Each year servicemen and women from the Foot Guards and Household Cavalry take part in the ceremonial custom of trooping the Colour. 2014 marks the turn of Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards who's Colour is made from crimson silk and carries 45 of the Regiment’s 77 Battle Honours ranging from 1680 to 1991. The Battle Honour of greatest importance to the Grenadiers is the battle of Waterloo in 1815.
The military ceremony dates back to around the seventeenth century when the Colours of the battalion were carried down the ranks in battle so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.
Since 1748 the parade has marked the Sovereign's official birthday and from the reign of Edward VII onwards, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person at Trooping the Colour.
The ceremony begins with Her Majesty The Queen receiving a Royal salute before personally carrying out an inspection of the troops.
Her Majesty The Queen inspects her troops at the Trooping the Colour parade 2014Her Majesty The Queen inspects her troops at the Trooping the Colour parade 2014
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INSPECTS HER TROOPS
Her Majesty the Queen inspects her troops at the Trooping the Colour parade 2014Her Majesty the Queen inspects her troops at the Trooping the Colour parade 2014
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INSPECTS HER TROOPS
The massed bands performing a musical 'troop' playing military music before the Colour is trooped through the ranks.
Senior Drum Major Colour Sergeant Scott Fitzgerald conducts the Foot Guards Massed BandSenior Drum Major Colour Sergeant Scott Fitzgerald conducts the Foot Guards Massed Band
THE FOOT GUARDS MASSED BAND CONDUCTED BY SENIOR DRUM MAJOR COLOUR SERGEANT SCOT FITZGERALD
The Foot Guards Massed BandThe Foot Guards Massed Band
THE FOOT GUARDS MASSED BANDS PLAY
The Colours being trooped by the Grenadier GuardsThe Colours being trooped by the Grenadier Guards
THE COLOURS OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS ARE TROOPED THROUGH THE RANKS
The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past Her Majesty followed by The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.
Foot Guards march past the crowds at the 2014 Trooping the Colour paradeFoot Guards march past the crowds at the 2014 Trooping the Colour parade
FOOT GUARDS MARCH PAST ON HORSE GUARDS PARADE
The famous Bearskin Hat of the Foot GuardsThe famous Bearskin Hat of the Foot Guards
THE FAMOUS BEARSKIN HAT
The Grenadier Guards form three ranks after trooping the Colour past Her Majesty the QueenThe Grenadier Guards form three ranks after trooping the Colour past Her Majesty the Queen
FOOT GUARDS FORM THREE RANKS AFTER A MARCH PAST
The Colours of the Grenadier GuardsThe Colours of the Grenadier Guards
THE COLOURS OF THE GRENADIER GUARDS
King's Troop, Royal Horse ArtilleryAn Officer of the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery
AN OFFICER FROM THE ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
A Blues and Royals CaptainA Blues and Royals Captain guards his flanks as he wheels to the left during a march past at the Trooping the Colour parade.
A CAPTAIN FROM THE BLUES AND ROYALS MARCHES PAST ON HORSEBACK
A Life Guards CaptainA Life Guards Captain guards his flanks as he wheels to the left during a march past on the Trooping the Colour parade
A CAPTAIN FROM THE LIFE GUARDS MARCHES PAST ON HORSEBACK
At the end of the parade the Queen rides in a carriage back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards.
Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of EdinburghHer Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh Leave Horseguards parade after the Trooping the Colour
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH LEAVE THE PARADE AND RETURN TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of EdinburghHer Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh Leave Horseguards parade after the Trooping the Colour
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH SMILE AS THEY LEAVE THE PARADE
Imagery by Paul Shaw LBIPP.
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