2013

:00:14. > :00:19.1953, members of the Royal Family gathered in this room to watch the

:00:19. > :00:23.first big military parade of the Queen's reign. It is not just a good

:00:23. > :00:27.vantage point, it is also a place steeped in history as the office

:00:27. > :00:31.once occupied by the Duke of Wellington. The family will be back

:00:31. > :00:34.here today following events from this window as they enjoy the

:00:34. > :00:44.ceremony of Trooping the Colour to mark the Queen's Official Birthday

:00:44. > :01:11.

:01:11. > :01:15.reign took place on 11th June, nine days after the Coronation. All the

:01:15. > :01:21.decorations were still in place. It was the first official engagement

:01:21. > :01:25.for the new Queen. 60 years on, the Birthday Parade features some

:01:25. > :01:29.rousing Welsh tunes as the Prince of Wales Company, 1st Battalion Welsh

:01:29. > :01:32.Guards, provide the Escort and a very prominent part in today's

:01:32. > :01:37.ceremony. This time last year, the soldiers were deployed in

:01:37. > :01:43.Afghanistan, which reminds everyone watching that they combine these

:01:43. > :01:46.ceremonial duties with life on the frontline. Since last year's parade,

:01:46. > :01:50.25 members of the Armed Forces have lost their lives serving in

:01:50. > :01:56.Afghanistan. Five of them from the Household Division, three Grenadier

:01:57. > :02:01.Guardsmen, two Welsh Guardsmen. A vast crowd of #,000 in the stands.

:02:01. > :02:08.There were more than 17,000 applications for tickets from all

:02:08. > :02:12.around the world. -- 5,000 in the stands. Here too, heads of the Armed

:02:12. > :02:15.Forces, along with representatives from many foreign nations, including

:02:15. > :02:20.the Commonwealth member states. In line with tradition, The Mall is

:02:20. > :02:25.lined with Union Flags to celebrate the Queen's Official Birthday. There

:02:25. > :02:27.are 200 soldiers lining the route. Their ten officers provided by 1st

:02:27. > :02:33.Battalion Grenadier Guards today. Along the route, poignant reminders

:02:33. > :02:42.for the Queen of the loss of her father, King George VI, and her late

:02:42. > :02:45.mother. At Buckingham Palace, the Sovereign's Escort and the Mounted

:02:45. > :02:49.Bands waiting to accompany the company and other members of the

:02:49. > :02:54.Royal Family to Horse Guards Parade. This year, we have extended coverage

:02:54. > :02:59.on BBC One. We will be staying on air to see the balcony appearance

:02:59. > :03:05.and a fly-past involving up to 32 aircraft, including the Red Arrows.

:03:05. > :03:10.We are providing continuous unedited coverage on bbc.co.uk/trooping. Not

:03:10. > :03:14.long to go before the processions get under way. Let's say a good

:03:14. > :03:18.morning to Clare Balding. CLARE BALDING: I am on the roof of

:03:18. > :03:21.the Horse Guards Building. It is breezy up here. Alongside me is

:03:21. > :03:24.Lance Sergeant Martin Turner, known as Big T. You can see why! What is

:03:24. > :03:28.your responsibility today? responsibility today has been

:03:28. > :03:35.sorting out the dais. My main responsibility is to crack Her

:03:35. > :03:39.Majesty's Standard. What does that mean? When Her Majesty comes on

:03:39. > :03:46.parade, I will pull a cord, three stitches will pop and it will spring

:03:46. > :03:50.out. This is your last Queen's Birthday parade? I am retiring. My

:03:50. > :03:58.family and friends have come down to see me. Well happy with that.

:03:58. > :04:06.wish you well. Hope it goes perfectly. Thank you. My special

:04:06. > :04:09.guest today knows everything there is to know about this parade. He was

:04:09. > :04:14.formerly Colonel of the Irish Guards, he was succeeded by Prince

:04:14. > :04:18.William two years ago. There he is. He is Major-General Sir Sebastian

:04:18. > :04:23.Roberts. It is a great pleasure to have you with us. Good morning.

:04:23. > :04:27.morning. What are you looking forward to? Like everybody, that

:04:27. > :04:31.extraordinary combination of ancient tradition and modern professionalism

:04:31. > :04:35.embodied in these young men and women on parade today. All soldiers

:04:35. > :04:39.who have achieved the same remarkable standards in ceremonials

:04:39. > :04:43.in all their other duties and all coming together in this world-famous

:04:43. > :04:48.celebration of our Queen's official birthday. The last time the 1st

:04:48. > :04:53.Battalion Welsh Guards trooped their colour was in 2008. Since then, they

:04:53. > :04:57.have deployed twice to Afghanistan. They provide today's Escort and

:04:57. > :05:04.Numbers 2 and 3 Guards. We have been speaking to some of them about their

:05:04. > :05:12.recent tour. All soldiers need to be adaptable. For Guardsmen, that

:05:12. > :05:22.adaptability is stark. We go from wearing our combat clothing into

:05:22. > :05:23.

:05:23. > :05:27.scarlet very readily. On our most recent tour of Afghanistan, the

:05:27. > :05:34.majority of the battalion formed the Police Mentoring Advisory Group.

:05:34. > :05:39.They were there to train and advise the police. We get up at dawn. We

:05:39. > :05:45.set off to our patrol base. As soon as we get there, we go into our

:05:45. > :05:49.security measures. We would then build a rapport with the police.

:05:49. > :05:52.is quite hard because you have that language barrier. It is trying to

:05:52. > :06:01.understand people from a different culture. After a while, they are the

:06:01. > :06:05.same as you. You build-up bonds. They do look after you. On one of

:06:05. > :06:09.these patrols, we went to the checkpoint, as we always did.

:06:09. > :06:19.Unfortunately, two of my Guards were shot dead by a rogue Afghan

:06:19. > :06:23.policeman who was unknown to the checkpoints. The situation was a

:06:23. > :06:27.commander's worst nightmare. He had casualties. More than that, a

:06:27. > :06:33.volatile situation which was threatening his mission. He was only

:06:33. > :06:37.six weeks into it. We were back out on operations with the Afghan police

:06:37. > :06:42.soon after the incident occurred. Two weeks following this, I became a

:06:42. > :06:47.casualty from a gunshot wound. essence of good leadership is that

:06:47. > :06:57.you can rise above that sort of chaos and that is what Ben did. For

:06:57. > :06:59.

:06:59. > :07:04.that, he was very deservedly awarded the Queen's Commendation.

:07:04. > :07:11.Queen's Birthday Parade has served as a recovery vehicle for me. Me

:07:11. > :07:16.being on parade today is a tribute to the recovery I have gone through.

:07:16. > :07:23.It is a sincere form of flattery. They are done by hard, fighting men

:07:23. > :07:31.who have been at the tip of a spear and we are very proud to have both

:07:31. > :07:41.roles. The men of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards sharing their frontline

:07:41. > :07:41.

:07:42. > :07:46.experiences with us. And Captain Ben Bardsley has made a remarkable

:07:46. > :07:49.recovery from those life-threatening injuries. He is here today as

:07:49. > :07:53.Subaltern of No 2 Guard. He can be sfoR given if he is a little

:07:53. > :07:59.distracted today - he is getting married to his fiancee in a week's

:07:59. > :08:04.time. We wish them well. The Escort provided by the Prince of Wales

:08:04. > :08:14.Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. The 1st Battalion also providing the

:08:14. > :08:20.men for No 2 Guard and No 3 Guard. Let's have a look at the far end. No

:08:20. > :08:30.7 Company, Coldstream Guards, providing No 6 Guard today. Next to

:08:30. > :08:32.

:08:32. > :08:35.them is No 5 Guard, provided by F Company Scots Guards. No 4 Guard

:08:35. > :08:43.provided by Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards. Later this month,

:08:44. > :08:48.the Queen will present new Colours to the company at Buckingham Palace.

:08:48. > :08:51.The 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, started their six-month deployment

:08:51. > :08:54.to Afghanistan in April. A successful Birthday Parade depends

:08:54. > :08:58.on hundreds of men and women setting the highest standards of precision

:08:58. > :09:02.and drill. The man in charge is the Field Officer, Lieutenant Colonel

:09:02. > :09:06.Dino Bosi. He is with Clare. This must be a proud day for the

:09:06. > :09:10.battalion? I must admit a bit nerve-wracking. We hope we will be

:09:10. > :09:15.able to live up to the high standards that our predecessors have

:09:15. > :09:19.set. It is all about team work and about you and your Stead. This is

:09:20. > :09:28.Winston. Hello. You can look happier than that if you like! What sort of

:09:28. > :09:33.a relationship have you built up? He's a real old stager. He is 22. He

:09:33. > :09:38.hasn't done a parade before. This is a new experience for both of us.

:09:38. > :09:44.is quite elderly? He is. He is 22. His birthday is in dispute. He can't

:09:44. > :09:48.tell us! Other than counting teeth, we are not sure. He is immensely

:09:48. > :09:53.calm. You will find he is still frisky. There is life in the old dog

:09:53. > :09:59.yet. He will bounce along with the band. He seems to enjoy the music.

:09:59. > :10:06.know you and your men have been extremely busy. For those based in

:10:06. > :10:10.London, one of their jobs have been to provide the Queen's guard. We

:10:10. > :10:17.sent a camera behind-the-scenes to find out what this key role entails

:10:17. > :10:21.at Buckingham Palace. The Queen's Birthday Parade is an incredibly

:10:21. > :10:27.complicated and intricate parade. The standard that is required for us

:10:27. > :10:37.on that parade is nothing short of excellence. The drill is very much

:10:37. > :10:39.

:10:39. > :10:43.our bread-and-butter while we are in London. When the guys do it now, it

:10:43. > :10:48.is all about getting experience, to work together as a team. When they

:10:48. > :10:57.step out of the gates, the crowds will have started to build-up and it

:10:57. > :11:00.is six to ten-deep down The Mall. It doesn't phase the guys. The guard

:11:00. > :11:06.Room at Buckingham Palace, it is an opportunity for the guys to take

:11:06. > :11:10.their bearskin off, have something to eat, before they go back out.

:11:10. > :11:17.is quite nervous when you see a couple of hundred people watching

:11:17. > :11:21.you. All the faces are looking at you, wondering when you are going to

:11:21. > :11:26.move. Concentration is the hardest thing. You focus on your job and try

:11:26. > :11:34.and do it right. There are little things they can miss - a button may

:11:34. > :11:40.be turned the wrong way and a belt might not be sitting correctly.

:11:40. > :11:45.new here. This is my first Troop. I have a lot to live up to. It is

:11:45. > :11:53.really nerve-wracking. Being Welsh, the camaraderie within the battalion

:11:53. > :11:58.is fantastic. We get knives and forks today! Everyone mucks in. We

:11:58. > :12:03.are altogether. My daughters think it is very funny, I have a bearskin

:12:03. > :12:07.on my head, but they are very proud of me. The last time I was in

:12:07. > :12:13.Trooping the Colour, my girlfriend came down with my father and mother.

:12:13. > :12:21.That was one of my proudest moments. This year, will be better. I love

:12:21. > :12:26.it. The Welsh Guards taking pride in their heritage. They trooped their

:12:26. > :12:30.colour for the sovereign in 1928, that was for King George V. The

:12:30. > :12:35.Colour Party is in place. We have just seen some of the preparation.

:12:35. > :12:45.It is a great honour to be selected for such a central role in the

:12:45. > :12:55.Parade. At Buckingham Palace, the first Royal Procession is leaving

:12:55. > :13:14.

:13:14. > :13:20.Horse Guards. -- is leaving for # God save our gracious Queen.

:13:20. > :13:26.# Long live our noble Queen. # God save the Queen.

:13:26. > :13:36.# Send her victorious. # Happy and glorious.

:13:36. > :13:42.

:13:42. > :13:50.# Long to reign over us. # Long to reign over us.

:13:50. > :13:55.# God save the Queen. In the first carriage we have the

:13:55. > :14:02.Duchess of Cornwall, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Duke

:14:02. > :14:10.of York and his two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess

:14:10. > :14:16.Eugenie. In the third carriage, we have the Earl and Countess of Wessex

:14:16. > :14:20.and their daughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor. This is the

:14:20. > :14:30.final public engagement for the Duchess of Cambridge before the due

:14:30. > :14:33.

:14:33. > :14:38.date for her baby, which is next month. The Duchess of Cornwall - we

:14:38. > :14:41.have seen her profile growing steadily over the last year. She

:14:41. > :14:46.attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time a

:14:46. > :14:53.couple of months ago. A great scene along The Mall. We will see more

:14:53. > :15:03.crowds later on as they arrive here for the balcony appearance and the

:15:03. > :15:10.

:15:10. > :15:20.fly-past after the Parade is is just under a mile from Buckingham

:15:20. > :15:23.Palace to Horse Guards Parade. Once the three carriages are on their

:15:23. > :15:33.way, we will be ready for the Queen's departure from Buckingham

:15:33. > :15:45.

:15:45. > :15:48.the breeze above Buckingham Palace. One of the great sights along the

:15:48. > :15:53.ceremonial route, which of course is so familiar to members of the royal

:15:53. > :16:03.family, but especially the Queen. The 60th anniversary year after the

:16:03. > :16:13.

:16:13. > :16:23.child will be third in line to the throne regardless of gender and

:16:23. > :16:23.

:16:23. > :17:25.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:17:25. > :17:29.Officer's trumpet. The Duke of Kent, the Colonel of the Scots Guards,

:17:29. > :17:36.cousin of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, missing the parade this

:17:36. > :17:40.year. He missed very few over the years as he recovers from his recent

:17:40. > :17:43.operation. The Duke of Edinburgh marked his 92nd birthday this week.

:17:43. > :17:48.Of course his absence will be keenly felt by the Queen, the royal

:17:48. > :17:58.family, but also the Grenadier Guards, whose Colonel he is and with

:17:58. > :18:29.

:18:30. > :18:34.vehicle at these state events. We last saw it at the State opening of

:18:34. > :18:44.Parliament. It is used by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of

:18:44. > :18:49.

:18:49. > :18:59.turning into the approach road. Just a few yards away from Horse Guards

:18:59. > :19:16.

:19:16. > :19:20.think, the Duchess of Cambridge. Everyone knowing that she is one

:19:20. > :19:27.month away from that first baby. The child will be third in line to the

:19:27. > :19:33.throne. As we can see, the guards have opened up. They have been

:19:33. > :19:43.positioned and that is to make way for this first section of carriages

:19:43. > :19:56.

:19:56. > :20:06.will be a national anthem to greet them.

:20:06. > :20:28.

:20:28. > :20:31.It's Blues and Royals uniform decorated with the wings of the Army

:20:31. > :20:39.Air Corps, his Diamond Jubilee medal, and his Afghanistan campaign

:20:39. > :20:43.medal. The carriages approach the Horse Guards Building, where the

:20:43. > :20:46.royal party will watch the parade from the room we saw a little

:20:46. > :20:51.earlier, the office once occupied by the Duke of Wellington, and they

:20:51. > :20:55.have to say by the man sitting next to me. The Major-General's offers,

:20:55. > :20:59.of course. What can they look forward to? Apart from anything

:20:59. > :21:04.else, one of the most beautiful rooms in London, it is said, and I

:21:04. > :21:08.am sure that is right. It has the most extraordinary articles in it.

:21:08. > :21:13.The Major-General's desk is now called Wellington's desk from when

:21:13. > :21:23.he was commander in chief. Wonderful Gainsborough portraits on the walls

:21:23. > :21:25.

:21:25. > :21:29.and a bust of Marlborough. Wonderful military history. Well, it was in

:21:29. > :21:33.1748 that it was decided to make this parade of birthday event for

:21:33. > :21:43.the Sovereign, after George III came to the throne in 1760 it became very

:21:43. > :21:45.

:21:45. > :21:50.much an annual event. Leading the procession along the Mall is the

:21:50. > :21:55.brigade major, four Troopers of the Lifeguards. This is his first

:21:55. > :22:05.Queen's Birthday Parade in this role. I am looking forward to

:22:05. > :22:09.leading the progression smoothly. Getting the timing is right is so

:22:09. > :22:17.important, delivering Her Majesty to the dais exactly on the stroke of 11

:22:17. > :22:23.o'clock. I will be making sure that the crowds are having a good time

:22:23. > :22:26.but mostly I will just be enjoying myself, I think. The brigade major,

:22:26. > :22:33.now responsible for delivering ceremonial and public duties. Quite

:22:33. > :22:37.a responsibility. The four Troopers provided by the Lifeguards this

:22:37. > :22:46.year. They are chosen from the top finishers of the Princess Elizabeth

:22:46. > :22:56.cup, the annual competition for the Regiment. Among them, one of the

:22:56. > :23:00.

:23:00. > :23:06.youngest of the Regiment, just 19, Mounted Bands of the Household

:23:06. > :23:11.Cavalry. This blend and in their gold state kit. Rightly known for

:23:11. > :23:21.their high standards of musicianship and horsemanship. They are led by

:23:21. > :23:22.

:23:22. > :23:26.the director of music, who is Major Paul Willman of the Lifeguards. He

:23:26. > :23:36.started his career more than a quarter of a century ago as a

:23:36. > :24:00.

:24:00. > :24:03.flautist. It is a nice story that he Sovereign's Escort this year

:24:03. > :24:11.provided by the Lifeguards. The distinctive red tunics, white

:24:11. > :24:15.plumes, raised by the exiled Charles II in 1658. They are the senior

:24:15. > :24:19.Regiment of the British Army. By the way, the tradition of using the

:24:19. > :24:27.Household Cavalry to Escort the Sovereign to the parade is a

:24:27. > :24:30.relatively recent thing, introduced in 1937 by George VI. We have the

:24:30. > :24:34.Lifeguards providing the first and second divisions, meaning that this

:24:34. > :24:42.year the third and fourth divisions of the Sovereign's Escort are

:24:42. > :24:52.provided by the Blues and Royals. They have dark blue tunics and red

:24:52. > :25:07.

:25:07. > :25:13.plumes and state helmets designed by way slowly along the Mall. Mark

:25:13. > :25:19.Hargreaves, the head coachman, he knows this route very well. Is his

:25:19. > :25:28.sixth Birthday Parade. A long career in the Armed Forces. Just a glimpse

:25:28. > :25:38.there of the Princess Royal. The Colonel of the Blues and Royals. One

:25:38. > :25:45.

:25:45. > :25:55.of three Royal Colonels in this start the music on the approach

:25:55. > :25:55.

:25:55. > :26:58.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:26:58. > :27:08.probably 100 yards before Admiralty at the turn right. Along the

:27:08. > :27:10.

:27:10. > :27:15.approach road, under the great line of Union flags. That reminds us that

:27:15. > :27:20.the Queen first took part in the parade back in 1947 at the age of

:27:20. > :27:30.21. That was the first parade after the war, arriving as Colonel of the

:27:30. > :28:01.

:28:01. > :28:07.Grenadier Guards them. The youth participants, we can hear them, from

:28:07. > :28:14.the boys Brigade, and the scouts, and they have a very good review on

:28:14. > :28:20.the corner. 60 years since the Coronation. We can reflect a little

:28:21. > :28:25.as well on the Queen's service and sense of duty. She has undertaken

:28:25. > :28:29.260 official overseas visits, including 96 state visits in that

:28:29. > :28:39.time to 116 different countries. Representatives of lots of those

:28:39. > :28:45.

:28:45. > :28:51.countries, especially the parade ground. The head coach man,

:28:51. > :29:01.Mark Hargreaves, very soon will provide his own special distinctive

:29:01. > :29:16.

:29:16. > :29:20.immediately by the three Royal Colonels, the Duke of Cambridge, his

:29:21. > :29:30.father the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and then the two

:29:31. > :29:40.

:29:40. > :29:46.is about to begin and at the stroke of 11 o'clock, the Queen and the

:29:46. > :29:49.Duke of Kent this year, will step onto the saluting base. The Royal

:29:49. > :29:59.Standard will be broken or released. The Field Officer will

:29:59. > :29:59.

:29:59. > :31:01.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:31:01. > :31:09.give his command. And then the # God save our gracious Queen.

:31:09. > :31:19.# Long live our noble Queen. # God save the Queen.

:31:19. > :31:29.# Send her victorious. # Happy and glorious.

:31:29. > :31:49.

:31:49. > :31:59.# Long to reign over us. Guard Guards, slope arms. -- guards,

:31:59. > :32:08.

:32:08. > :32:13.the line of Guards. It is also an opportunity for the Massed Bands to

:32:13. > :32:19.entertain, of course. The man in charge is the Senior Director of

:32:19. > :32:24.Music, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Barnwell, of the Welsh Guards. The

:32:24. > :32:27.first piece is Great And Glorious, composed by Major Leslie Statham. I

:32:27. > :32:37.am told he composed the original Match Of The Day theme tune. There

:32:37. > :33:04.

:33:04. > :33:14.will be a total of 48 pieces of MUSIC: "Great And Glorious"

:33:14. > :33:14.

:33:14. > :35:22.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:35:22. > :35:28.Colonel-in-Chief of all seven regiments of the Household Division.

:35:28. > :35:38.This is Her Majesty's opportunity to inspect the troops who constitute

:35:38. > :35:46.

:35:46. > :35:52.regiments allowed to present a Sovereign's Standard on today's

:35:52. > :36:02.parade. This year, it is the Sovereign Standard of the Life

:36:02. > :36:18.

:36:18. > :36:28.Guards. The standard-bearer is Colour. The Royal Colonels do

:36:28. > :36:33.

:36:33. > :36:41.likewise. Towards the King's troop, their lead gun is treated as the

:36:41. > :36:51.Colour. It enjoys the same status as the Colour being trooped by the

:36:51. > :36:59.

:36:59. > :37:04.Norton's last year as General Officer Commanding London District.

:37:04. > :37:14.He is soon to take up a post in Italy as Deputy Commander of NATO

:37:14. > :37:15.

:37:15. > :37:25.Rapid Deployment Corps in July 2013. George has had two marvellous years

:37:25. > :37:25.

:37:25. > :37:35.as the GOC London District. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Barnwell,

:37:35. > :37:37.

:37:37. > :37:41.this should be the best parade of them all. I am retiring this year in

:37:41. > :37:46.November so this is my last time Trooping the Colour. It is very

:37:46. > :37:50.special. Doing this parade, as the Senior Director of Music, they

:37:50. > :37:58.always say if you are holding the stick, it goes much quicker. That is

:37:58. > :38:03.very true. I want to savour this. It has been a joy working with the

:38:03. > :38:08.musicians serving in the bands of the Household Division. To have

:38:08. > :38:18.control as a conductor over such a powerful and talented force as that,

:38:18. > :38:26.it is the epitome of any musician's career serving in the military.

:38:26. > :38:30.Massed Bands preparing to play one of the most enduringly popular

:38:30. > :38:35.military marches, Les Huguenots. One of the highlights of the Birthday

:38:35. > :38:43.Parade every year since 1871. Some people say they come to hear this

:38:43. > :38:48.piece of music, it is that good! Once the Senior Director of Music is

:38:48. > :38:58.ready, the Queen is back on the saluting base with the Duke of Kent,

:38:58. > :39:37.

:39:37. > :39:47.the Glass Coach taken away, we will ESCORT: Massed Bands by the Centre,

:39:47. > :39:47.

:39:47. > :43:42.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:43:42. > :43:52.the centre, quick march! The quick march is Heroes Return by Arnold

:43:52. > :44:02.Steck. Aptly chosen from the Welsh Guards, who returned from

:44:02. > :44:08.

:44:08. > :44:12.Afghanistan earlier this year, Major Christopher Rees from Maesteg in

:44:12. > :44:22.South Wales. He joined the Welsh Guards in 2008 and has completed two

:44:22. > :44:22.

:44:22. > :46:34.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:46:34. > :46:44.MUSIC: "Heroes Return" the days when all battlefield

:46:44. > :46:46.

:46:46. > :46:56.commander given by drumbeat. Orderly Guardsman Byron Clarke moves to take

:46:56. > :47:08.

:47:09. > :47:18.the stick. That signals the next phase of the parade. Change arms.

:47:19. > :47:30.

:47:30. > :47:38.Stand at ease. Escort for the Colour, in close order, left dress.

:47:38. > :47:48.Captain Fred Lloyd George gives the order for the Colour to take up

:47:48. > :47:51.

:47:51. > :48:01.their dressing in close order. Escort for the Colour, by the left,

:48:01. > :48:03.

:48:04. > :48:10.quick march. They step off very smartly to the march of the British

:48:10. > :48:17.Grenadiers. They are taking centre stage next to show the result of

:48:17. > :48:22.weeks of hard work. Enormous pride, as you say, in the culmination of

:48:22. > :48:28.weeks and years of hard work. Pride is not only in their Regiment but of

:48:28. > :48:32.course in representing their nation, this year Wales. And knowing that

:48:32. > :48:36.they will shortly be escorting the Colour, which records Battle

:48:36. > :48:41.Honours. It gives a great tingle, I must say. My own father and brother

:48:41. > :48:51.were both in the Welsh Guards and bought in battles which are recorded

:48:51. > :48:51.

:48:51. > :49:45.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:49:45. > :49:55.on those colours. It matters a great order, right dress. About turn.

:49:55. > :50:16.

:50:16. > :50:23.Guards, turn. Change arms. Slope regimental surgeon officer Martin

:50:23. > :50:29.Topps, because he is now preparing to take possession of the Colour.

:50:29. > :50:34.Protecting it with his sword, ready to hand it over to the Ensign,

:50:34. > :50:44.second Lieutenant Joe Dinwiddie, who is following him. Ready for the next

:50:44. > :50:44.

:50:44. > :51:41.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:51:41. > :51:51.young Welsh Guardsman second Lieutenant Joe Dinwiddie. The Ensign

:51:51. > :51:51.

:51:51. > :52:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:52:31. > :52:38.receives the Colour ready for the the Colour, having taken possession,

:52:39. > :52:48.has now become the Escort to the Colour. The Colour party joins the

:52:49. > :52:54.

:52:54. > :53:04.Escort. They prepare to advance in slow time. Escort to the Colour,

:53:04. > :53:22.

:53:22. > :53:32.turn arms. Escort to the Colour, by and the formal ceremony of the

:53:32. > :53:32.

:53:32. > :53:36.Trooping the Colour is about to begin. 180 musicians on parade

:53:36. > :53:42.supported by 45 members of the core of drums. And there they are

:53:42. > :53:45.performing the complex spin wheel as it is called, to change direction

:53:45. > :53:55.without changing formation. Quite a challenge but they always accomplish

:53:55. > :53:55.

:53:55. > :55:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:55:33. > :55:38.Slow March. And this is the real test, watched around the world,

:55:38. > :55:42.Colonel Joe Dinwiddie. I never thought I would be the Ensign. It

:55:42. > :55:47.came as a real surprise to find that actually my drill was slightly

:55:47. > :55:53.better than other people in rehearsals. I have been carrying a

:55:53. > :55:57.practice colour in rehearsal, which is much heavier than in real life,

:55:57. > :56:01.but it allows me to steady my shoulders and get the movements

:56:01. > :56:05.correct for on the day. My family will be sitting in the stands

:56:05. > :56:12.somewhere. My hope they will be thinking of me. I will certainly be

:56:12. > :56:22.keeping them at the back of my mind. A rather modest Joe Dinwiddie

:56:22. > :56:23.

:56:23. > :56:31.sharing his thoughts on today's duty. The Colour is trooped down the

:56:31. > :56:37.ranks, an echo of the early days when colours will used practically

:56:37. > :56:45.as rallying points. Today it is all about powerful symbolism. Rated

:56:45. > :56:52.indeed. These colours presented by the Queen. -- it is indeed. During a

:56:52. > :56:57.presentation, they are blessed. They have for every Regiment sacramental

:56:57. > :57:03.significance, as well as being the record of the history of great

:57:03. > :57:08.battles, of many brave men who have fought and given their lives. And

:57:08. > :57:18.also a rallying point, no longer in battle, but certainly at the beating

:57:18. > :57:58.

:57:58. > :58:08.number two guard. And the Sergeant major, one of his cadets at

:58:08. > :58:08.

:58:08. > :58:18.Sandhurst was Fred Lloyd George, the great-grandson of Lloyd George. He

:58:18. > :58:33.

:58:33. > :58:43.is sub Alton of the Escort today. -- sub altern. Hole! Escort to the

:58:43. > :59:22.

:59:22. > :59:26.Colour, left turn. Escort to the post. Quick march. The officers take

:59:26. > :59:36.post, ready for the march past. The Colour moves to the rear of the

:59:36. > :00:09.

:00:09. > :00:19.retire. About turn. Numbers one to five guards at the halt, right form,

:00:19. > :00:35.

:00:35. > :00:45.Drum Major Tom Birkett, played by The Corps of Drums. Drum Major Tom

:00:45. > :01:05.

:01:05. > :01:15.Birkett is from 3rd Battalion Numbers 1 to 5 Guards will advance.

:01:15. > :01:29.

:01:29. > :01:39.About-turn. No 6 Guard, close order. March! Move to the left in threes.

:01:39. > :01:39.

:01:39. > :02:50.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:02:51. > :03:00.MUSIC: "Grand March From Rienzi" March From Rienzi by Wagner. The

:03:01. > :03:06.

:03:06. > :03:12.Guards prepare for the march past. A real sense of relief, the ability to

:03:12. > :03:16.stretch legs? You are right, Huw. At this stage, the Guardsmen have been

:03:16. > :03:22.standing for the best part of an hour, changing arms a couple of

:03:22. > :03:29.times. There is no question, it is relief. For them, they feel they are

:03:29. > :03:35.getting into this parade. They are enacting the battle drills of 200

:03:35. > :03:40.years ago, which defeated Napoleon. It is important to reflect that they

:03:40. > :03:50.are carrying the weapons that many of them have used in action in the

:03:50. > :04:17.

:04:17. > :04:27.first trooped their colour for the Queen in 1965. They are immediately

:04:27. > :04:41.

:04:41. > :04:47.recognisable. Their buttons grouped Cameron, enjoying the sunshine, the

:04:47. > :04:54.music and the Parade today. Surrounded by some African leaders,

:04:54. > :05:03.including the President of Tanzania, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria, they are

:05:03. > :05:13.all there. It is part of a conference before the G8 talks which

:05:13. > :05:13.

:05:13. > :06:23.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:06:23. > :06:29.are taking place in Northern Ireland Colonel Dino Bosi, and the Major of

:06:29. > :06:39.the Parade, Major Henry Bettinson. A change of music tells you that these

:06:39. > :07:09.

:07:09. > :07:19.are Men Of Harlech. This is the the Queen. That's the Flourish. Then

:07:19. > :07:19.

:07:19. > :08:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:08:08. > :08:17.they will Recover, or raise the Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the

:08:17. > :08:27.Prince of Wales and the three Royal Colonels. The music now changes to

:08:27. > :08:36.

:08:37. > :08:44.the Grenadier Guards Slow March, MUSIC: "Scipio"

:08:44. > :08:54.By Handel. This is the Scots Guards Slow Marsh,

:08:54. > :09:03.

:09:03. > :09:13.Garb of Auld Gaul. -- Slow March, Garb of Auld Gaul.

:09:13. > :09:16.

:09:16. > :09:26.The Slow March of the Coldstream Guards, Figaro. The Adjutant of the

:09:26. > :09:36.Parade is Captain Christopher Davies of the Welsh Guards, who joined in

:09:36. > :09:53.

:09:53. > :10:00.2007. He's completed two tours in Dino Bosi, riding out to salute the

:10:00. > :10:10.Queen. The sword is drawn, but it's a special form of salute which

:10:10. > :10:16.

:10:16. > :10:26.conveys no threat at all to Her Majesty. A neutral Slow March this

:10:26. > :10:34.

:10:34. > :10:38.time, Thievish Magpie, taken from Household Cavalry had no operational

:10:38. > :10:44.tours in 2012. The regiment is now committed again, with a third of its

:10:44. > :10:47.force in Afghanistan. The Irish Guards there, too. Many of those

:10:47. > :10:49.seen at the Queen's Birthday Parade last year are in Afghanistan today.

:10:49. > :10:53.Given the timetable for withdrawal, this could be their last deployment

:10:53. > :10:57.there. We spoke to some of them in the past few days. This time last

:10:57. > :11:03.year, I was getting ready for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. That was

:11:03. > :11:07.really good fun. We were on the forecourt with people on The Mall.

:11:08. > :11:11.Trooping the Colour, the Diamond Jubilee and the Royal Wedding.

:11:11. > :11:16.not every day you get to stand there and be in front of such a large

:11:16. > :11:23.crowd. It is probably as hot in a tunic and bear kin as it is in body

:11:23. > :11:27.armour. --Bearskin as it is in body armour. Best of luck from everyone

:11:27. > :11:32.out here. We will be thinking of you. You are probably sweating as

:11:32. > :11:38.much in a bearskin as we are in body armour. It is your day. Enjoy it.

:11:38. > :11:47.Sit deep. Ride strong. Follow your lines. Drive them heels in strong.

:11:47. > :11:51.It is a special day when the Queen comes out on parade. From the heat

:11:51. > :11:55.of the desert, a real sense of pride, Major-General Sir Sebastian

:11:55. > :12:00.Roberts. That pride shared by the families here today? You are right.

:12:00. > :12:03.The families here today supporting the soldiers on parade and there is

:12:03. > :12:10.no question when one is away on operation, the thing that matters

:12:10. > :12:16.most is that you have the support of your own family and the people all

:12:16. > :12:26.soldiers serve. To see crowds filled with families here is moving and

:12:26. > :12:35.

:12:35. > :12:45.are ready to march past in quick time. The tempo increases. A new

:12:45. > :12:58.

:12:58. > :13:08.sense of energy now. The Neutral MUSIC: "The Champion"

:13:08. > :13:32.

:13:32. > :13:38.a time to reflect on the profile and the status of the Armed Forces. And

:13:38. > :13:42.events in recent weeks have given us a sharp focus on that, too? Indeed.

:13:42. > :13:48.I spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Dino Bosi, the Field Officer, two weeks'

:13:48. > :13:56.ago. He was amazed, as was the rest of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards by

:13:56. > :13:59.the reaction of the local population at their barracks in Hounslow to the

:13:59. > :14:05.appalling killing of Drummer Lee Rigby. They were festooned, their

:14:05. > :14:13.gates, with floral tributes from all sections of a multi-national and

:14:13. > :14:18.multi-ethnic community. He also said that he had been stunned by the

:14:18. > :14:24."meteoric reaction" of the locals in Hounslow to their return last year

:14:24. > :14:30.from Afghanistan. That support is of enormous significance to every

:14:30. > :14:40.soldier and to their families to know we have the support of the

:14:40. > :15:10.

:15:10. > :15:19.nation in very evident and very with style. Given the reference you

:15:19. > :15:23.made to the Welsh Guards earlier, viewers will be watching what about

:15:23. > :15:29.-- wondering about the Irish Guards. My father was extremely good at

:15:29. > :15:35.Rugby, your national sport, and he was a barbarian he was that good. I

:15:35. > :15:42.could not play rugby to save my life. I did not want to be a

:15:42. > :15:52.disappointment to him. I am sure you are modest. No, true! So I joined

:15:52. > :15:57.

:15:57. > :16:07.the Regiment from my mothers side. This is the march of the Welsh

:16:07. > :16:40.

:16:40. > :16:50.Guards. The Queen acknowledges the tells us it is the British

:16:50. > :17:00.Grenadiers next. The 1st Battalion British Grenadier Guards. Now the

:17:00. > :17:25.

:17:25. > :17:35.Scots Guards's quick march. That rising tune, Highland Laddie.

:17:35. > :18:04.

:18:04. > :18:08.done. The Field Officer saluting the My first saw the troop when I was

:18:08. > :18:14.three years old and I wanted to do what I am doing today. And it is

:18:14. > :18:20.mere luck that I am able to do it. I feel hugely privileged to be able to

:18:20. > :18:23.do that. It is the closest honour to the honour of commanding your

:18:23. > :18:30.Battalion on operations, which I have also been able to do during my

:18:30. > :18:36.time in command, so I am a very lucky man. Dino Bossi, his childhood

:18:36. > :18:42.dream. Sebastian, one as to say that is a huge ambition fulfilled.

:18:42. > :18:46.Indeed. Quite a lot of us who have had a great honour to serve on this

:18:46. > :18:50.parade and in these regiments have probably had our first dazed as

:18:50. > :18:56.young children, watching this parade, here at horse guards and on

:18:56. > :19:00.the television, and I know it was probably the beginning of my

:19:00. > :19:06.ambition as well so I absolutely share what Dino Bosso has just said

:19:06. > :19:13.and I am sure it applies to many hundreds of people involved today.

:19:13. > :19:17.Pleased with the result so far? believe so. I've is just reflecting

:19:17. > :19:27.that the shade of that Welsh wizard David Lord George can be pretty

:19:27. > :19:27.

:19:27. > :20:46.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:20:46. > :20:56.pleased with what he helped to Quick march. The Colour is now taken

:20:56. > :21:32.

:21:32. > :21:42.right breast. -- dress. Massed Bands, moved to the right. Right

:21:42. > :22:07.

:22:07. > :22:12.The foot guards have reformed. We have cool weather for the horses.

:22:12. > :22:16.The Massed Bands move away, clearing the way for the Mounted Bands. The

:22:16. > :22:22.drum horses are the only horses to hold the rank of officer. They are

:22:22. > :22:28.majors. They are owned by Her Majesty the Queen. Big, heavy

:22:28. > :22:35.horses, Shire or Clydesdale. They need to carry the weight of those

:22:35. > :22:43.heavy kettledrums. Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry move to the

:22:43. > :22:53.North side of Horse Guards Parade, by Major Paul Wilman, Riding Arial,

:22:53. > :23:01.

:23:01. > :23:04.to ride a horse and play at the same time. As you know, horses are not

:23:04. > :23:12.always perfectly behaved. Last year poor Achilles, one of the drum

:23:12. > :23:16.horses for the guards, had to be removed. We thought he was

:23:16. > :23:21.misbehaving, but in fact he was stung by a bumblebee. And the 16th

:23:21. > :23:28.year that the Kings Troop has been on parade. They joined the ceremony

:23:28. > :23:33.by request from the royal family. They first took part in 1998. Very

:23:33. > :23:40.impressive sight. And a high standard riding in the Kings Troop.

:23:40. > :23:45.Many of them compete in eventing, team chasing and showjumping.

:23:45. > :23:55.Looking back on the history of the Kings Troop, you will find it

:23:55. > :24:30.

:24:30. > :24:35.includes the Olympic gold medallist the King strip in August 2011. It is

:24:35. > :24:45.his second time an parade as commanding officer. -- the Kings

:24:45. > :25:15.

:25:15. > :25:22.acknowledges. They are the Colour of the Kings Troop. They are the real

:25:22. > :25:30.thing, used in action in the great War. Only 25 of these in existence

:25:30. > :25:40.today worldwide. The Troop itself has kept the title Kings Troop on

:25:40. > :25:40.

:25:40. > :26:48.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:26:48. > :26:53.the order of the Queen in memory of They date back to 1969 when the

:26:53. > :26:58.Royal Horseguards, the blues, were amalgamated with the Royals, to form

:26:58. > :27:02.the new regiment, the Blues and Royals. There Colonel is the

:27:02. > :27:08.Princess Royal. The farriers dressed in their dark blue tunics with

:27:08. > :27:13.glinting actors. Adam Bliss from the Lifeguards joined the Army eight

:27:13. > :27:23.years ago and he has been a farrier Prentice what the last three years,

:27:23. > :27:23.

:27:23. > :28:13.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:28:13. > :28:20.due to qualify in January. -- see everyone trying to maintain a

:28:20. > :28:30.steady sitting trot, the most comfortable gate. Good control from

:28:30. > :28:58.

:28:58. > :29:02.is riding Lucy, and over 24 months, she has been very lucky recovering

:29:02. > :29:09.from a life-threatening leg injury and a suspected temporary blindness.

:29:10. > :29:14.As you can see, she is now in fine health. Her Majesty the Queen with

:29:14. > :29:19.her great knowledge of horses, and also her affection for them,

:29:19. > :29:29.watching carefully. There are 75 on the Troop this year. And they

:29:29. > :29:31.

:29:31. > :29:35.include Harlequin, given to the Troop by the Queen last year. Only

:29:35. > :29:45.five years old, so he has come a long way and this is his first

:29:45. > :29:57.

:29:57. > :30:03.Household Cavalry, we will find Ink spot, adored by Troopers in

:30:04. > :30:13.particular. If you bear your teeth at him, he bears his back, but not

:30:14. > :30:49.

:30:49. > :30:53.aggressively! You will probably get Wilman salute in their special way,

:30:53. > :31:03.the kettledrummers crossing their sticks as they pass the saluting

:31:03. > :31:15.

:31:15. > :31:25.base. Among the musicians, Corporal of Horse, Fraser Hurman, he was

:31:25. > :31:25.

:31:25. > :32:08.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:32:08. > :32:14.telling me how much he was looking Director of Music will soon turn

:32:14. > :32:24.inwards. That will signal he is handing back control to the Field

:32:24. > :32:27.

:32:27. > :32:37.Officer and that the Household Cavalry is in position and settled.

:32:37. > :32:40.

:32:40. > :32:48.FIELD OFFICER IN BRIGADE WAITING: Guards, Royal Salute, present arms.

:32:48. > :32:54.# God save our gracious Queen. # Long live our noble Queen.

:32:54. > :33:01.# God save the Queen. # Send her victorious.

:33:01. > :33:11.# Happy and glorious. # Long to reign over us.

:33:11. > :33:46.

:33:46. > :33:51.Guards, slow arms. Guards, in close order, left and right, dress.

:33:52. > :34:01.Guards taking up their dress. It's accomplished with no word of command

:34:02. > :34:31.

:34:31. > :34:41.Guard Guards will form three ranks. Form three ranks. Guards will

:34:41. > :34:55.

:34:55. > :35:00.retire. About-turn. At the halt, by divisions, right form, quick march.

:35:00. > :35:10.So the Guards closing up to reduce the length of the procession along

:35:10. > :35:30.

:35:30. > :35:40.The Mall. The music is The Adjutant, Guards will advance. About-turn.

:35:40. > :36:01.

:36:01. > :36:11.Guards on the Escort, form close Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant

:36:11. > :36:47.

:36:47. > :36:53.Officer 1 Martin Topps, by the Guards, left dress.

:36:53. > :36:59.The Left Guide of the Escort, Colour Sergeant Graham Roberts from Bangor

:36:59. > :37:06.in North Wales, the Company Quartermaster Sergeant of the Prince

:37:06. > :37:14.of Wales Company. At the far end of the Parade Ground, Garrison Sergeant

:37:14. > :37:18.Major Bill Mott, he is making his way along to the Approach Road,

:37:18. > :37:24.ready to give the signal that all is clear for the Royal Procession to

:37:24. > :37:29.leave. This is his 11th Birthday Parade in this central role. He is

:37:29. > :37:36.the eldest of three brothers. They've all served in the Welsh

:37:36. > :37:42.Guards. The Field Officer will ask Her Majesty's permission to march

:37:42. > :37:52.off to conclude this parade of 2013 in the 60th anniversary year of the

:37:52. > :37:52.

:37:52. > :38:33.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:38:33. > :38:40.Your Majesty's Guards are ready to brings the formal part of the Parade

:38:40. > :38:45.to an end. There is still plenty of colour and plenty of music to come.

:38:45. > :38:50.We will be following the processions along The Mall, all the way down to

:38:50. > :39:00.Buckingham Palace, where the crowds will be gathering right now, ready

:39:00. > :39:00.

:39:00. > :39:06.for that balcony appearance and the fly-past. The Glass Coach being

:39:06. > :39:12.brought back to Horse Guards. The Glass Coach was built in 1881, but

:39:12. > :39:18.was bought in 1911 for the Coronation of King George V. It's

:39:18. > :39:22.been used for many royal weddings since then. It is kept at Buckingham

:39:22. > :39:30.Palace. Big windows, which allows spectators to see who is inside, so

:39:30. > :39:35.it is a very useful vehicle on these occasions. Indeed, as the Queen

:39:35. > :39:39.prepares to use the Glass Coach once again, it is worth remembering that

:39:39. > :39:49.she and the Duke of Edinburgh travelled it on their wedding day in

:39:49. > :39:50.

:39:50. > :40:00.1947. We are on The Mall. The first of the carriage processions are

:40:00. > :40:02.

:40:02. > :40:12.returning to Buckingham Palace. In the first carriage, we have the

:40:12. > :40:13.

:40:13. > :40:20.Duchess of Cambridge, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry. The

:40:20. > :40:23.Duchess of Cambridge expecting her child next month. This is her last

:40:23. > :40:31.public engagement today before the due date. Her last solo engagement

:40:31. > :40:41.was earlier this week, she named a new cruise ship, Royal Princess, in

:40:41. > :40:41.

:40:42. > :40:48.Southampton. Back on Horse Guards Parade, the signal has been received

:40:48. > :40:58.that all is fine and the music to start and the Massed Bands to play.

:40:58. > :40:59.

:40:59. > :41:05.The Guards now march off. Marching off to a selection of music named

:41:05. > :41:15.Arms Park, which takes us back to the great days of the 1970s in rugby

:41:15. > :41:17.

:41:17. > :41:27.terms - great days for me that is and other Welsh people! They include

:41:27. > :41:58.

:41:58. > :42:08.Cameron, and some of their guests from the African Nations today. They

:42:08. > :42:15.

:42:15. > :42:18.have been enjoying a great parade, led by the Welsh Guards. The Duke of

:42:18. > :42:28.Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards, has accompanied the Queen today to

:42:28. > :42:51.

:42:51. > :42:54.the Parade. The Duke of Edinburgh is Approach Road towards The Mall.

:42:54. > :42:58.Major-General Sir Sebastian Roberts is with me with some thoughts on the

:42:58. > :43:04.end of the Parade and what that normally means for lots of the men

:43:04. > :43:09.and women involved. Well, they still have to return to the end of The

:43:09. > :43:13.Mall, to Buckingham Palace, and salute the Queen once more, before

:43:13. > :43:17.making their way to Wellington Barracks and being dismissed. They

:43:17. > :43:27.can all go confident that this has been a memorable Queen's Birthday

:43:27. > :43:28.

:43:28. > :43:34.parade. I am tempted to say "Wales forever" has been resoundingly

:43:34. > :43:39.proved by a magnificent parade on the part of all those Guards of the

:43:39. > :43:45.Welsh Guards, Coldstream, Scots and Grenadiers, Household Cavalry and

:43:45. > :43:55.the King's Troop. I think that they all deserve that lovely moment when

:43:55. > :43:56.

:43:56. > :44:02.they remove their bearskins and helmets and can again relax. This

:44:02. > :44:08.tradition of the monarch leading the Guards back to Buckingham Palace was

:44:08. > :44:12.established by George V in 1914. The Parade at that time had become

:44:12. > :44:18.increasingly popular so it was decided to provide an even more

:44:18. > :44:28.impressive experience for thousands of spectators. That is why we see

:44:28. > :45:01.

:45:01. > :45:08.this particular format today. It being played in a slightly more

:45:08. > :45:14.jaunty way. The street liners, 200 of them, 1st Battalion Grenadier

:45:14. > :45:20.Guards have been doing a good job today. Colonel James Bowder. A word

:45:20. > :45:26.on them? It is one of the thankless tasks, unsung tasks, of every major

:45:26. > :45:34.parade. They are known in the trade as the guttersnipe, those standing

:45:34. > :45:37.in the gutter. That is where usually find myself, rather than standing on

:45:37. > :45:44.this glorious square, and they have every respect and sympathy for those

:45:44. > :45:51.who have spent a long time guarding the route. And framing that

:45:51. > :45:55.magnificent view as the Queen returns to Buckingham Palace. One of

:45:55. > :46:00.the world's great parades. Those street liners are an integral part

:46:00. > :46:05.and have every reason to be enormously proud of themselves. Not

:46:05. > :46:08.only the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, but every soldier in the

:46:08. > :46:14.London district in that picture, and all of them can have enormous pride

:46:14. > :46:17.in what they have taken part in today. A good moment for me to say

:46:18. > :46:22.that the Queen's Birthday Parade is celebrated as a public holiday in

:46:22. > :46:27.several Commonwealth countries. The exact date of the commemoration

:46:27. > :46:35.varies, it has to be said. In Australia, it is celebrated as the

:46:35. > :46:38.second Monday in June. In Western Australia it is slightly different,

:46:38. > :46:43.late September or early October. The Canadians have a different way of

:46:43. > :46:50.doing it. The public holiday on the Monday on or before the 4th of May,

:46:50. > :46:59.Victoria Day. And malaise era, they performed their version of Trooping

:46:59. > :47:03.the Colour on a Saturday in June. -- Malaysia. Instead of carriages, the

:47:03. > :47:13.Royal Procession Blair is cards and limousines accompanied by a

:47:13. > :47:17.

:47:17. > :47:24.motorcycle Escort instead of horses. -- the Royal Procession there is

:47:24. > :47:32.cars and limousines. People looking carefully at the Birthday Honours

:47:32. > :47:42.list today. The head of the Army is one of those receiving an honour

:47:42. > :47:42.

:47:43. > :47:52.today. There are some members in the Household Division as well. We have

:47:53. > :47:53.

:47:53. > :48:00.two Coldstream Guards as well. Two guards getting the MBE. And someone

:48:00. > :48:05.closer to home, so the entire team wants to say well done and

:48:05. > :48:09.congratulations to Clare Balding on her OBE. Thank you so much. It has

:48:09. > :48:13.just been wonderful to walk through the crowds and people saying

:48:13. > :48:17.congratulations, which is lovely. More importantly they have been here

:48:17. > :48:20.since 7:15am this morning to get a good spot to watch the whole of the

:48:20. > :48:25.Queen's Birthday Parade. At this point on the Mall the procession

:48:25. > :48:32.comes past the two statues that mean more than anything else to the

:48:32. > :48:36.Queen, that of her mother Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and her

:48:36. > :48:40.father, George VI. That was unveiled in 1955 and her mother in 2009. The

:48:40. > :48:50.Queen was looking up at them as she came by and the crowds were cheering

:48:50. > :48:52.

:48:52. > :49:02.madly of course. The wonderful sight of the Massed Bands. Resplendent in

:49:02. > :49:06.

:49:06. > :49:11.lace, pretty much unchanged since 1865. As we enjoy these images,

:49:11. > :49:16.joining us again in the BBC commentary box this year, the

:49:16. > :49:23.author, commentator, Daily Mail writer, Robert Hardman. A very warm

:49:23. > :49:28.welcome to you again. Thank you. Your impression so far? You referred

:49:28. > :49:32.to it as a Birthday Parade, and it is nice to see the jauntiness. We

:49:32. > :49:38.are at that point now where we all remember that it is a celebration.

:49:38. > :49:42.This is in fact the 63rd, I think, Birthday Parade for the Queen, her

:49:42. > :49:49.59th as monarch. Nobody on earth has seen it as often as she has, but she

:49:49. > :49:53.will be impressed by the spectacle we have seen today. Every yard of

:49:53. > :49:58.this grand ceremonial route along the Mall designed by Sir Aston Webb

:49:58. > :50:01.in the early 20th century is of course lame to the Queen. It is

:50:01. > :50:07.featured in every great event in her reign. And she travelled along it on

:50:07. > :50:11.her wedding day in November, 1947, and vast crowds were cheering them.

:50:11. > :50:19.And the royal weddings in the decades that have followed, it has

:50:19. > :50:28.been a feature. Also on more sombre occasions, like a father's funeral

:50:28. > :50:32.in 1952 and her mother's. And every year, the principal route. It was

:50:32. > :50:37.decorated with massive correlation arches in the 50s, and the parade

:50:37. > :50:40.was held in the 50s. Otherwise it has not changed and that is probably

:50:40. > :50:44.one of the explanations for its enduring appeal.

:50:44. > :50:54.Her Majesty the Queen attends the traditional ceremony of the Trooping

:50:54. > :51:02.

:51:02. > :51:12.the Colour. The Massed Bands lead Coronation at his passes the parade.

:51:12. > :51:20.

:51:20. > :51:26.-- under the arches passes the weather today. The sunshine has been

:51:26. > :51:29.peeping through. A little bit of cloud but pretty good conditions as

:51:29. > :51:33.Sebastian was telling us earlier. Otherwise over the years, apart from

:51:33. > :51:39.the change of day from Thursday to Saturday, very few things that would

:51:39. > :51:45.mark it out as being different in 2013 compared to 1953. The crowds

:51:45. > :51:48.then perhaps a little more formally dressed. Probably fewer tourists

:51:48. > :51:55.then compared to today, and there are plenty today. But otherwise many

:51:55. > :52:05.constant features. That is why it is popular. People come to see familiar

:52:05. > :52:14.

:52:14. > :52:17.sights, familiar uniforms, and glass coach making its way now right

:52:17. > :52:24.along the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Why don't you tell us what

:52:24. > :52:29.we should be expecting at this stage? As they continue down the

:52:29. > :52:33.Mall they will be preparing the guards to go home to their barracks.

:52:33. > :52:40.But the major participants will all be joining now to gather in

:52:41. > :52:47.Buckingham Palace to have a deserved drink. And then to watch the flypast

:52:47. > :52:54.of the royal Air Force. And that the Major-General and the Field Officer

:52:54. > :52:58.in Brigade Waiting, a quick debrief from the Queen, whose birthday is

:52:58. > :53:04.celebrated. As you have said, she has been on more of these parades

:53:04. > :53:08.than anybody else on earth. And she has a renowned eagle eye. And she

:53:08. > :53:14.will comment. I'm sure out of this one her comments will be enormously

:53:14. > :53:19.positive. I suppose the question is whether she makes critical comments?

:53:19. > :53:23.Well, I have known it, but always very forgiving. Remember my first

:53:23. > :53:30.year on the parade, young trooping the Lifeguards lost his helmet as

:53:30. > :53:34.they were trotting past. And he was obviously very embarrassed. His

:53:34. > :53:44.commander was worried that he would get a rocket. The Queen observed

:53:44. > :53:52.

:53:52. > :53:57.wasn't it a good thing that he had around the Queen Victoria Memorial.

:53:57. > :54:01.The Queen accompanied by the Duke of Kent, today, just reminding us that

:54:01. > :54:05.the Duke of Edinburgh is probably watching the parade in a London

:54:05. > :54:08.clinic, Robert. Yes, sadly His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh

:54:08. > :54:15.cannot be here today. It is not the first time he has missed it. There

:54:15. > :54:25.have been a couple of occasions during the Queen's reign when he has

:54:25. > :54:31.

:54:31. > :54:37.been abroad an official business. That was in 1968, the last time. The

:54:37. > :54:42.Duke of Kent was invited to join her today. And it is a very fine site,

:54:42. > :54:48.too. Normally the Duke of Edinburgh would be presiding at the Colonels

:54:48. > :54:58.dinner the night before. Indeed, yes. When the Colonels joined the

:54:58. > :54:59.

:54:59. > :55:04.Royal and the non-royal to look forward to the future. It is known

:55:04. > :55:07.as the Senior Colonels Conference. He was deputised by the Colonel of

:55:07. > :55:11.the Welsh Guards last night. It is at that conference that important

:55:11. > :55:18.matters like who will be Trooping the Colour next year and so on are

:55:18. > :55:23.discussed and arranged. We can see all the members of the royal family

:55:23. > :55:27.on the balcony. One of the great, the largest assemblies of the royal

:55:27. > :55:31.family in public every year. It is a great pity that the Duke of

:55:31. > :55:35.Edinburgh is not there but everybody else's. This will be the last

:55:35. > :55:41.occasion that we see the Duchess of Cambridge, as you pointed out. Here

:55:41. > :55:51.come the Royal Colonels, the other members of the family, the Princess

:55:51. > :55:51.

:55:51. > :56:59.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:56:59. > :57:04.Royal, the Duke of Wales and the just cameras and mobile phones but

:57:04. > :57:13.all kinds of tablets and the rest of it being used to record images and

:57:13. > :57:17.video, too. One of the features of these public events now. Many

:57:17. > :57:27.thousands and in some cases millions of individual records of these great

:57:27. > :57:32.

:57:32. > :57:38.royal family on the balcony. It doesn't really invite us to think

:57:38. > :57:46.about the future, too. Indeed. We will soon have that great moment

:57:46. > :57:51.when the Queen can look, as it were, three rains ahead. When her hair,

:57:51. > :57:55.regardless of sex, will be in line for the throne. We see extended

:57:55. > :58:05.members of the family coming out onto the balcony. Lady Helen Taylor

:58:05. > :58:27.

:58:27. > :58:30.in the background and the Duchess of the Countess of Wessex. The first

:58:30. > :58:40.time she has written in the carriage. A very exciting day for

:58:40. > :58:40.

:58:40. > :00:17.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:00:17. > :00:19.the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry. This is the last time we will

:00:19. > :00:26.see the Duchess of Cambridge appearing in public ahead of the

:00:26. > :00:29.birth of the baby next month. For many other members of the family, we

:00:29. > :00:36.are entering the busiest period of the year, because next week we have

:00:36. > :00:40.the great ceremonial events, and at the beginning of July the entire

:00:40. > :00:46.court goes to the Palace of Holyrood house in Edinburgh for Scottish

:00:47. > :00:54.engagements there. Very much a Birthday Parade but also the start

:00:54. > :00:57.of some great royal traditions, the grace to stop -- the greatest of the

:00:57. > :01:03.year in fact. The Queen celebrated her 87th birthday in April this

:01:04. > :01:08.year, and of course that is the distinction. That was the actual

:01:08. > :01:13.birthday and this is the official birthday, celebrated in mid-June. A

:01:13. > :01:18.tradition established by Edward VII in the early 20th century. His

:01:18. > :01:28.birthday fell in November and he did not really fancy the prospect of big

:01:28. > :01:43.

:01:43. > :01:46.parades in November. So that the Life Guards, leading the Mounded

:01:46. > :01:49.bands kettledrummers saluting in their usual way. The Queen takes

:01:49. > :01:55.salute in front of the Palace. Her Majesty will retire for a few

:01:55. > :02:05.minutes. And then she will reappear on the balcony in a short while

:02:05. > :02:28.

:02:29. > :02:38.Majesty before she returns to the Glass Coach before the final Royal

:02:39. > :02:39.

:02:39. > :03:20.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:03:20. > :03:30.# God save our gracious Queen. # Long live our noble Queen.

:03:30. > :03:32.

:03:32. > :03:41.# God save the Queen. # Send her victorious.

:03:41. > :03:51.# Happy and glorious. # Long to reign over us.

:03:51. > :04:00.

:04:00. > :04:05.CHEERING AND APPLAUSE So, the Queen returns home, back

:04:05. > :04:10.into Buckingham Palace. In a short while, Her Majesty will be leading

:04:10. > :04:14.members of the Royal Family back out on to the balcony. They will all

:04:14. > :04:20.reappear ready for the fly-past by the Royal air fors. They will be

:04:20. > :04:24.joined by many thousands of people who -- the Royal Air Force. They

:04:24. > :04:34.will be joined by many thousands of people who are making their way

:04:34. > :04:36.

:04:36. > :04:43.along The Mall. Many of them might well reflect on the workload of an

:04:43. > :04:47.87-year-old monarch who has dealt with mountains of Government papers,

:04:47. > :04:57.advised 12 Prime Ministers, and travelled the world representing the

:04:57. > :05:02.

:05:02. > :05:05.know not how, my parents scraped together enough money to buy a tiny

:05:05. > :05:10.black-and-white television. The whole street crowded in. The living

:05:10. > :05:20.room was packed with people. As the youngest person present, I was the

:05:20. > :05:21.

:05:21. > :05:27.tea maker. Even in the pouring rain, thousands of families waving their

:05:27. > :05:34.flags and shouting out, "Hooray!" was incredible. We were carried

:05:34. > :05:40.away. We didn't notice the rain until it was all over. A sea of

:05:40. > :05:44.faces and waving of flags and tremendous cheering. We are so

:05:44. > :05:47.fortunate in this country to have the Queen as head of state, who has

:05:47. > :05:52.done such a fantastic job for the last 61 years. Long may that

:05:52. > :05:56.continue. Ceremonials are an important part of that. We are known

:05:56. > :06:01.for our ceremonial the world over, the brilliant way in which we carry

:06:01. > :06:11.it out. The Queen is committed to regular patterns within our national

:06:11. > :06:12.

:06:12. > :06:18.life. Commonwealth Day, the Maundy Service. They are very important.

:06:18. > :06:27.She is representing the nation by her presence in a very powerful way

:06:27. > :06:29.for the nation as a whole. advantage of the ceremonial for the

:06:29. > :06:32.State Opening of Parliament, there are two-thirds of the people present

:06:32. > :06:37.who have done it before. That makes it run much more smoothly. Of

:06:37. > :06:42.course, the linchpin of the whole ceremony is the Queen, who has done

:06:42. > :06:47.it for 60 years. She is an expert. We are very lucky to have her there.

:06:47. > :06:52.To get a decent seat, you have to be in two-and-a-half hours before she

:06:52. > :06:57.arrives. It is amazing, you know, seeing her come in. It is an

:06:57. > :07:04.incredibly special moment. It is a huge privilege to be part of

:07:04. > :07:08.something which I think is so uniquely British. Her Majesty is so

:07:08. > :07:15.good at carrying out her role. We forget how much work she does, what

:07:15. > :07:21.she puts into the role. If you imagine as a young lady, since the

:07:21. > :07:25.time of Winston Churchill, every day during that period she has a longer

:07:25. > :07:35.experience of state papers and Government than anyone else alive.

:07:35. > :07:36.

:07:37. > :07:45.No-one can match what she has seen. It is discipline that has driven her

:07:45. > :07:52.right from 1947 and her commitment to what she was going to do for us.

:07:52. > :07:56.I declare that my life shall be devoted to your service. Many people

:07:56. > :08:01.wonder what motivates the Queen. I have not a shred of doubt about what

:08:01. > :08:06.it is. It is duty. I don't think anything will ever change that.

:08:06. > :08:11.NEWSREEL: His Majesty was accompanied by Princess Elizabeth...

:08:11. > :08:14.It goes back to her upbringing. She was so well briefed by her father.

:08:14. > :08:19.She spent hours and hours with her father, who discussed everything.

:08:19. > :08:29.She would say, "My father told me this. He did it that way." That is

:08:29. > :08:32.

:08:32. > :08:35.the basis of her knowledge. She has built on that. She's amazing. Her

:08:36. > :08:38.Majesty knows the questions to ask. When there's 150 people being

:08:38. > :08:44.awarded, that is a huge number of people to remember what they have

:08:44. > :08:51.done. She just makes everybody feel very relaxed, very welcome and

:08:51. > :08:55.hugely special. When you see the Queen at Windsor Horse Show, you

:08:55. > :09:00.understand what an informal and private event to her and the Duke of

:09:00. > :09:06.Edinburgh it really is. They can wander around their back garden and

:09:06. > :09:10.nobody bothers them. They are amongst like-minded souls. It is a

:09:10. > :09:15.very informal experience for everybody. The Queen has an empathy.

:09:15. > :09:22.If you sit down and talk to her privately, you will be surprised how

:09:22. > :09:27.much she knows of what is going on in everyone's life. It always starts

:09:27. > :09:32.off very formal. That is what you expect. Then you find that Her

:09:32. > :09:39.Majesty's so relaxed, you sometimes almost get carried away and start

:09:39. > :09:43.asking questions. She is wonderful. She has a terrific sense of humour.

:09:44. > :09:48.I remember once at Sandringham when the photographers were told by the

:09:48. > :09:52.picture editors not to harass the Queen. The Queen turned up with her

:09:52. > :09:58.dogs, got out of the Range Rover and she said to an aide, "Why are they

:09:58. > :10:04.not taking any pictures?" He said, "Well, they have been told they must

:10:04. > :10:14.not harass you." She said, "I don't know what is worse, being harassed

:10:14. > :10:20.or being ignored!" LAUGHTER It is fantastic when you see Her Majesty

:10:20. > :10:26.on the saluting base. You go another two inches, your chest goes another

:10:26. > :10:32.four -- you grow another two inches, your chest grows another four

:10:32. > :10:35.inches. Forever entwined. One voice. As members of the Armed Forces, we

:10:35. > :10:40.serve for Queen and country, not for any one Government or political

:10:40. > :10:45.party. It is Her Majesty that is our Commander-in-Chief and, therefore,

:10:45. > :10:55.it is right when she leads the nation's tribute at the Cenotaph on

:10:55. > :11:01.

:11:01. > :11:05.Remembrance Sunday. Most people would think at 87 and 92, that the

:11:05. > :11:11.Queen and the Duke had every reason to say, "I have done my bit." But

:11:11. > :11:16.they are still working on behalf of all of us. We have this anchor that

:11:16. > :11:23.is there and all the changes that have taken place with technology and

:11:23. > :11:27.so on. All that time as an anchor we have had the Queen. Throughout her

:11:28. > :11:31.reign, she has carried out the role with great dignity, Majesty and

:11:31. > :11:36.great love for this country and our people. We are extremely lucky to

:11:36. > :11:45.have her and long may she go on being Queen. Wherever you go around

:11:45. > :11:51.the world, if people speak of THE Queen, they mean OUR Queen. Her

:11:51. > :11:54.status is recognised everywhere. would love to give her a hug, but

:11:54. > :11:59.I'm probably not allowed. Me and thousands of others, just to say

:11:59. > :12:09.thank you. She is there as a figurehead, as a leader, as somebody

:12:09. > :12:12.

:12:12. > :12:22.who sets a tone and, for our nation, that is really important. The proof,

:12:22. > :12:25.

:12:25. > :12:27.if you needed it, that the Birthday to young and old. Last year, the

:12:27. > :12:34.Diamond Jubilee year, there was a vast crowd here for the Birthday

:12:34. > :12:43.Parade. This year, in the 60th anniversary year of the Coronation,

:12:43. > :12:46.it looks pretty impressive, too. Robert Hartman and Major-General Sir

:12:46. > :12:50.Sebastian Roberts are still with me here. It is worth noting, Robert,

:12:50. > :12:54.that, at this stage, people are beginning to think about the way the

:12:54. > :13:00.younger Royals can share some of that burden. We are seeing some

:13:00. > :13:07.examples of that already? Yes, we are seeing a young younger -- we are

:13:08. > :13:14.seeing younger members of the family taking on some of the major roles.

:13:14. > :13:18.It will be the Prince of Wales who stands in for the Queen at the

:13:18. > :13:25.Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. The Queen is very much -

:13:25. > :13:35.she's been very busy this week. She has held a meeting with the Privy

:13:35. > :13:38.

:13:38. > :13:46.Council. Other members of the family have stood in when the Duke of

:13:46. > :13:51.Edinburgh was needed. There is a big gathering of engineers at the Palace

:13:51. > :13:58.for the Engineering Awards. The Earl and Countess of Wessex will be there

:13:58. > :14:03.to talk to the crowds as well. So, I think we will see sensible

:14:03. > :14:13.delegation carrying on throughout the summer until His Royal Highness

:14:13. > :14:14.

:14:14. > :14:18.the Duke of Edinburgh is back on his feet. Last month, we saw the Prince

:14:18. > :14:21.of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall attending the State Opening of

:14:21. > :14:24.Parliament together for the first time, too. I don't think the Prince

:14:24. > :14:31.of Wales has been there since 1996. We will come back to that in a

:14:31. > :14:41.moment. We are in Green Park, the King's Troop preparing to fire their

:14:41. > :14:47.

:14:47. > :14:51.salute. Today's will be a 41-Gun Salute. The ceremonial season has

:14:51. > :15:01.included Royal Salutes to mark the accession to the throne, the Queen's

:15:01. > :15:02.

:15:02. > :15:09.abbing shul birthday, the Queen's Coronation, the anniversary last

:15:09. > :15:15.Monday -- the Queen's actual birthday, the Queen's Coronation,

:15:15. > :15:20.the anniversary was last Monday. It is taking place in Green Park, that

:15:20. > :15:30.is a Royal Park. They add 20 to the number which brings you to a 41-Gun

:15:30. > :15:57.

:15:57. > :16:00.Edward and he will give the orders as they fire the salute. The

:16:00. > :16:10.interval between each round of fire is ten seconds. It is normally

:16:10. > :16:10.

:16:10. > :17:05.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:17:05. > :17:10.but apparently they were just getting ready. The Royal Salute will

:17:10. > :17:13.be fired in a few minutes time. We will go back to Green Park when that

:17:13. > :17:20.happens. The crowd is now gathering in tens of thousands outside

:17:20. > :17:28.Buckingham Palace. Robert, we were just saying a short while ago that

:17:28. > :17:33.there were several examples of the burden being shared. Yes, and we

:17:33. > :17:36.will see that carrying on. The court will go up to Edinburgh to Holyrood

:17:36. > :17:40.House for that week of Scottish events and the royal family will

:17:40. > :17:46.help the Queen with those events. She has been doing those things

:17:46. > :17:50.longer than anyone. She very much knows the ropes. Now we are seeing

:17:51. > :17:54.some of the crowds coming in here. It could start raining but I don't

:17:54. > :17:59.think it will dampen the spirits. I have been in that crowd a number of

:17:59. > :18:04.times and you meet an extraordinary number of people. One man flies in

:18:04. > :18:14.every year from Australia just to be here. And I'm at the couple from

:18:14. > :18:16.Canada who do the same. -- I met a couple. A few umbrellas and I am

:18:16. > :18:21.just wondering what the atmosphere is like in that room behind the

:18:21. > :18:25.balcony. It is the most extraordinary atmosphere. Many of

:18:25. > :18:31.the people have been spectators and suddenly into that room, those who

:18:31. > :18:40.have been participants, the Royal cannons and one or two of the other

:18:40. > :18:45.players. I think there is an air of coming off stage. Then the plaudits

:18:45. > :18:48.and the constructive criticisms are handed out. I have had links pointed

:18:48. > :18:56.out to me for which I have been responsible which will not occur

:18:56. > :19:02.again. But the atmosphere generally is one of enormous pleasure and

:19:02. > :19:07.pride in a magnificent celebration. It is also a very rare day off of

:19:07. > :19:11.sorts for the Queen. In that film we saw her going through the red boxes,

:19:11. > :19:17.which pursue her around the country and around the world, every day of

:19:17. > :19:23.the year. Her private secretary told me that she gets two days off,

:19:23. > :19:27.Christmas Day and her birthday. So no red boxes tonight. It is also

:19:27. > :19:33.when they hand out a complimentary glass of wine for lunch for members

:19:33. > :19:36.of the royal household, so I'm sure there will be a party atmosphere in

:19:36. > :19:46.the staff dining room later. should also add that there are

:19:46. > :19:55.

:19:55. > :19:59.carrots for the horses in the see a few umbrellas up, which is a

:19:59. > :20:05.little sad towards the end of this. I don't think it will affect the

:20:05. > :20:09.enjoyment of the flypast, because whether it is raining or there is

:20:09. > :20:18.sunshine, it is incredibly impressive. I've said there would be

:20:18. > :20:23.200 aircraft in the flypast today. I think we will be a little

:20:23. > :20:33.unlucky... Excuse me. No Spitfire or hurricane, but there will be a

:20:33. > :20:41.

:20:41. > :20:48.an enormous crowd building up on the Mall and it is reminiscent of what

:20:48. > :20:57.we saw at the Diamond Jubilee last year. Standing by in Green Park, the

:20:57. > :21:01.Kings Troop, ready to fire the Royal Salute. Let's join Clare Balding.

:21:01. > :21:08.With me is the Adjutant, Captain John Gibson. The Queen visited you

:21:08. > :21:13.two years ago for -- two weeks ago. Yes, she came to Woolwich Barracks

:21:13. > :21:17.to present operational medals to two soldiers and to meet the horses.

:21:17. > :21:20.will be firing a salute shortly and also a special one next month.

:21:20. > :21:24.Absolutely, historically on the birth of the Royal Prince and

:21:24. > :21:34.Princess we will fire within a certain time period to mark at

:21:34. > :21:34.

:21:34. > :21:37.birth. A significant event which we are looking forward to. And a

:21:37. > :21:43.special presentation after it? Yes, the first part which case fired will

:21:43. > :21:46.be presented to the proud parents. How have things been going today?

:21:46. > :21:52.think things have been going very well and we are in position to fire

:21:52. > :21:56.now and we look forward to it. can you relax and enjoy the day or

:21:56. > :22:00.are you under pressure? I rode on parade last year, which was a great

:22:00. > :22:04.deal more pressure. Today, once the planning is done, it goes like

:22:04. > :22:10.clockwork and you know what will happen and it is fantastic to be

:22:10. > :22:14.part. Timing is being precise, that Royal Salute will be at 12:52pm. And

:22:14. > :22:24.a special salute for the birth of the royal baby as well, which we

:22:24. > :22:26.

:22:26. > :22:36.expect to be next month. Nothing excites the nation so as the birth

:22:36. > :22:40.

:22:40. > :22:47.Buckingham Palace that Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth,

:22:47. > :22:50.Duchess of Edinburgh, was safely delivered of a Prince at 9:14pm.

:22:50. > :23:00.cameraman secured these latest pictures of Prince Charles beginning

:23:00. > :23:16.

:23:16. > :23:26.one of his daily outings in the together again to celebrate

:23:26. > :23:41.

:23:41. > :23:47.is tonight sleeping in his cot at home. Was it a very painful

:23:47. > :23:54.experience? Have you ever had a baby? No, I haven't.Why should wait

:23:54. > :24:04.and see! The new printable one day inherit, if not the earth, then the

:24:04. > :24:14.United Kingdom. -- the new Prince will one day inherit. The Prince of

:24:14. > :24:14.

:24:14. > :25:31.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:25:31. > :25:36.by the Kings Troop is well under little more sunshine, thankfully,

:25:36. > :25:42.many thousands of people, making their way down from Admiralty Arch

:25:43. > :25:50.in the general direction of Horse Guards Parade. Through St James'

:25:50. > :25:55.Park down towards Buckingham Palace. The great expanse of the Mall down

:25:55. > :25:59.towards the Queen Victoria Memorial, glinting in the sunshine today.

:25:59. > :26:04.Robert Hardman, there will be lots of people wondering when they see

:26:04. > :26:07.the entire family the balcony, they will be looking at Prince William,

:26:07. > :26:13.wondering what the next month will bring for him and his growing

:26:13. > :26:18.family, and what the future holds. It is a very busy time for Prince

:26:18. > :26:23.William and the Duchess with the baby due next month. He have to make

:26:23. > :26:28.a decision very soon on what he does next. His three-year period as a

:26:28. > :26:36.search and rescue pilot with the RAF in Anglesey comes to a close in

:26:36. > :26:39.September. He have to decide whether he wants to renew that. He can do

:26:39. > :26:42.another three-year rotation. You might choose to take on another role

:26:42. > :26:46.within the Armed Forces. He has a third role option which would be to

:26:46. > :26:50.leave the armed forces and take up full-time royal duties. We are

:26:50. > :26:57.awaiting an announcement on that. People will be much more interested

:26:57. > :27:02.in and another -- in another announcement that will be made next

:27:02. > :27:07.month to the Commonwealth and the world. A good moment to underline

:27:08. > :27:12.the very important and significant piece of legislation which changed

:27:12. > :27:16.the succession rules. Absolutely. This child, boy or girl, will

:27:16. > :27:21.automatically be third in line to the throne. That really does usher

:27:21. > :27:24.in an entirely new era for real succession. Through history we have

:27:24. > :27:30.been far more predisposed toward having Kings, we have had far more

:27:30. > :27:34.Kings than half a dozen or so Queens, but the odds would seem to

:27:34. > :27:42.be an 50-50. We might have many more queens and many more days like

:27:42. > :27:47.today. Boy or girl, one day many years into the future that baby will

:27:47. > :27:52.be experiencing the events that we see here today. They know that

:27:52. > :27:57.within a few seconds the Queen and members of the royal family will be

:27:57. > :28:04.appearing on that famous balcony. And that will tell them that the

:28:04. > :28:07.five passed by the Royal Air Force -- the flypast by the Royal Air

:28:07. > :28:13.Force will be just a few moments away because these things are timed

:28:13. > :28:18.precisely. I was saying that because of volatile weather conditions,

:28:18. > :28:24.notably the wind, the Spitfire and the Hurricane will not be with us,

:28:25. > :28:27.but we are hoping to see a Lancaster as part of the RAF Memorial flight.

:28:27. > :28:33.They will be towards the front sections of the flypast when we have

:28:33. > :28:38.it. There will be some impressive elements following that. And the Red

:28:38. > :28:48.Arrows, of course, will be the climax of the flypast, as they

:28:48. > :28:49.

:28:49. > :28:54.always are. A very important year for the Lancaster of course. The

:28:54. > :28:58.70th anniversary of the dambusters so it will take a prominent place.

:28:58. > :29:06.And the Queen, with huge cheers, leading the royal family onto the

:29:06. > :29:11.balcony. Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry,

:29:11. > :29:17.still very much a captain in the Royal Army Air Corps. The Duke of

:29:17. > :29:23.York, the Duchess of Cornwall on the left. And all the rest of the family

:29:23. > :29:26.filing into place. This is one if not the biggest appearance of the

:29:26. > :29:34.royal family. And if we look in the distance, we might see the

:29:34. > :29:39.aeroplanes. The 95th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. We think 30

:29:39. > :29:49.aircraft, 30 different types. Eight elements, 30 seconds apart. The

:29:49. > :29:50.

:29:51. > :30:00.first element, the support helicopter force. Currently

:30:01. > :30:18.

:30:18. > :30:23.providing vital equipment for forces City of London, across central

:30:23. > :30:31.London, down the Mall, over Buckingham Palace and then out

:30:31. > :30:41.towards West London. And there, the lovely sight of the Lancaster. Part

:30:41. > :30:43.

:30:43. > :30:47.of the RAF Memorial Flight. One of only two airworthy Lancasters still

:30:47. > :30:55.going. One in Canada and this one. Very well looked after in

:30:55. > :31:01.Lincolnshire. Broad smiles from the Queen. We normally see the Lancaster

:31:01. > :31:06.with the Hurricane and the Spitfire, but we are happy to see just the

:31:06. > :31:13.Lancaster today representing they RAF Memorial Flight. The third

:31:13. > :31:23.element, Tornadoes. The 70th anniversary of the famous dambusters

:31:23. > :31:23.

:31:23. > :32:15.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

:32:15. > :32:18.these based at Brize Norton. You cannot convey the thundering noise

:32:18. > :32:28.of this flypast making its way over central London and over Horse

:32:28. > :32:46.

:32:46. > :32:56.VC10. The Tri-Star is carrying 50 air cadets as passengers, so a great

:32:56. > :33:06.

:33:06. > :33:12.massive Voyager and two Tornado aeroplanes and two Typhoons. The

:33:12. > :33:22.Voyager will replace the Tri-Star force. The biggest commission ever

:33:22. > :33:44.

:33:44. > :33:49.The Royal Air Force aerobatics team. Nine Hawk T1s of the Red Arrows. A

:33:49. > :33:59.magnificent sight in red, white and blue over Buckingham Palace for the

:33:59. > :34:06.

:34:06. > :34:16.and cheering. In this, the 60th anniversary year of the Coronation

:34:16. > :34:21.in 1953. She looks very happy. Prince Harry looking an and the

:34:21. > :34:27.Duchess of Cambridge smiling, too. She is preparing for a very

:34:27. > :34:37.important month ahead. The Royal Standard flying in the breeze about

:34:37. > :34:42.Buckingham Palace. The Queen and three generations of the royal

:34:42. > :34:46.family making their way back into the Palace. The Birthday Parade of

:34:47. > :34:49.2013 is at an end. Another superb display on Horse Guards, led by the

:34:49. > :34:55.Welsh Guards and an equally impressive display by the Royal Air

:34:55. > :34:59.Force to round off the events. Don't forget, you can enjoy it all again.