Take Kids to Trooping the Colour in London

Trooping the Colour is an annual parade held in Central London every June to celebrate the reigning British monarch’s birthday. The tradition dates back to 1748, when King George II made the executive decision to combine the summer military march with his birthday festivities (even though his birthday fell in October). Truthfully, he wanted to take advantage of the warm summer months.

The annual parade includes approximately 1,400 military officers; 200 horses; and musicians leading the Royal Family from Buckingham Palace down The Mall and ending at Horse Guards Parade for a ceremony. Tickets are available to the general public for purchase; however, it usually sells out months in advance.

The ceremony resembles century-old battlefield origins, where military officers slowly marched past soldiers with their flag to ensure clarification on what to look for during battle. The parade performs a similar act, where the monarch is first greeted with a Royal Salute, proceeding to inspect the aligned soldiers. Then, the Regimental Colour flag slowly marches through the ranks of soldiers, just like on the battlefield.

Back at Buckingham Palace, the parade concludes with the Royal Family gathering on the balcony to watch the Red Arrows (Royal Airforce Aerobatic Team) fly over, leaving traces of red, white and blue smoke behind them.