, with a massive smile of relief on her face. It showed what a truly brave and remarkable woman she is. Sarjeant got five years under the treason act and was released from prison after three before changing his name
and starting a new life.
There have also been several fallen guards over the years. In 2016 the weather proved too much for one guard who found himself face first on the ground after he fainted. The bearskin cap is known to weigh around half a kilo and can prove very challenging in hot weather. In the 1957, 1963 and 1970 Trooping the Colour ceremonies, guards also found themselves falling flat.
A key part of Trooping the Colour is the royal family’s balcony appearance. And over the years the appearances on the Buckingham Palace balcony have seen significant moments and debuts from royal newcomers and their cheeky children.
“In 1964 the Queen held her new baby Edward in her arms,” Phil recalls. “Harry was seen poking his tongue out as a youngster in 1988, George and Charlotte stole the show in 2017 watching the fly-past by aircraft,” Phil recalls.
In 2016 the Queen told George to stand up straight as
“GEORGE AND CHARLOTTE STOLE THE SHOW IN 2017 WATCHING THE FLY-PAST BY AIRCRAFT”
he started to lean over the balcony! Then in 2018, young Savannah Phillips was seen placing her hand over the little prince’s mouth as he appeared to be annoying her. She was also seen shushing her younger cousin moments earlier as if to say ‘be quiet!’
Young Princess Charlotte also got a little telling off from her mother Kate, when the Duchess of Cambridge was seen reprimanding her only daughter.
The event has evolved decade by decade and is also used to send out coded messages about the state of the
monarchy and who is in – and out – of favour.
In 2012 at one point the Queen stood on the balcony with just William and Kate, Charles and Camilla and Harry, while Prince Philip was in hospital. This was seen to show that in the future a slimmed down monarchy would feature these important central figures, with others in the family playing more secondary roles.
“It didn’t go down well with Prince Andrew for example, who wants his daughters to play a greater role in royal life.
“But Charles is thought to believe that the monarchy will only survive in the future if it is not seen as bloated and expensive,” Phil says.
“It’s also fascinating to see the family dynamics and who is in and out. For example, Marina Mowatt, daughter of Princess Alexandra, and her daughter Zenouska, now appear on the balcony with the rest of the family,” Phil recalls.
“But at one time Marina was in disgrace for posing up as the Queen in a magazine,
revealing her parents wanted her to have an abortion and for getting married in black while heavily pregnant.
“The Queen is forgiving and pragmatic, and over the years the family rifts were healed and Marina forgiven for her youthful indiscretions.
“If you are on the balcony during ‘Trooping’ you are back in the family fold,” Phil reveals.
In 2018, new royal Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attended her first Trooping the Colour with new husband Prince Harry and this year she may bring along her first child. “Hopefully Harry and Meghan will appear this year with baby Archie making his debut.”