Highlights 2017 Trooping the Colour

Everything is set for one of the great state events

of the season and for the first time in eight years it is the turn

of the Irish Guards to troop their colour.

They will be inspired by the sound of the pipes and the drums

and by the sight of the regimental mascot, Domhnall.

All set then for the music and the majesty of the

And on this day of celebration, Her Majesty is mindful of the tragic

recent events in London and Manchester has issued

This year it is difficult to escape a very

In recent months, the country has witnessed a succession

As a nation, we continue to reflect and pray for all those who have been

During recent visits in Manchester and London,

I have been profoundly struck by the immediate inclination

of people throughout the country to offer comfort and support

Put to the test, the United Kingdom has been resolute in

United in our sadness, we are equally determined,

without fear or favour, to support all those rebuilding

lives so horribly affected by injury and loss.

That was the statement issued by Buckingham Palace on the morning

of her official Birthday Parade and the Queen will be leading

a national one minute's silence at 10.45am before the parade

Well, that parade will begin shortly at Horse Guards.

Bathed in sunshine today for the ceremony of Trooping

the Colour, a tradition that spans more than two centuries.

This year's Escort provided by the 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

They have been working so hard in preparation for this parade.

The crowds, thousands of people, in the stands around Horse Guards,

many of them relatives and friends of those taking part

and there is a very strong Irish presence among them.

The regimental mascot making his way towards the Horse Guards building.

We are looking forward to an impressive parade.

Let's join Sonali Shah with the Household Cavalry

For some of the soldiers it has been a 4.30am start.

There are two regiments the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards.

This year it is the turn of the Life Guards to take the lead.

What happened this morning is they made sure they came down

to check the horses, any that were nervous,

They went out for an early ride and then

it was back here, for all the grooming.

We've lot liming going on to make sure the hooves are dry.

And bandaging up the tail to make it look pristine.

Some of the horses are very much ready.

There is no over exuberance here which bodes well for the parade.

We're joined by a special guest with first-hand experience of taking

part in the Birthday Parade, Brigadier Christopher.

We found this reminder of your day on parade back in 1996.

While we admire this and think of all the style that

you showed on the day, what are your thoughts looking ahead

Well, Huw, seeing the footage from 1996 brings all the memories

back and I can clearly remember our feelings of pride

and excitement which I know everybody on parade will be feeling

today, like all Irish Guardsmen, I'm looking forward to something

21 years ago, we put in a considerable amount of work

for our day and I'm sure today's Irish Guardsmen will

They will want to show off the skill and panache that is the hallmark of

The Irish Gurads. The troops on tread today have had

relatively little time to prepare. We caught up with the guardsmen

at the Army Training Centre in Pirbright -

where they rehearse in all weathers Today, we're here in Pirbright,

which is where we do quite We spend a lot of time

on this square behind me. My advice to any guards when they're

struggling on the day Keeping that many people

in a straight line is quite hard. Giving a glance out of your left eye

to make sure you're in line The main reason we are one of the,

if not the, best army in the world is because of our discipline

in the battlefield. There's no better way

to display that discipline You get a cautionary word of command

and an executionary word of command. The cautionary word is telling

the soldiers that they're about to act, so it would be a long

drawn out command like... And then your executionary word

will be short, sharp word. After the tragic events

in Manchester, we paused the preparations for the Queen's

birthday parade and many of the troops who will be on parade

found themselves standing shoulder-to-shoulder

with a policeman in Windsor and London, guarding locations

as a result of the threat level The Major General commanding

the Household Division was rightly full of praise for the boys,

not only for what they did, but how quickly they've readjusted

to make sure that we can deliver, not just our operational

commitments, but also keep delivering on the Queen's

Birthday Parade. Be agressive and be disciplined

in everything you do. You're there, when you see

the crowd, you know your family are there in the stands to support

you and obviously Her Majesty is She's there to celebrate her

birthday, which is a real honour. Well, thankfully there is no need

to worry about the rain, but the Irish Guards will have

to deal with serious heat in London today and their Commanding

Officer Jonathan Palmer You are in charge

of giving the crucial words I want to get it right

for the boys whose parade it is. I'm very much looking

forward to you riding. You only started

riding six months ago. You haven't had long with

Wellington, are you getting on OK? I'm indebted to the Household

Cavalry Regiment whose instructors And these are the guards that he

will be commanding on parade today. The support company of the 1st

Battalion Irish Guards They are the stars of

the parade in many ways, They are providing men for number

two guard and number three guard. The Irish Guards were

the fourth regiment which explains why the buttons

are arranged in groups of four and there is the green

plume of St Patrick. Number six guard, found

by the Coldstream Guards who trooped their Colour

successfully last year. The Coldstream Guards are providing

the street liners for this year. Found by F Company Scots Guards,

that's an independent And number 4 guard, found

by Nijmegen Company, created in 1994 to carry the colours

of the second suspended battalion. The Welsh Guards are

represented by the musicians. Many of them led by

the Senior Director Norman Hunter is taking part

in his 24th Birthday Parade. And as the Senior Director

of Music will confirm - a great deal of thought goes

into the music that is performed every year -

more than 30 pieces of music - chosen after a careful process -

a rather obscure process - but this year we've been allowed

a glimpse of how it Music for the Queen's Birthday

Parade is incredibly important, because if the guardsmen have a real

strong beat as they go round, Today has been the selection process

for choosing the music I think it's very important

to reflect the Irish element of the parade,

because trooping our own colour doesn't come around very often,

so it's very important to get it The key Irish tunes

in there are great to have. I mean, it's

a traditional Irish air. I've sung all of these songs

to my children and I know that all of the Irishmen

who are marching, it will mean a great deal to them to hear this

and it will really resonate with people watching,

to the extent that I would say that people would be quite surprised,

delighted to hear them played It's a bit sort of fairground.

Yes. Absolutely.

It sounds like a barrel organ. A piece I've composed

especially for this parade is called Messines Ridge and,

almost to the day, commemorating 100 MUSIC: "Messines Ridge"

by Maj Bruce Miller. There were representatives

from both north and south If Her Majesty was tapping her foot

to my music on the day, it would be a wonderful feeling

and a great send-off You're going to get a huge

uplift there, it'll be And a lot going on all

the way through. So, yeah, we'll go

for Messines Ridge. Rather fascinating insight

into the selection of music We are looking forward to hearing

Messines Ridge later. Protecting the Colour

which was presented to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards

by Her Majesty in 2009. The regiment's 21 Battle Honours

featured on the colour, What an honour, the honour

of protecting the colour goes to two colour sentries -

Guardsmen Anthony Coates on the It's a great day for them

and Colour Sergeant Vince Hockley. This is his first Birthday Parade,

despite the fact he has put in 18 I have to say, something

of a miracle that Vince is with us today, because

he suffered terrible injuries in Afghanistan

back in 2010 when he and four others Chris,

you know Vince Hockley. You indeed know the circumstances of

what happened on that dreadful day. Well, indeed, Huw, it is a great

moment for Colour Sergeant Vince Hockley and his presence

here is remarkable. I was his Commanding Officer

in Afghanistan and I was there when he was taken off the medical

evacuation helicopter and seeing him then when I saw him,

it was questionable and the skill and the care

of the medical staff and I also like to remember

Guardsmen Christopher Davis and Lance Sergeant Mark

Burgan, who were killed

on that tour of Afghanistan. A great sight along the Mall

which is decked in Union flags for this Birthday Parade

and the Royal Standard, prominently Following the recent loss of life

at the Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, west London,

and the loss of life in those dreadful terror attacks

in London and Manchester. The Queen has issued

the statement today to say that what is traditionally a day

of celebration is clearly also a day where we must reflect

the sombre mood of the nation So the decision was taken

by Her Majesty to lead a one minute silence before

the Birthday Parade gets under way. The Duchess of Cornwall

and Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge in the first carriage,

emerging from the Palace on a sunny but rather sombre morning,

following that national silence And then we have in the second

carriage, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex and the Duke

of York's daughters. we have the Duke and Duchess

of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. The Royal Salute is founded

by the Field Officer's Trumpeter Of The Sovereign's Escort,

Joe Gregg of the Life Guards. This year, the Queen

celebrated her 91st birthday in April and is attending her 65th

Birthday Parade as sovereign - a record unmatched

by a British monarch. 2017 also marks the first-ever

Sapphire Jubilee for a British monarch, passing the remarkable

milestone of 65 years on the throne. At Her Majesty's side

once again this year, the Duke of Edinburgh,

who celebrated his 96th The Royal household announced last

month that the Duke would not be undertaking public engagements

from the autumn, stepping back from lots of his commitments

that he had over the years. But he is here today in his capacity

as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. But for the first time

at the parade, he is not Followed in the procession

by the Royal Colonels, the Princess Royal on the left,

there, who is the Colonel of the Blues and Royals,

a position she has held since 1998 as Colonel of the Welsh Guards,

a role he has undertaken A very special year for him,

because it is his regiment who will be trooping

the Colour today. The first section of carriages

arriving at Horse Guards Parade, And we can see that the guards'

formation has changed because number three guard has opened to make way

for the first Royal guests, as the band prepares to play

the national anthem to greet them. And then the Royal party

will have the best view in the house, really,

watching the parade from the Major General's office

overlooking Horse Guards, the office once used

by the Duke of Wellington. A great sight on the Mall

and the Brigade Major, David Hannah of the Irish Guards,

followed by four troopers of the lifeguards, leading

the sovereign's procession. The Duke of Edinburgh has enjoyed

a very long connection Today's events, of course,

a celebration of Her Majesty's official birthday, the tradition

established by Edward VII because his actual birthday fell

in November so he chose June as a much more promising month

in which to hold a Birthday Parade It was in 1947 that

Princess Elizabeth, as she then was, took part in her first parade

as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. In 1951, when the king was ill,

she took his place on Horse Guards. A year later, riding

a horse called Winston, She has been here every year

since then, with the exception of 1955, when there was a rail

strike, and, every year, The Queen's coachman this year is

Philip Barnard Brown from Melbourne. Philip has been at the Royal Mews

for 16 years and we believe he is the first Australian

to achieve the position Among those watching in the stands

are 11 Chelsea Pensioners, They are looking very smart

in their coats and tricorn hats. The Queen's carriage is crossing

on to the parade ground. The head coachman will salute

the Colour with his whip. And the Queen's Birthday Parade

of 2017 is about to begin. The Field Officer will give

his command and then The Queen's first task

is to inspect the line of guards. It is an opportunity

for the Massed Bands to entertain. Music for the slow inspection has

been arranged for today's parade by the Irish Guards current Director

of Music, Major Bruce Miller. The music changes to feature

Kerry Dance and Sweet Dublin Bay. The Queen is Colonel-In-Chief of all

the regiments on parade today. The Standard Bearer

is Corporal Major Daniel Sentance who returned to ceremonial duties

last year after three The procession continues

past the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery -

commanded by Major Jim Luck - whose members will be making

a grand entrance later on - their lead gun is in effect

their regimental Colour. The officer in charge of the entire

Household Division - and general officer commanding

London District - is Major-General Ben Bathurst -

who commanded this parade He shared his thoughts

on his new role. Well, it's a huge privilege

as the Major-General commanding the Household Division and I think,

particularly given this year, only so recently we've been

conducting Operation Temperer, so all the soldiers you will see

going past were, just a couple of weeks ago,

assisting the police I'll think of all the men

and women on parade, how they do their jobs,

whatever they are asked to do, So it's a first parade

for Major-General Bathurst - but it's a final Birthday Parade

as senior Director of Music Lt Col Kevin Roberts

of the Welsh Guards after three It's important we get the music

right so it reflects the various elements and it lifts people

where it needs to. I need to keep an element in my mind

focusing on the words I'm hoping that I can rely

on my experience to really enjoy and savour this,

my last parade. A big moment now for

the Massed Bands getting the parade proper under way as they prepare

to perform one of the real highlights of the parade

for over a century. With that raised trombone,

the band will get ready for that Massed Bands, by the

centre, quick march! The familiar figure

of Major Scott Fitzgerald in his final Birthday Parade

ordering Messines Ridge He is from Ballymoney

in Northern Ireland. He is acknowledged to be the best

drummer in the regiment. He is getting ready for the next

phase of the parade. The drummer playing eight

bars of a field signal called the Drummer's Call,

recalling an age when field signals The orderly, Guardsman Rainey,

who is from Birmingham, marching two years ago,

comes forward to take the paste it from Regimental Sergeant Major

Daniel Hinton who can then draw his sword ready to protect

the Colour in the next Escort for the Colour,

by the left, quick march. The Escort stepping off very

smartly to The March Of The British Grenadiers,

a good opportunity for the men to stretch their legs

and show their style and flair Big moment for the Escort,

a really proud moment, they have spent hours

preparing for this. Drawn from the Support Company,

the more experienced soldiers in the battalion,

highly unusual for them to provide the Escort and they won

the privilege in a drill competition and today is their reward,

and when you talk to the men in the Escort, thinking back

to the idea it is a unique honour and although you may do several

of the Birthday Parades than once, making today a real

career highlight for each So the Escort marches forward

and they will stop some 16 paces from the Colour Party,

ready for the collection Escort for the Colour,

in open order, right dress. The Massed Bands, turning

to face the Colour Party and the senior director,

Kevin Roberts, making his way through the band to a new position,

close to the front. And this is a very proud moment

for Regimental Sergeant Major Daniel Hinton as he now prepares to take

possession of the Colour, protecting it with his sword,

ready to hand it over in safety to the Ensign, Second

Lieutenant O'Connor, who will then troop the Colour

through the ranks. Second Lieutenant O'Connor,

today's Ensign, receives the Colour ready for the trooping,

and places it safely The Ensign and Sergeant Major resume

their positions in the Escort, and we have now entered a new phase

in the parade because having taken possession, they have become

the Escort to the Colour. Escort to the Colour,

by the centre, slow march. So, the Escort advances now in slow

time, the bands playing Escort To The Colour

by Richard Ridings, which has been played at this point

ever since 1978. the bands will have to negotiate

what everyone acknowledges This is the military equivalent

of a three-point turn, they say, known as the Spin Wheel,

200 musicians supported by the Corps of Drums,

having to change direction without changing formation.

Among them is Drum Major Smiley of the Irish Guards,

and he wants us to know Brandon is watching the parade

at home in Datchet, and of course, other people watching from different

vantage points, like the Duchess of Cornwall, there,

in the Major-General's office The music changes to

the Grenadiers Slow March written by Frederick Harris,

the Escort Trooping the Colour through the ranks, the symbolic

foundation of this parade, the specific honour is to parade

the regimental standard or Colour as a rallying point as armies have

done through the centuries. All eyes, of course, on the Ensign,

Her Majesty looking in great detail, and the audience, and the millions

of viewers around the world, Second Lieutenant O'Conor,

who was commissioned He's been telling us

about the honour of being chosen and how he's been preparing for this

very prominent role in the parade. I'm very much aware

of the significance of the colours. For the Irish Guards,

it is a great opportunity to show off our regiment and history

to the public and hopefully A lot of hard work has

gone into this, Chris, not just for the Ensign

but for all of those taking part in the parade, as you know,

having taken part yourself. Absolutely, and memories

of 21 years ago fresh, the Colour as the central part

in the parade today and it is the central

part of the battalion, it has enormous significance,

not only for the Irish Guards past and present, the people on parade

today, but it is a consecrated symbol of the Battalion

of the regiment, it was used hundreds of years ago as a rallying

point in battle, and the act of Trooping the Colour was to ensure

that every man knew what his Colour looked like, so today as much

as then, Colours are revered as a central part of the battalion,

and to all those on parade, it represents the spirit

and the soul of the regiment. Those who have been killed

in action, our past achievements, and it provides an enduring link

to the monarchy, as the Queen, our Colonel in Chief,

presents the colours, so a really proud moment

for the Ensign as he troops the Colour in front

of his fellow guardsmen. The Escort arriving alongside Number

2 Guard and then passing to its original position,

the right guide of number two guard, Numbers one to five

guards will retire. The music was composed after

the Second World War by Tom Birkett of the Coldstream Guards

as we prepare for the next phase Numbers one to five

guards will advance. So, the trooping phase

is complete and the march It is not tied to any

particular regiment and that It is another composition

by Major Bruce Miller MUSIC: "Proud Heritage"

by Bruce Miller. The 1st Battalion Irish Guards based

in Hounslow and employed in state ceremonial public duties and support

company, as Chris you were saying, a very important

part of that effort? Support company man the support

weapons in the battalion and that comprises the anti-tank

rockets and the mortars. Each and every one of these

men are heavily trained Each and every one of these

men are highly trained And the discipline, the teamwork,

the attention to detail that you can see today are also the foundations

of success on combat operations. That makes them world

class ceremonial soldiers The Escort is being led by Field

Officer Lieutenant Colonel Palmer and the Major of the Parade

as we see number two A special mention there

for Major Charlie Gair who was with We saw Colour Sergeant Vince Hockley

earlier and his remarkable Major Charlie Gair was commanding

the patrol in which Vince was shot. He was ordered a mention in

dispatches for his gallantry and leadership.

The bearskins being worn tend to be passed from one generation

until the next until recently we were told that one Coldstream

officer was still wearing one that was used in a battle in 1854.

Soon the music will change to the Irish Guards Slow March.

and the Major of the Parade is ready to lead the march past.

The music has changed to the Irish Guards Slow March.

The Ensign lowers the Colour, the flourish, as he passes

Raising the Colour once again once the march past is complete.

Looking on, no doubt with a measure of pride, is Prince William,

the Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish

A change of music for the Grenadier Guards slow march.

No doubt one of those watching most keenly is the Colonel

of the Grenadier Guards, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Scots Guards slow march, Garb Of Auld Gaul.

The third member of the salute base, the Duke of Kent, is Colonel

The slow march of the Coldstream Guards from Mozart's Figaro.

Their Colonel is Lieutenant General Sir James Bucknall.

The Adjutant of the Parade Captain Max Dooher of the Irish Guards

The music changes to the mutual slow march.

Field Officer of the Brigade is waiting, Lieutenant Colonel

Jonathan Palmer will ride out to salute the Queen

Yes, indeed, all eyes on Horse Guards Parade today

and many thousands of friends and family are present,

enjoying the sunshine, enjoying the music and enjoying

the drill, the precision and the smartness of the parade.

My colleague Sonali has been catching up with one

of those proud relatives, Anita Ward, mother of Vince Hockley.

I know that you have been at the Queen's Birthday Parade

when you were Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

But it is the first time as a proud mum?

So very different from when I was here as Lord Mayor.

A lot of pride from myself and from the whole family today.

And earlier on in the programme we heard about Vince's injuries,

to go from there to being here on parade today, just makes it

It is, but it has been down to his own determination,

his own willpower and, I have to say, the support that he has had

Including your father, who was in the Coldstream Guards

and he will be watching from home today?

He is and he will be bursting with pride as well.

There has been a lot of rivalry over the years

between the Coldstreamers, but Dad will be

It's such a proud day for the family.

Thank you very much for talking to us.

The guards have now reformed ready to march past in quick time.

A new change of tempo led by the Senior Time Beater

The neutral quick march is Star Of Erin.

It was composed by Major Gerry Horabin.

Among the spectators is Boris Johnson, the Foreign

Secretary, with distinguished guests,

including Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary.

We are told that the Prime Minister, Theresa May, is not at the parade

Great, as well, Chris, to mention all the family support

that is so essential in regimental life.

Indeed, the Irish Guards take great pride in being a family regiment

and so many of the men on parade today will, like me,

have had a father, uncle or a relation in the regiment.

For example, in the Escort alone is Guardsman Lee Mooney,

whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather

were in the regiment, and there are two sets

one of the Colour Sentries had a father in the regiment.

Great to see so many Irish Guards families represented on parade

and their families will be in the stands today,

The Irish Guards quick march, St Patrick's Day.

A great surge of the music of the pipes, giving way

to the Grenadier Guards' quick march, The British Grenadiers.

Nijmegen Company, number four guard company had the honour

The Scots Guards' quick march, Hielan' Laddie, F Company,

Scots Guards, an incremental company of Scots Guards based

The Coldstream Guards' quick march, Milanollo, number six guard,

found by No 7 Company Coldstream Guards.

It'll be busier next year for the Coldstream Guards probably

because we expect they will be Trooping the Colour

The field officer riding out once again to salute the Queen with two

The Massed Bands play the neutral quick march,

Mick's March arranged by MJ Henderson, former Director

of Music Irish Guards, written for the Birthday Parade in 1996.

As the Guards reform for the next stage of the parade,

there's a moment's relief for the commanding officer

It's such a great moment for him, his family and his colleagues.

And he's been sharing his views with us.

It's lovely for me as the commanding officer to be doing something

so visible in front of the blokes and to be doing something

I can shout all I like, but if they don't react

to the words of command, then it doesn't work.

I think just being in front of the Queen, I think that'll

be the lasting memory, because she's an amazing woman.

I hope everyone who is on parade today will look back and,

even when they're in their dotage, give it the old, I was there.

Pull up a chair and listen to my story.

Guards, Holt! Guards, shoulder arms. Officers, take post.

The Colour is now taken to the front of the Escort.

The great sight, the Footguards reforming, and soon it will be

Mounted troops will cross the parade ground and pass the saluting dais.

Very hot weather here in central London today,

presenting a challenge, of course, not just to the men

and women taking part in this parade but for the horses as well.

The Massed Bands and drums moving to the south side of the parade

ground to make space for the Mounted Bands.

The band of the Household Cavalry moving on to Horse Guards,

led by the assistant Director of Music, Captain James Marshall

This is the 20th year that the King's Troop,

Royal Horse Artillery have been on parade and they join the event

at Horse Guards at the request of the Royal family,

The King's Troop, the saluting battery of the household troops,

essentially, formed back in 1946 at the instigation of King George

VI, to revive the firing of royal salutes on anniversaries

The great sight of the Drum Horses, damas and mercury, and they are very

heavy, given to the lifeguards by William IV in 1831,

The King's Troop commanded by Major Jim Luck, on his first

Birthday Parade, taking command last autumn.

He has been deployed to Afghanistan on three occasions.

Her Majesty will be acknowledging, in this instance, the lead gun,

prominently on display, in effect the Colour of the troop,

so the 13 pounder quickfire guns have that status.

They entered service in 1904 and all six on parade today

It has taken 12 hours of work to prepare the guns to be

in the prime condition they are in for the parade.

The King's troop has kept the title of King's troop on the orders

of Her Majesty the Queen in memory of her late father, George VI,

who chose the original name, King's troop, 70 years ago.

The Field Officer of the Sovereign's Escort,

Major James Harbord, as field officer, commanding

the Household Cavalry troops on parade, having been on parade two

The standard-bearer is Squadron Corporal Major Daniel Sentance,

watched by his wife, Lucy, and his parents in the stands.

He is riding Kimberley, a word about him?

Here come the Blues and Royals, the Household Cavalry

consisting of two regiment, the Life Guards and the Blues

and Royals, the senior regiment of the British Army.

And the farriers, with their glinting axes,

who in times gone by would dispatch horses injured in battle.

The music is The Royals, arranged by Major Ted Jeanes.

The field officer's trumpeter is Joe Gregg of the lifeguards

on his first Birthday Parade, from Orkney, did not set out to be

a trumpeter but he tells us it is a great honour to be part

And the trumpeter's horse is a grey so it is very

A dramatic surge of speed and pace and energy.

The King's Troop were recently deployed to central London

to support the police in key locations including Downing Street

as part of Operation Temperer, a good moment for us to pay tribute

to all members of the Armed Forces and all members of the services

who have shown exceptional dedication in recent months,

Major Jim Luck is riding Galaxy today.

Each of the guns, followed by six horses.

Kicking up a lot of dust on this very dry parade ground today.

At the rear we have the masters of the troop and the first ever

female Master Tailor in the British Army,

The turn of the Life Guards to trot past Her Majesty.

Carrying 43 Battle Honours including Passchendaele and that battle

will be commemorated in special events at the end

The band of the Household Cavalry presents its own birthday tribute.

Kettle drummers, riding the Drum Horses, crossing

their sticks in their special form of salute for the Queen.

Musicians look magnificent wearing the state coat which signals

that they are members of the Royal Household,

crimson velvet and gold braid and lace.

It has been unchanged pretty much since 1685.

Back to the area beyond St James' Park and down

to the Queen Victoria Memorial and Buckingham Palace,

There will be thousands of people there to greet Her Majesty

It has been a very busy few days for members of the Royal Family.

Yesterday, Her Majesty was in West London visiting local

people there after the dreadful events of recent days.

That's very much been on Her Majesty's mind, given

She said in the statement it is a day of celebration,

but a sombre mood marking national events and she very much

The bands having saved some of the very best tunes

for the end of the parade as the bands always do!

Because this is a great moment to showcase some of their best

music as the parade is over and they've got a few minutes

to perform for us as we watch the procession going back

This tradition was established by George V. And it is no less popular

today. At that time, the parade

had become so popular, it was decided they needed

to provide an even more impressive experience

for the thousands of spectators. I love the vista looking down

the Mall towards Buckingham Palace, the grand ceremonial route designed

by Sir Aston Webb in the early 20th century, so familiar to the Queen

and the Royal family, which has featured for every great

event of her reign, and before that, this is where she travelled

to her wedding in 1947, November, vast crowds there of course,

and for other royal weddings in the decades that followed,

and also a feature of more sombre occasions, such as her father's

funeral in 1952, and her A word about the street liners,

because they perform such Battalion Coldstream Guards lining

the processional route from Buckingham Palace

to Horse Guards, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Thurstan

who was the field officer A word about the

Regimental Adjutants as well because we sometimes don't

get a good look at them but there are six of them and I am

just wondering, could you tell us a bit about them, and especially

Colonel Timothy Purdon, They ride at the rear of

the procession and they are retired

officers of the division who run the service battalions and I suppose

they are a reflection of the back the service battalions and I suppose

they are a reflection of the service in the Household Division

has lifelong connections and they undertake some really

important work with veterans and you are right to mention

the Irish Guards Regimental Adjutant, Colonel Timothy Purdon,

retiring this year after over 45 years' service to the regiment

and an important family connection carried on,

his son James served with me So, lots of members of the Royal

family on the balcony, greeting Her Majesty and the Duke

as they return home Well, Huw, not many people know that

when the Escort get back to Buckingham Palace,

the parade may have ended for a lot of people, but for them,

they go on to conduct the normal How long will they be on daout yu

and maintaining this duty for now? The Guardsmen will have a one or two

hour duty on top of having completed Horse Guards Parade, playing host

to today's spectacular event, but Buckingham Palace right

at the centre of events This is the scene in Green Park,

another of the Royal Parks where the King's Troop is riding

into provide that 41-gun salute. Are always wanted to join the army

and I saw the King's Troop and I said, I want to do that and I have

been here ever since. What is your experience as a female in Diaby? No

different to any other soldier. All we want is somebody who can do the

job and do it well and there does not need to be an issue. It does not

matter if you are male or female, as long as you can do the job. The

King's Troop have been pioneers in terms of the number of women. It has

been equal at time. It has come and we are

getting more and more females all the time,

it is nearly 50-50. Is that what you would say to anyone

thinking about joining It's a great life, it is hard work

and you have to be dedicated because you need to look after live

animals 24/7 but as long You are normally parading a busy

doing something else, getting ready for the gun salutes

so what have you made I have not seen much of it but I'm

sure I will catch up with it, I will run over and watch

the Royal Salute and see how it goes We must not miss that

so I will let you go. A very big police presence

in Central London. We saw the dozens of police officers

trying to control this vast crowd as it makes its way down

towards Buckingham Palace. In 1953, the Duke was appointed

Admiral of the Fleet, Field Marshal, Marshal of the Royal Air Force,

but, as we were discussing, he is stepping down from lots

of public and royal duties Like all of us who served

in the Navy during the war, I lost many friends and shipmates

who are commemorated here. His first salute is for the ship

and it is her captain Lieutenant Commander

Harper is now the guest. One of the great things

that the services can do is they can take ordinary people and turn them

into extraordinary people. And the crowdS very soon will see

the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen and all other members

of the Royal family, the principal members,

on the famous balcony at Buckingham Palace

and it is a moment as well, Robert, for the family to show itself

in all its generations. They are in place and the fly-past

is about to happen because the first element is a Chinook and two Puma

helicopters from RAF Benson. The Chinook, of course,

with its distinctive twin rotors, can often be seen in

the skies above London. in how to operate in complex

environments, so it is a very important piece of equipment

for the Royal Air Force. The captain of the Chinook,

Squadron Leader Jack Kyle Waving to the aircrew

from the Palace balcony. We are expecting a Hawker Hurricane

and two Spitfires. These are from the Battle

of Britain Memorial Flight. 2017 is a very special

year for the Battle A round of applause

for the Hurricane and Spitfires. The third element, we have

the Shadow It's quite a presence

in the sky, it has to be said. The fourth element is

the C-17 Globemaster, from RAF Brize Norton

and we have a BAe 146 The fifth element is the A400M

Atlas from RAF Brize Norton and we have the C-130 Hercules

from RAF Brize Norton. And the Centre doll. -- the

Sentinel. Here comes the seventh element,

the Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, This really does pass with

a thundering boom across the skies. We are waiting for the climax,

the great display by the Red Arrows. Fantastic patriotic sight of red,

white and blue against that dazzling A fitting end to the fly-past

for this Queen's Birthday Parade. So the Queen and three

generations of the Royal Family make their way back into Buckingham

Palace. The Birthday Parade of 2017,

in the Queen's 91st Another superb display

by everyone on Horse Guards And an equally impressive fly-past

by the Royal Air Force. guests and everyone on the BBC team

at the Queen's Birthday Parade,