With just a week to go until Her Majesty’s birthday the Household Division are today fine-tuning their routine ahead of the Trooping of The Colour.
The second rehearsal, which is known as The Colonel’s Review, is underway on Horse Guard’s Parade.
More than 1,400 officers and men are on parade along with 200 horses, 400 musicians from ten bands and corps of drums march.
A total of 113 words of command will be given by the Officer in Command of the Parade, whose route extends along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall before turning back on itself.
During the ceremony next Saturday, The Queen will be greeted by a Royal salute and will carry out an inspection of the troops.
After the bands have performed a musical ‘troop’, the Regimental Colour will be carried down the ranks.
The Foot Guards and Household Cavalry will then march past the monarch while The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past.
Later, Her Majesty will join members of the Royal Family on balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF fly-past.
Known as the Colonel’s Review, the second and final rehearsal of the Trooping of The Colour is taking place ahead of Her Majesty the Queen’s official birthday a week today. After the bands have performed a musical ‘troop’, the Regimental Colour will be carried down the ranks

More than 1,400 officers and men are on parade along with 200 horses, 400 musicians from ten bands and corps of drums march. Members of the royal escort are pictured making their way out of Buckingham Palace towards Horseguards Parade for the Colonel’s Review today

A Sikh member of the Coldstream Guards wearing a turban as he takes part in the second rehearsal for the Trooping of The Colour which takes place Saturday June 9. His comrades are wearing the traditional ‘bearskins’, a type of ceremonial military cap that dates back to the 17th century

The first rehearsal known as The Major General’s Review usually takes place two weeks before the actual Birthday Parade. The second rehearsal almost always takes place exactly two weeks before the actual Birthday Parade, which will broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world

The Trooping of the Colour has been a tradition of British infantry regiments since the 17th century but its roots go back much earlier. Regiments colours were formerly used as rallying points that were carried between ranks to soldiers could recognise their regiments’ colours

On the big day itself next Saturday, the Queen will travel down the Mall from Buckingham Palace in a royal procession with an escort of the Household Cavalry. She will receive a royal salute and then inspect her troops of the Household Division – foot guards and horse guards and the Kings Troop, Royal Horse Artillery


The Queen has attended the Trooping of the Colour every year of her reign except for in 1955, when she was unable to due to a rail strike. The monarch used to attend the ceremony on horseback but began riding in a carriage in 1987 after she and her mount were startled by Marcus Sarjeant, who fire six blank rounds from a starting revolver in 1981

More than 1,400 officers and men are on parade along with 200 horses, 400 musicians from ten bands and corps of drums march. A total of 113 words of command will be given by the Officer in Command of the Parade, whose route extends along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall before turning back on itself

During the ceremony next Saturday, The Queen will be greeted by a Royal salute and will carry out an inspection of the troops. After the bands have performed a musical ‘troop’, the Regimental Colour will be carried down the ranks

The Trooping of the Colour is also known as the Queen’s Birthday Parade and has marked the official birthday of the sovereign since 1748. King Edward VII moved the ceremony to its June data because the weather during November, when he celebrates his actual birthday, was less predictable

After the bands have performed a musical ‘troop’, the Regimental Colour will be carried down the ranks. The Foot Guards and Household Cavalry will then march past the monarch while The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past

Members of the Household Cavalry make their way down The Mall. Her Majesty used to wear uniform with medals and the riband and star of the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, or a combination of them, depending on which regiment was trooping its colour

Music has always been an integral part of the Trooping of the Colour and will see more than 400 musicians from ten bands and crops of drums march and play as one

A guard division makes its way down The Mall as more than 1,400 officers and men parade ahead of the Trooping of the Colour next Saturday. Tickets can be purchased for seated stands around Horse Guards Parade and are allocated by ballot. Prices cost £35 for the Trooping of the Colour itself, £10 for the Colonel’s Review and £5 for the Major’s Review

Members of the public are able to watch the grand ceremony by standing on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards

The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again. Members of the Queen’s Guard can be seen taking part in the Colonel’s Review today along The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace

Later, Her Majesty will join members of the Royal Family on balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF fly-past. Pictured: The Queens Guard practice today head of the Trooping of the Colour next Saturday