:00:11. > :00:14.birthday is celebrated with the ceremony of Trooping the Colour. The
:00:15. > :00:20.parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse
:00:21. > :00:25.Guards Parade and back again. Rousing music, immaculate drill,
:00:26. > :00:55.splendid colour, stand by for the Queen's Birthday Parade.
:00:56. > :01:02.2014, a year of notable events, we have commemorated the 70th
:01:03. > :01:06.anniversary of D-Day and preparing to mark the centenary of the
:01:07. > :01:09.outbreak of the Great War, and later this year the last British combat
:01:10. > :01:13.troops will leave Afghanistan. A blend of past, present and indeed
:01:14. > :01:17.future in the shape of today's Escort, found by Nijmegen Company
:01:18. > :01:21.Grenadier Guards, many of the Guardsmen are now recruits. In fact,
:01:22. > :01:26.for all the officers and Guardsmen in the Escort today, this is their
:01:27. > :01:32.first time on Horse Guards for the Queen's birthday parade.
:01:33. > :01:36.Some 8,000 people watching the ceremony today, many of them have
:01:37. > :01:40.applied successfully for tickets, it's a very competitive process.
:01:41. > :01:45.They're also joined by diplomats from Commonwealth states and beyond
:01:46. > :01:49.along with military leaders, and senior Ministers, heads of the Armed
:01:50. > :01:53.Forces are here, not just from the UK but the USA and other countries
:01:54. > :01:58.too. The Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond and other Cabinet
:01:59. > :02:04.colleagues. Magnificent sight along the Mall, by
:02:05. > :02:08.tradition decked with Union flags to celebrate the Queen's official
:02:09. > :02:12.birthday and lining the route are soldiers of the 1st Battalion Welsh
:02:13. > :02:15.Guards. The majority of the street-liners were involved on Horse
:02:16. > :02:18.Guards last year when the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards trooped their
:02:19. > :02:24.colour with great style. A look at Buckingham Palace. The
:02:25. > :02:28.Sovereign's Escort waiting there to accompany the Queen and other
:02:29. > :02:36.members of the Royal Family to Horse Guards. We have a new member of the
:02:37. > :02:40.BBC team at Trooping the Colour this year, Suzi Perry is seeing how they
:02:41. > :02:46.put the finishing touches to the preparations. It's calm down here,
:02:47. > :02:52.this is the coachman, first female coachman at Buckingham Palace, she's
:02:53. > :02:58.polishing that saddle. They've spent weeks preparing. The heat plays
:02:59. > :03:01.havoc with the brass. Here are the gorgeous horses that will be pulling
:03:02. > :03:07.the carriages later. They're all taking part in the parade. This is
:03:08. > :03:10.Steven putting the last touches to this horse. They've been out this
:03:11. > :03:14.morning for their ride but it's very calm which is good because the
:03:15. > :03:21.horses pick up on the atmosphere but they're certainly ready down here.
:03:22. > :03:27.Someone who understands every twist and turn of today's ceremony is my
:03:28. > :03:33.special guest, brigadier Roland Walker. There he is in 2010. That
:03:34. > :03:37.was the last time the Grenadier Guards Trooped their Colour here on
:03:38. > :03:41.Horse Guards. That was four years ago today. He is
:03:42. > :03:44.with me in the commentary position above the parade ground. Welcome,
:03:45. > :03:47.what are you looking forward to? Thank you very much, I am looking
:03:48. > :03:51.forward to watching this from the comfort of the commentary box and
:03:52. > :03:56.seeing it all again. My memory was quite a blur because we had come
:03:57. > :03:58.back from Afghanistan and as you will see, it generally all happens
:03:59. > :04:02.behind you when you are in charge. I am excited for the troops on parade
:04:03. > :04:07.and for families watching, it's a big day for them. A chance to show
:04:08. > :04:13.their respect for the Sovereign in front of an impressive audience. We
:04:14. > :04:15.look forward to it. Let me say all Guardsmen joining the Grenadier
:04:16. > :04:19.begin their careers in Nijmegen Company, the vast majority in
:04:20. > :04:23.today's Escort are new recruits. We joined them a few months ago for the
:04:24. > :04:27.first parade rehearsal as they began to understand the demands of taking
:04:28. > :04:35.centre-stage and providing the Escort.
:04:36. > :04:39.We try to use Nijmegen Company as a finishing school. 17 and
:04:40. > :04:43.18-year-olds turning up into a battalion of 800 men can be
:04:44. > :04:49.extremely difficult. Some arrived two or three days ago, they're taken
:04:50. > :04:52.straight down to the stores, we are on the drill square, I am stood in
:04:53. > :04:57.front of them for the first time screaming and shouting at them. This
:04:58. > :05:00.is day one of Troop training, usually about seven weeks. Keeping
:05:01. > :05:04.it at basic level today. I joined Nijmegen Company about a month ago.
:05:05. > :05:08.It's a shock to the system going straight from a month to doing this.
:05:09. > :05:13.Drill is difficult for Guardsmen at this level. I would expect mistakes
:05:14. > :05:16.and I am happy for them to make mistakes. I am not going to shout,
:05:17. > :05:21.it's the first one. There is the line. Expect to get it wrong now and
:05:22. > :05:26.not on the day. If you get it wrong I will bounce you around this
:05:27. > :05:30.square! We are here and let's get on with it. Five-minute break, that's
:05:31. > :05:34.all we have! Straight away you forgot it. It's all about giving
:05:35. > :05:38.100% and being keen at all times. Yeah, it's hard work and
:05:39. > :05:40.determination. This marks the beginning of hard work and
:05:41. > :05:44.determination for send weeks. You beginning of hard work and
:05:45. > :05:50.must keep up with the front rank. You get a few arguments. Being in
:05:51. > :05:55.the front it makes me nervous, you have to be switched on at all times.
:05:56. > :06:00.Everything has to be pitch perfect. It's gone wrong at that end. There
:06:01. > :06:04.is pressure on the day especially when Her Majesty is a few metres
:06:05. > :06:13.away from you, but it's an honour really. I am part of the Queen's
:06:14. > :06:16.Birthday Parade, here I am. Most Guardsmen here today will never have
:06:17. > :06:20.done a Troop. The first one they're going to be the Escort. They will
:06:21. > :06:23.probably never be the Escort again in their Army career so that makes
:06:24. > :06:35.me extremely proud and should make them proud, as well.
:06:36. > :06:44.They're standing proudly with sergeant Major brooks. The Escort
:06:45. > :06:49.provided sergeant Major brooks. The Escort
:06:50. > :06:54.Grenadier Guards. 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards providing two,
:06:55. > :06:59.three and four Guards, a prominent Grenadier Guards presence this year.
:07:00. > :07:05.The far end, number seven company Coldstream Guards providing number
:07:06. > :07:11.six guard and next to them number five guard. The Welsh Guards are
:07:12. > :07:15.street-lining. The Irish Guards not absent, they have some musicians in
:07:16. > :07:20.the Massed Bands. More than 200 Irish Guardsmen in Cyprus, they sent
:07:21. > :07:23.us this message. From all soldiers in the 1st Battalion Irish Guards
:07:24. > :07:26.battle group in Cyprus, we would like to wish all the soldiers on the
:07:27. > :07:31.Queen's birthday parade today the best of luck. Have a gleaming
:07:32. > :07:41.parade. Three cheers for Her Majesty!
:07:42. > :07:46.Hip-hip hooray! Three cheers from Cyprus. Now the
:07:47. > :07:55.officer commanding today's parade is the Field Officer in Brigade waiting
:07:56. > :07:59.and he's been talking to Suzi. 18 years of service and here you are
:08:00. > :08:04.commanding the parade. Anything you feel anxious about? We are prepared
:08:05. > :08:08.as we can be. I am concerned my voice may not hold out. You have a
:08:09. > :08:13.scratchy throat. A touch. You are in good hands with Winston, all 16. 1.
:08:14. > :08:17.He is a dab hand at this. He has done the parade eight times. Two as
:08:18. > :08:21.the brigade field officer in waiting's horse and he knows the
:08:22. > :08:26.parade better than I do. He can also go up steps, he goes to Sandhurst
:08:27. > :08:30.College and rides in. He has done that many times. It's his last one.
:08:31. > :08:34.His last parade and last day in the Army. Well, let's hope it's a good
:08:35. > :08:39.one. How proud do you feel to be doing this today? Immensely. To be
:08:40. > :08:42.in front of 1300 troops and the Queen is a day in a life. I know
:08:43. > :08:49.that your daughters are watching. Good luck and have a fantastic day.
:08:50. > :08:53.Thank you very much indeed. Back on Horse Guards, the Colour
:08:54. > :09:03.Party is in place, a great honour to be selected for a central role in
:09:04. > :09:10.the parade. Sergeant Gregory Mann. The two colour sentries are both 21.
:09:11. > :09:18.The Colour Trooped today is the Queen's Colour. 45 of the regiment's
:09:19. > :09:25.77 battle honours on the Colour. One of those forle of Nijmegen. They
:09:26. > :09:29.fought to liberate the Dutch town. We asked Lord Carrington, the former
:09:30. > :09:35.Foreign Secretary, a captain in 1944, about his memories of the
:09:36. > :09:42.battle. I was a regular soldier before the war. I joined in 1938 and
:09:43. > :09:48.for some reason which can only be known to the War Office, they
:09:49. > :09:52.decided to turn us into tanks. We were really rather a good infantry
:09:53. > :09:57.battalion, I am grateful because I wouldn't be alive I think if one had
:09:58. > :10:01.been an infantry battalion. There were certain advantages in being in
:10:02. > :10:07.a tank too. You would take your bottle of whisky and could deal
:10:08. > :10:14.better than walking on your feet. We didn't land until after D-Day. The
:10:15. > :10:19.first battle we had was near Carr, we never had a battle before in a
:10:20. > :10:25.tank. Incredible. None of us enjoyed it very much and it wasn't very much
:10:26. > :10:30.of a success. But I think we got better after that and became really
:10:31. > :10:35.quite a good battalion. All the other bridges up to Nijmegen were
:10:36. > :10:41.taken fairly easily by the airborne troops and it was a bit of a mess.
:10:42. > :10:46.We were supposed to go straight through over the bridge but when we
:10:47. > :10:50.arrived there the bridge had not been taken. It was quite clear that
:10:51. > :10:56.they were prepared to blow it up rather than for us to come over. But
:10:57. > :11:00.the man who was splendid was Sergeant Robinson who went over in
:11:01. > :11:06.the first tank, a splendid man. Indomitable. Over he went. I was the
:11:07. > :11:12.fourth tank or something and I just felt I was near enough to get into
:11:13. > :11:19.trouble if the bridge did go up. So much of the war you never saw the
:11:20. > :11:25.end product of what you did, but our end product was two bridges and a
:11:26. > :11:34.successful battle. I think it was a good Grenadier occasion. It's very
:11:35. > :11:39.nice the Nijmegen Company is called there, I think it's splendid and
:11:40. > :11:41.it's rather nice to think that it's a minor skirmish, but at least it's
:11:42. > :12:34.remembered after all these years. NATIONAL ANTHEM
:12:35. > :12:41.In the first carriage, the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge
:12:42. > :12:46.and Prince Harry too. Making their way towards the Mall. The second
:12:47. > :12:51.carriage, the Duke of York and his daughter Princess Eugenie and the
:12:52. > :12:56.Earl of Wessex and Countess of Wessex too.
:12:57. > :12:59.In the third carriage, the Duke of Kent and his sister, Princess
:13:00. > :13:50.Alexandra. The Royal Salute sounded by the
:13:51. > :13:57.Blues and Royals. This is the 62ndreign of the Queen's -- year of
:13:58. > :14:05.the Queen's reign. The Royal Colonels making their way too.
:14:06. > :14:11.The Duke of Cambridge, the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal. The
:14:12. > :14:17.Queen, who has celebrated her 88th birthday on April 21st this year,
:14:18. > :14:22.spent it quietly at Windsor. Today's events, of course, are a much
:14:23. > :14:33.grander scale and a celebration of the Sovereign's official birthday.
:14:34. > :14:37.The first three carriages in the procession, making
:14:38. > :14:43.The first three carriages in the along The Mall, past the cheering
:14:44. > :14:47.crowds, as they prepare to turn onto the approach road and travel down to
:14:48. > :14:53.Horse Guards Parade itself. Lots of enthusiastic cheering from
:14:54. > :15:08.the youth enclosure. There we have more than 1100 young
:15:09. > :15:17.people, in the youth enclosure. Some of them from Stirling, some of them
:15:18. > :15:23.from Pontypridd. The formation has changed, Number 3 Guard has opened
:15:24. > :15:32.up, ready to welcome the first of the royal guests. So, the first of
:15:33. > :15:34.the carriages passes on to the parade ground and the bands will
:15:35. > :16:16.play the national anthem. Prince Harry, saluting The Colour.
:16:17. > :16:22.He has retained the rank of captain. He is in the Blues and Royals. He's
:16:23. > :16:30.wearing his Afghanistan medals as well. The carriage is approaching
:16:31. > :16:34.the Horse Guards Parade in, where the royal party will watch the
:16:35. > :16:38.parade, the office once occupied by the jig of Wellington. They have the
:16:39. > :16:45.best vantage point to see what is going on. -- Duke of Wellington.
:16:46. > :16:54.The Queen's head coachman, Mark Hargreaves. Remarkable, to realise
:16:55. > :17:01.that the Queen first took part in this parade in 1947, at the age of
:17:02. > :17:04.21. The first raid after the war, riding as Colonel of the Grenadier
:17:05. > :17:11.Guards. As the young Princess Elizabeth, she had detachments of
:17:12. > :17:19.all six battalions at Windsor Castle on his 16th birthday. The Duke of
:17:20. > :17:26.Edinburgh, celebrating his 93rd birthday in the past week. Colonel
:17:27. > :17:33.of the Grenadier Guards. That is a position that he has held since
:17:34. > :17:40.March of 1975. He is wearing the uniform of the Colonel of the
:17:41. > :17:45.guards, at the trooping of the colour. He presented good conduct
:17:46. > :17:49.medals to three sergeants. Posing for the odd photograph as well.
:17:50. > :17:59.Enjoying his very strong link with the regiment.
:18:00. > :18:09.Buckingham Palace tellers that the Queen is wearing an outfit by Angela
:18:10. > :18:11.Kelly, first worn on the state visit to Australia three years ago. Powder
:18:12. > :18:21.blue dress and hat. The head coachman, leading the way
:18:22. > :18:31.on to horse guards, towards the horse guards building.
:18:32. > :18:46.The Chelsea Pensioners, 11 of them today. Their combined age, 832
:18:47. > :18:58.years. The oldest is 92. The coachman will salute the Colour with
:18:59. > :19:05.the whip. One of several salutes we will see today. The Duke of
:19:06. > :19:12.Cambridge, the Prince of Wales, Princess Royal. Followed by the two
:19:13. > :19:15.nonroyal colonels, General Guthrie and Lieutenant General James
:19:16. > :19:38.Bucknell. The Queen's Birthday Parade of 2014
:19:39. > :19:44.is about to begin. At the stroke of 11 o'clock, the Queen will step onto
:19:45. > :19:47.the saluting base, the Royal standard will be unfurled and the
:19:48. > :19:49.Field Officer will give his command, and the national anthem will be
:19:50. > :20:21.played. The Field Officer in a waiting,
:20:22. > :20:46.Charles Broughton, preparing to offer the Royal Salute.
:20:47. > :21:55.The Queen's first duty is to inspect her troops. To do that, there is
:21:56. > :22:08.going to be some rousing music. A big moment for him, he joined the
:22:09. > :22:17.Army in 1976. The first PC is going to conduct, composed by a former
:22:18. > :23:33.bands master of the Coldstream Guards.
:23:34. > :23:42.The music changes to First Finest, Major Denis Burton is the composer.
:23:43. > :23:48.The director of music at the Grenadier Guards until 2006. The
:23:49. > :23:55.march includes the use of Grenadier themes. The title, First Finest,
:23:56. > :24:14.affecting their pride in the regiment.
:24:15. > :24:24.The Sovereign's Standard of the Blues and Royals. It is held by the
:24:25. > :24:32.Standard Bearer,. The Queen presented new standards to the house
:24:33. > :24:33.guard. It only happens once a decade. The coachman saluting the
:24:34. > :24:42.Sovereign's Standard. The Royal Colonels, as well. And the
:24:43. > :25:03.nonroyal colonels. The Kings Troop, Royal Horse
:25:04. > :25:07.Artillery, ready for their dramatic appearance on the parade ground a
:25:08. > :25:16.little later on. The lead gun for them, that functions as the Colour,
:25:17. > :25:24.equal to the Colour being escorted today. That is why it is saluted.
:25:25. > :25:33.The Major General, commanding the Household Division, Edward Smith
:25:34. > :25:34.Osborne, his first year in the role. Commissioned into the Life Guards in
:25:35. > :25:39.1983, commanding officer in Commissioned into the Life Guards in
:25:40. > :25:45.role, by the way, commanding both Prince William and Prince Harry when
:25:46. > :25:51.they joined the Household Division. It was a huge honour to be the Major
:25:52. > :25:56.General at the Queen's Birthday Parade. Not least because, as a
:25:57. > :26:05.parade, it captures the essence, for many, of the Army. But it is also,
:26:06. > :26:14.for me, a personal privilege to come back to command an organisation that
:26:15. > :26:17.I joined over 30 years ago. It is perhaps old-fashioned, but
:26:18. > :26:28.interesting to say, that the discipline and the precision that
:26:29. > :26:33.underpins a parade on horse guards encapsulates exactly the same values
:26:34. > :26:49.and standards that underpins an effective operational soldier.
:26:50. > :27:03.Leading a bank of 200 musicians, a magnificent sound. They are
:27:04. > :27:09.preparing to play a firm favourite, one of the most loved military
:27:10. > :27:13.marches, a big highlight and an opportunity for the bands to take
:27:14. > :27:40.centre stage. The last time it was not played is back in 1936.
:27:41. > :31:54.march! The quick march is Captain General composed by Lieutenant
:31:55. > :31:57.Colonel Dunn in 1949. Very much to mark the 350 years of the Royal
:31:58. > :32:02.Marines celebrated this year and also the Duke of Edinburgh's
:32:03. > :32:06.association with the wonderful Royal Marines. Very much showing that
:32:07. > :32:07.today is all about all three services honouring their Sovereign
:32:08. > :32:30.and not just the Household Troops. The lone drummer, Lance Corporal
:32:31. > :32:34.Matthew Hadfield leaves the Massed Bands and marches to a position to
:32:35. > :32:38.the right of the Escort. He joined the Grenadiers in 2011. He is
:32:39. > :33:43.signalling the next phase of the parade.
:33:44. > :33:53.The drummer's call, a reminder of the days when drum beats were the
:33:54. > :34:07.method by which commands were given and the Guardsman junior takes the
:34:08. > :34:08.pace stick and that allows the regimental sergeant to draw his
:34:09. > :34:38.sword ready to protect the Colour. Escort for the Colour will advance.
:34:39. > :35:21.Quick march! The Escort steps off crisply and
:35:22. > :35:28.smartly, marching proudly to the tune of the British Grenadiers.
:35:29. > :35:32.Quite a moment, Roland. Quite. This is the point where all eyes are on
:35:33. > :35:36.the Escort. This is the essence of the parade. They go forward to take
:35:37. > :35:40.control of and Escort that Colour with all its
:35:41. > :35:44.control of and Escort that Colour to a great tune like the British
:35:45. > :35:48.Grenadier. They'll be standing very tall ready to march off, moving
:35:49. > :35:50.forward with pride and conviction and I dare say daunting if you were
:35:51. > :36:52.facing them down. Escort for the Colour. Massed Bands
:36:53. > :36:56.will return. The Senior Director of Music making his way through the
:36:57. > :37:12.band to a new position close to the front. Guards attention. Change
:37:13. > :37:23.arms. Slope arms.
:37:24. > :37:32.It's a splendid moment for Warrant Officer One, Darren Westlake,
:37:33. > :37:39.Regimental Sergeant Major. 20 years ago he was also in the Escort when
:37:40. > :37:44.the 2nd battalion Trooped their Colour. Here he is again today
:37:45. > :37:48.preparing to take possession of the Colour, protecting it with his
:37:49. > :38:55.sword, ready to hand it to the En sign.
:38:56. > :39:05.The Ensign, second Lieutenant Oliver Wace, joined Nijmegen Company the
:39:06. > :39:21.week before training began. He has received the Colour.
:39:22. > :39:42.Escort to the Colour. Present arms. The Queen's birthday parade enters a
:39:43. > :39:46.new phase. As we have heard the Escort for the Colour has been
:39:47. > :39:47.changed into the Escort to the Colour having taken possession of
:39:48. > :40:03.it. Escort to the Colour will advance by
:40:04. > :40:29.the centre. Slow march! The Escort advances in slow time.
:40:30. > :40:36.The bands play Escort to the Colour by Richard Ridings. Here we have the
:40:37. > :40:42.most difficult challenge for the bands, they have to change direction
:40:43. > :40:50.with very little room for manoeuvre in this famously impenetratable move
:40:51. > :40:56.known as the spin wheel. 63 new members of the Massed Bands this
:40:57. > :41:03.year, so it's even more tricky. No written instructions by the way,
:41:04. > :41:10.Prince Harry equally intrigued. One of the most experienced voices among
:41:11. > :41:15.the hundreds of members there is Drum Major Steve Staite, his 12th
:41:16. > :41:22.consecutive Queen's birthday parade, he is apparently one of the real
:41:23. > :41:28.experts on the spin wheel. While this is happening, I suppose it's
:41:29. > :41:31.easies to get distracted, -- easy to get distracked, Roland. Thank you
:41:32. > :41:36.for reminding me! This is where I nearly got it wrong. We are coming
:41:37. > :41:41.to a stage where the band will cut out and that's the signal for the
:41:42. > :41:46.Field Officer in Waiting to give the crucial word to present arms. I am
:41:47. > :41:50.afraid I started daydreaming at this point looking at the crowd and
:41:51. > :41:54.missed the cut out. I had this awful feeling that something was wrong.
:41:55. > :41:58.And I realised it was me and just managed to get the word in, in time.
:41:59. > :42:02.I don't think anyone noticed, we will keep that between you and me! I
:42:03. > :42:08.have something to admit, we didn't notice.
:42:09. > :42:29.Present arms! The music changes to the familiar
:42:30. > :42:35.Grenadiers Slow March, arranged by Fred Harris and the movement has
:42:36. > :42:40.come for the Ensign, Second Lieutenant Oliver Wace as all eyes
:42:41. > :42:44.are upon him. This is immensely new for me, I joined December last year
:42:45. > :42:47.out of Sandhurst. The drill that we do at Sandhurst is similar, but
:42:48. > :42:56.very, very different at the same time. So, it's a huge challenge for
:42:57. > :43:05.me. My grandfather fought in World War II for the Grenadier Guards,
:43:06. > :43:11.through Africa and he is large inspiration for me and why I joined
:43:12. > :43:17.the Grenadier Guards. Such an important moment now in the
:43:18. > :43:21.parade. A good time for us as well to reflect on what the Colour
:43:22. > :43:26.signifies and what those battle honours signify. Indeed. There's the
:43:27. > :43:30.obvious historical significance of the Colour as a means to control
:43:31. > :43:34.troops in battle. They've always been treated and guarded with great
:43:35. > :43:37.reverence. There are many heroic tales of soldiers and officers
:43:38. > :43:43.risking all to protect their colours. A lot of officers will have
:43:44. > :43:47.that recorded in pictures. The last Colour was carried in battle in
:43:48. > :43:52.1881. Today they really represent the soul of a regiment by recording
:43:53. > :43:59.their battle honours which are also engraved on every officer's sword.
:44:00. > :44:08.Very much a collective recognition of the regiment's bravery and
:44:09. > :44:12.success. The thoughts today too for the family of Lance Corporal James
:44:13. > :44:17.Ashworth. Yesterday marked the second anniversary of his death in
:44:18. > :44:21.Helmand Province in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for
:44:22. > :44:40.his remarkable bravery and he Trooped the Colour here with
:44:41. > :44:45.Nijmegen Company in 2007. Escort to the Colour will advance. Escort to
:44:46. > :44:57.the Colour, arms! MUSIC: Hazelmere
:44:58. > :46:53.Composed by Drum Major Tom Birkett Numbers 1 to 5 guard, advance! About
:46:54. > :47:10.turn! Guards will march past in slow and
:47:11. > :47:38.QuickTime. Left, slow March! So, the Colour has been trooped. We
:47:39. > :47:58.move into the march past, where they will march past Her Majesty. This is
:47:59. > :48:12.Nairac GC, written to commemorate a soldier killed by the IRA in 1967.
:48:13. > :48:19.MUSIC: Nairac GC Composed by Watts/Lewis
:48:20. > :48:25.This is what so many people come to see and admire, all around the
:48:26. > :48:30.world, not just the Colour, not just the music, it is the precision and
:48:31. > :48:37.that great military attention to detail. The great a few there are
:48:38. > :48:41.one of the hallmarks of the guards, the bearskin, with all of its
:48:42. > :48:45.practical challenges, Roland? Yes, this all that is rather elegant and
:48:46. > :48:51.controlled. I can assure you, when they get into the quick march, this
:48:52. > :48:54.is hot and noisy in the ranks with lots of jostling and cursing to keep
:48:55. > :48:58.everybody on the move. As you can see, they are tightly packed,
:48:59. > :49:01.shoulder to shoulder. They are being pushed left and right, encased in
:49:02. > :49:11.those thick woollen tunics, hobnailed boot. That bearskin gives
:49:12. > :49:17.you a curtain to mask your vision. As they stand there, they will be
:49:18. > :49:21.relieved to get going. As long as nobody has an alarm skin taped
:49:22. > :49:32.inside their bearskin, timed to go off, an age-old prank! When it gets
:49:33. > :49:37.going, they will be straining to hear and reacts to their own
:49:38. > :49:44.officers giving the word of command. They have a lot to think about, and
:49:45. > :49:46.a lot to concentrate on. Looking on with great interest, David Cameron,
:49:47. > :50:23.Samantha Cameron. So, the Nijmegen Company, Grenadier
:50:24. > :50:27.Guards, today's Escort. Almost ready to move off and march past in slow
:50:28. > :50:53.time. Led by the Field Officer in Brigade
:50:54. > :51:04.Waiting, Charles Broughton, and the major of the parade, Major Richard
:51:05. > :51:07.Green. The Queen acknowledging Nijmegen company. They first
:51:08. > :51:17.Trooping the Colour in 2001. The Grenadier Guards, recognisable
:51:18. > :51:35.by their single button. The Queen acknowledges the first
:51:36. > :51:38.Regiment. A single button, white plumes and the grenade collar
:51:39. > :52:03.emblem. So, the ensign raises the standard
:52:04. > :52:04.again. It is known as the recover, having flourished, or lowered, it
:52:05. > :52:19.initially. The Duke of Edinburgh, Colonel of
:52:20. > :52:24.the Grenadier Guards. How close is that relationship? It's a very
:52:25. > :52:29.close. He means a huge amount of the regiment. As much to those serving
:52:30. > :52:34.today as to the many veterans, many of whom are his good friends. I
:52:35. > :52:38.found him very easy to host when he came to visit. He is so relaxed. As
:52:39. > :52:45.a naval man, he is always teasing us about our Army ways. It's great to
:52:46. > :52:48.see him on parade. He's had a very long association. Lent his support
:52:49. > :52:54.to fundraising for those in need and has been a very active Colonel, this
:52:55. > :52:57.year alone he has visited the battalion, he has hosted two
:52:58. > :53:04.Battalion meetings and attended the first guards club.
:53:05. > :53:48.MUSIC: Figaro Composed by Mozart
:53:49. > :53:57.The Adjutant, Captain Paddy Rice, with a flourish of the sword, will
:53:58. > :54:03.signal that this march in slow time is complete. An interesting story,
:54:04. > :54:11.back in October 2009 comedies survived being shot in the neck by a
:54:12. > :54:26.Caliban sniper. -- in October 2009, you survived being shot.
:54:27. > :54:38.The Field Officer, riding out to salute the Queen. Slow march
:54:39. > :54:40.complete. The 1st Battalion Coldstream guards, currently
:54:41. > :54:45.deployed on operations in Afghanistan, providing protection in
:54:46. > :54:51.couple for British and NATO headquarters and the Afghan Military
:54:52. > :54:55.Academy. Nearly 300 men left in February. The battalion was not
:54:56. > :55:03.referred to. They will return to their Windsor based in August. There
:55:04. > :55:08.will be the last to serve before combat operations are brought to and
:55:09. > :55:12.this year. He sent this message. I know the Grenadiers will do a
:55:13. > :55:15.first-class job. I wish Lieutenant Colonel Charles Broughton and all of
:55:16. > :55:21.his team the best of luck, as well as everybody on parade. Have a
:55:22. > :55:25.cracking time, enjoy it. Her Maj is go to be watching and there is no
:55:26. > :55:33.standard but perfection. I would like to wish my father, Sir James
:55:34. > :55:36.Bucknell, and my brother the best of luck on today's parade. Although we
:55:37. > :55:40.are a long way from home, our thoughts are with everybody back in
:55:41. > :55:48.the UK. We wish you a very happy day, your Majesty. Happy birthday.
:55:49. > :56:05.Birthday greetings for Her Majesty The Queen.
:56:06. > :56:14.Prince Harry enjoying, as the neutral quick march gets underway,
:56:15. > :56:18.called Nijmegen Company. The guards preparing to march past in quick
:56:19. > :56:27.time. A new sense of dynamism. The march composed by Lieutenant Colonel
:56:28. > :56:31.Philip Hill. It was last played in 2001 at the Birthday Parade. Of
:56:32. > :57:20.course, when Nijmegen Company were tripping. -- trooping.
:57:21. > :57:25.A real sense of energy, a real sense of dynamism and purpose now for this
:57:26. > :57:45.march past in quick time. The Queen 's company have returned
:57:46. > :57:49.from the Falkland Islands. They are due to deploy in Kenya with the
:57:50. > :57:57.battalion. On the parade ground, there are two Guardsmen, with number
:57:58. > :58:09.two guard, injured serving in operations in Afghanistan on 2012.
:58:10. > :58:17.He has served for two years, his first group. Lee Scanlon, he was
:58:18. > :58:20.shot in Afghanistan, made a full recovery and was recently deployed
:58:21. > :58:51.to Brunei on a training exercise. The Queen acknowledges the Colour
:58:52. > :59:20.once again. The June is the Grenadier Guards Quick March.
:59:21. > :59:31.company, it's the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Inkerman, 5th
:59:32. > :59:37.November 1854. The music changes to the Quick March of the Scots Guards,
:59:38. > :00:01.Hielan Laddie. The Coldstream Guards group march,
:00:02. > :00:05.Milanollo. The majority of the Guardsmen are
:00:06. > :00:13.quite junior really. 56 Coldstream Guardsmen on their first birthday
:00:14. > :00:24.parade today, Jack O Hara is the youngest at 17.
:00:25. > :00:40.Field Officer rides out again, salutes the Queen. The march past in
:00:41. > :00:43.quick time is done. The Commanding Officer. A moment to pause for the
:00:44. > :00:48.next phase of the parade. He told us how he's been preparing himself for
:00:49. > :00:53.the task today. I started learning the words of command for the parade
:00:54. > :00:59.about three months ago. Since then, it has been about rehearse,
:01:00. > :01:02.rehearse, rehearse. The Duke of Edinburgh is our Regimental Colonel
:01:03. > :01:07.and so to have him there on 14th June is a moment of immense pride
:01:08. > :01:13.for us Grenadiers to Troop the Colour in front of him. The key to
:01:14. > :01:17.the perfect parade is good weather, a great atmosphere amongst the men,
:01:18. > :01:25.immaculate drill, and having seen them rehearse so far I am convinced
:01:26. > :01:28.they will deliver on the day. Plenty of confidence from Lieutenant
:01:29. > :02:25.Colonel Charles Broughton. Move to the right. Right turn!
:02:26. > :02:30.Quick march! The footguards have reformed. It
:02:31. > :02:36.will soon be the turn of the Mounted Troops to pass the saluting bass.
:02:37. > :02:39.The Massed Bands march to one side clear ago path for the Mounted
:02:40. > :03:47.Bands. A great sight. Lots of excitement
:03:48. > :03:57.here on the Parade Ground, King's Troop moving on to the ground here.
:03:58. > :04:05.Been on the parade now since 1998. The Troop kept the title King's
:04:06. > :05:01.Troop on the orders of the Queen in memory of her father.
:05:02. > :05:07.Major Mark Edward took command of the King's Troop in August 2011.
:05:08. > :05:13.It's his fifth and last birthday parade. It's a great sight, Roland.
:05:14. > :05:18.Very much so. Always glad to see the horses and guns, I have a personal
:05:19. > :05:20.soft spot for them. A great-grandfather of mine started
:05:21. > :05:47.out in the Horse Artillery. The lead gun treated as the Colour
:05:48. > :05:56.of the Troop and given the same respect as the Guards' Colour. Those
:05:57. > :06:01.guns are 13lbs, the real thing were used in action in the World War I.
:06:02. > :06:06.At that time they were a revolution in portable artillery. One of these
:06:07. > :06:24.guns here today is rumoured to have fired the first round at the Somme.
:06:25. > :06:37.The Field Officer of the Sovereign's Escort, Major Lukas of the Blues and
:06:38. > :07:12.Royals, he is riding Integrity today.
:07:13. > :07:30.The Life Guards, captain Chishick took over as Adjutant last year. The
:07:31. > :07:53.Farriers, in times gone by would despatch horses in battle.
:07:54. > :07:57.This horse Nico was named after Lance Corporal Ross Nicholls who was
:07:58. > :08:22.killed in Afghanistan in 2006. The King's Troop prepare for the
:08:23. > :08:27.trot past. 75 horses on parade today. The saddle being used is
:08:28. > :08:31.unchanged since 1904. It came into service before the World War I and
:08:32. > :08:44.designed to be ridden for days at a time.
:08:45. > :08:48.An interesting fact to watch here, as they come by you will see the
:08:49. > :08:58.horses are ranked and graded according to colour. They start
:08:59. > :09:03.light at the front and staidily get darker -- staid steadily get
:09:04. > :09:43.starker. -- darker.
:09:44. > :09:51.The standard this time not being lowered. The Queen acknowledges.
:09:52. > :09:57.Blues and Royals, followed by the Life Guards in their Scarlett
:09:58. > :10:01.tunics. Preparations for today going back
:10:02. > :10:06.many weeks, of course. But just in practical terms today all of it
:10:07. > :10:08.starting at 5. 30am this morning. Great care being taken down to the
:10:09. > :11:00.last detail. Led by captain David Hammond, the
:11:01. > :11:05.Mounted Bands provide their own salute. The kettle drummers crossing
:11:06. > :11:11.their sticks as they pass the saluting base. That wonderful
:11:12. > :11:14.musician state coat which has been unchanged since 1685. The drummers
:11:15. > :11:18.there controlling the reins with their feet. It's a remarkable
:11:19. > :11:21.performance by all the musicians considering they have to ride and
:11:22. > :11:46.play. The Mounted Band, making its way
:11:47. > :11:51.back along the northern edge of the parade ground. Soon the director of
:11:52. > :11:57.music will be keeping an eye on things, making sure that everything
:11:58. > :12:03.is in place ready to signal to the Field Officer that he is handing
:12:04. > :12:08.back control. All the Household Cavalry are in position, getting
:12:09. > :12:17.ready for the final birthday salute to the Queen.
:12:18. > :13:22.Royal salute! Present arms. Slope arms. There is Garrison
:13:23. > :13:33.Sergeant Major ready to give the signal that all is clear for the
:13:34. > :13:37.Royal procession to leave. Field Officer approaches the saluting base
:13:38. > :13:51.to seek Her Majesty's permission to march off. Your Madge he ise's
:13:52. > :13:55.guards are form -- majesty's guards are formed up and ready for march
:13:56. > :14:11.off. Some of those guests who have been
:14:12. > :14:14.watching in the Horse Guards building, including Prince Harry and
:14:15. > :14:19.others, will be making their way back towards Buckingham Palace and
:14:20. > :14:24.in that first carriage the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and
:14:25. > :14:30.the Duchess of Cornwall. They'll be looking forward to the much
:14:31. > :14:34.anticipated traditional birthday fly-past by the Royal Air Force and
:14:35. > :14:51.it is a really impressive fly-past in store today.
:14:52. > :15:03.MUSIC: The Voice of the Guns Composed by Kenneth Alford
:15:04. > :15:12.The music was written as a tribute to the British artillery men. It was
:15:13. > :15:16.later adopted for the entire British Army. The Queen's carriage will
:15:17. > :15:23.follow behind the band at the head of the troops.
:15:24. > :15:40.As the parade draws to a close, it is worth mentioning two members of
:15:41. > :16:00.the bands today. Davis buckles, it is his 24th parade. A nice
:16:01. > :16:05.successful note to end on. Ralph Brill, it is his 29th. Is this
:16:06. > :16:09.successful note to end on. Ralph you start to relax? It is when I
:16:10. > :16:17.would start to relax. He has made it through, and I hope you can enjoy
:16:18. > :16:22.the ride home. It has been said many times that this parade represents
:16:23. > :16:30.the best standards of the Army. Is that a fair comment? I think it's
:16:31. > :16:35.true. You have a link with what you see today, going back to the origins
:16:36. > :16:40.of the British Army. Although many things change, some things don't.
:16:41. > :16:44.The underpinning ethos of selfless commitment, putting yourself in for
:16:45. > :16:47.the benefit of the team, it is what you see on a parade like this.
:16:48. > :16:53.Everybody is here to show their loyalty, the high standards of
:16:54. > :16:57.discipline. Very much so. Talking of continuity and stability,
:16:58. > :17:03.discipline, there we have Her Majesty The Queen, who has just
:17:04. > :17:05.celebrated her 88th birthday. Really, performing all her duties
:17:06. > :17:22.with remarkable energy? Lots of smiles and waves. The Queen
:17:23. > :17:32.and the Duke making their way back to Buckingham Palace. This tradition
:17:33. > :17:54.started a century ago. It was established by George V.
:17:55. > :18:01.I'm bound to mention the Welsh Guards, lots of my friends there
:18:02. > :18:06.today. They were on horse got sprayed yesterday. 12 officers, 220
:18:07. > :18:12.men lining the street today. They are unsung heroes? They will have
:18:13. > :18:19.their moment in pride of place in the future. We have all taken our
:18:20. > :18:23.time on the street lining your first out, last back. It is a long day,
:18:24. > :18:30.the least glamorous of all the roles. But, in my experience, there
:18:31. > :18:33.are some good banter, listening to the crowd. It's a good-natured day
:18:34. > :18:37.out. We do this for the State opening of Parliament as well. As a
:18:38. > :18:56.young officer, doing my best to keep the Guardsmen interested by feeding
:18:57. > :19:03.them mint s, while adjusting their tunics. As you say, they will
:19:04. > :19:19.command the parades for the first time next year.
:19:20. > :19:25.The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh looking down to Buckingham Palace,
:19:26. > :19:30.knowing full well that there is a greater fly-past on the way,
:19:31. > :19:35.involving the Battle of Britain Memorial flight and the Red Arrows.
:19:36. > :19:49.It's something we are going to enjoy in a short while. In the procession,
:19:50. > :19:56.we have the regimental adjutants, including Barry Scott, Tom bonus of
:19:57. > :20:06.the Welsh Guards and Timothy Purdon of The Irish Gurads. A word about
:20:07. > :20:11.their importance? Yes, these are the wise men, the history of the
:20:12. > :20:21.regiment. Very much a cohesive instrument. They keep watch from the
:20:22. > :20:25.barracks. I think the most important thing that they do is oversee the
:20:26. > :20:33.distribution of regimental charitable funds to those in need.
:20:34. > :20:53.They also have an important role in officer recruiting.
:20:54. > :21:00.We have been joined by Robert Hardman, the distinguished author.
:21:01. > :21:06.Thanks for joining us this year. Your impressions, so far? It's one
:21:07. > :21:13.of the great spectacles. You can see the size of the crowds. It is a
:21:14. > :21:22.scene that never fails to inspire and excite. A lot of young people
:21:23. > :21:24.out there, too. Great enthusiasm as Her Majesty makes her way around the
:21:25. > :21:38.Queen Victoria Memorial and back into Buckingham Palace.
:21:39. > :22:20.The Royal family, looking on from the balcony. The Queen, making her
:22:21. > :22:25.way into the palace. Very soon, the fly-past will take place and we will
:22:26. > :22:34.see them on the balcony again. In Green Park, we have had the Kings
:22:35. > :22:40.Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, making their dramatic and colourful entry
:22:41. > :22:45.to the park. Their 41 gun salute. 21 gun salute for the official birthday
:22:46. > :22:53.of the monarchy. An additional salute, because they are in a Royal
:22:54. > :22:57.Park. As the crowds flood down towards the palace, they are always
:22:58. > :23:00.in to see the Queen and members of the Royal family on the balcony and
:23:01. > :23:04.they are waiting to see the fly-past. Each year, on the Birthday
:23:05. > :23:18.Parade, the final salute is in the skies. A roar can be heard above.
:23:19. > :23:21.There we have the 41 gun salute in Green Park. There are salute is
:23:22. > :23:40.taking place in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.
:23:41. > :23:48.The crowds, many thousands of them, waiting expectantly for the doors to
:23:49. > :24:12.open on the palace balcony and the Royal family to appear.
:24:13. > :24:24.Smiles from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, waves for those below.
:24:25. > :24:32.The crowd realising it is about to happen, because the fly-past is
:24:33. > :24:35.about to take place. Some six elements, the first element already
:24:36. > :24:43.inside the support helicopter force, a Merlin, two Pumas and eight
:24:44. > :24:58.Chinook. The RAF helicopters, providing
:24:59. > :25:03.essential transport for troops and equipment, vital medical emergency
:25:04. > :25:16.aid to NATO forces, including in Afghanistan. We see Princess
:25:17. > :25:24.Eugenie, earlier in the week helping out the garden party. The Merlin and
:25:25. > :25:42.Q Mass, seeing service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Puma 2, and the
:25:43. > :25:48.chain often dashed Chinook have been in use for over 30 years. The great
:25:49. > :25:56.sight of the Dakota from the RAF Memorial flight, based in
:25:57. > :26:02.Lincolnshire. A tactical transport aircraft used during World War II,
:26:03. > :26:05.and on D-Day, to carry troops and freight. We saw it in Normandy last
:26:06. > :26:14.week, a great site, in the blue skies above or a.
:26:15. > :26:19.The Lancaster, which suffered some problems while in France. The
:26:20. > :26:24.engineers, led by Dean McAlister, working tirelessly around the clock
:26:25. > :26:30.this week. That is the result. This great aircraft, flying at the
:26:31. > :26:40.Queen's Birthday Parade, with two Spitfires. And the new Parkinson,
:26:41. > :26:41.responsible for the RAF Memorial flight. Plenty of wonderful things
:26:42. > :26:59.to take photos of. The eyes and ears of the RAF, flown
:27:00. > :27:08.by 8 Squadron. Flanking it, two planes from RAF Northolt. The great,
:27:09. > :27:17.bulky figure of the C17, from RAF Brize Norton, which can carry 38
:27:18. > :27:22.tonnes of freight. Troops and other transport. And the Voyager,
:27:23. > :27:28.especially adapted for a military role. Troop transport from
:27:29. > :27:41.Afghanistan and elsewhere. Three Typhoons. Stand by for the Red
:27:42. > :27:44.Arrows. A stream of red, white and blue in the skies above central
:27:45. > :27:51.London and Buckingham Palace, to the Queen's obvious delight. 2014 is the
:27:52. > :27:56.50th display season for the Red Arrows. It's great to see them. The
:27:57. > :28:03.Korean enthusiastically thanking the crowd. -- the Queen. The Duke of
:28:04. > :28:14.Edinburgh having a chat and sharing a joke with Prince Harry. The Queen,
:28:15. > :28:18.and members of the Royal family, making their way back into the
:28:19. > :28:25.palace. The Birthday Parade 2014, featuring the Grenadier Guards, is
:28:26. > :28:26.at an end. From Suzi Perry, and my special guests, and all of the BBC
:28:27. > :29:12.team, goodbye. Magnificent. The power base
:29:13. > :29:18.of medieval England. Charles' ceiling was a piece
:29:19. > :29:25.of breathtaking arrogance.