Der König hat sich entschieden. Auch in diesem Jahr wird die über 260 Jahre alte Tradition fortgeführt. Am zweiten Samstag im Juni feiert HM King Charles III. seinen offiziellen Geburtstag mit der Trooping the Colour Zeremonie. Dieses Jahr findet sie am 10. Juni statt. Diese zweihundert Jahre alte, beeindruckende Zeremonie ist eine grandiose Parade, bei der die Truppen des Königs, die Household Division, die Horse Guards und seine Majestät der König selbst teilnehmen und den Salut entgegennehmen. Über 1400 Offiziere und Männer sind bei der Parade dabei, zusammen mit 200 Pferden und über 400 Musikern, die gemeinsam spielen. Der König reist in einer königlichen Prozession vom Buckingham Palace die Mall hinunter, begleitet von einer Eskorte der Household Cavalry. Wer dabei sein möchte, kann die Parade live bei der BBC oder direkt vor Ort verfolgen.

The history of Trooping The Colour

The colors of a regiment embody its spirit and great service to the homeland it represents and to its fallen soldiers. On the battlefield, a regiment's colors or flags were used as rallying points. Regiments had their ensigns march slowly between the ranks with their flags so that soldiers could recognize their regiment's flags. Losing a flag or capturing an enemy flag was considered the greatest disgrace or glory on the battlefield. Trooping the Color is an ancient ceremony in which battalions participate with their respective companies and each flag group marches its flag through the ranks so that each soldier can see that the flag is intact. This was done before and after each battle. This ceremony has been maintained over time and is largely ceremonial today.

Since 1748, Trooping the Colour has also been known to mark the official birthday of the British sovereign. On this day, the Government Gazette also publishes the Birthday Honours list, which recognizes the official birthday of the reigning British monarch by appointing various individuals to national or dynastic orders or awarding decorations and medals. The "Birthday Honors" are one of two annual honor lists, along with the "New Year Honors." Trooping the Color allows the Household Division troops to pay personal tribute to the sovereign with great pomp and pageantry. Crowds lining the route and St. James's Park listen to the sounds of the bands and horsemen.

Trooping of the Colour Timeline

5 FACTS ABOUT TROOPING THE COLOUR

The balcony elite

The balcony is a big deal and the participants vary. However, the monarch and his or her spouse, as well as the first and second heirs to the throne with their spouses, are always present.

The first time on the balcony

Queen Victoria was the first monarch to use the balcony to greet her subjects.

The princess of the people

Princess Diana participated in her first Trooping the Colour, riding in a carriage with Prince Andrew while her future husband, Prince Charles, rode on horseback.

Trooping treason

On the same day that Princess Diana first attended Trooping the Colour, Queen Elizabeth II, then 55, was riding to the ceremony when 17-year-old Marcus Simon Sarjeant fired blanks at her.

Wearing the colors

Only battalions of front infantry regiments carry flags. Rifle regiments did not form a front and therefore never carried flags. Their battle honors are carried on their drums. The exception is the Honourable Artillery Company, which has both a flag stand and guns.