Trooping the Colour

To mark the second of the Queen's two birthdays (this is the official one, her actual birthday is on 21st April), Trooping the Colour presents a vibrant display of ceremony and military history. It's a spectacular piece of pageantry but also a timely reminder of the role of the armed forces who are - in theory at least - under the Queen's control. Hundreds of well-disciplined soldiers in full dress uniform march past at the Horse Guards Parade, and a different Battalion gives the Royal Salute each year, all accompanied by stirring military music from the massed bands. If you want to avoid the crush you can see the Horse Guards practicing for the grand parade at two smaller rehearsals in the days leading up to the grand event - namely the Major General's Review on Saturday 2nd June 2012 and the Colonel's Review on Saturday 9th June 2012.

TICKETS:
The Ballot for tickets for seated stands around Horse Guards Parade on 16th June will open in January 2012 and close in February. Applications should be made in writing, during January and February 2012 only, enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope to:
Brigade Major
HQ Household Division
Horse Guards
Whitehall
London SW1A 2AX