Sovereign's Official Birthday | Article about Sovereign's Official Birthday by The Free Dictionary Sovereign's Official Birthday | Article about Sovereign's Official Birthday by The Free Dictionary (redirected from Sovereign's Official Birthday) Queen's Birthday (Sovereign's Official Birthday, Trooping the Colour) Type of Holiday: National Date of Observation: Second Saturday in June Where Celebrated: United Kingdom, Australia, Bermuda, Canada, and other countries with close ties to the UK Symbols and Customs: Colours, Horse Guards Parade, Inspection, Royal Salute, Trooping the Colour Colors: Red, which is the color of Queen Elizabeth's flag ORIGINS The birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is a national holiday in the United Kingdom. National holidays can be defined as those commemorations that a nation's government has deemed important enough to warrant inclusion in the list of official public holidays. They tend to honor a person or event that has been critical in the development of the nation and its identity. Such people and events usually reflect values and traditions shared by a large portion of the citizenry.

Although the British have celebrated their sovereign's birthday for centuries, it was Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire from 1837 until 1901, who came up with the idea of an "official" birthday celebration. Her real birthday was May 24, but it was decided that a public celebration would be held in June. Edward VII (reigned 1901-10), whose birthday was in early November, decided to let the June celebration stand, and George V (reigned 1910-36), who was born on June 3, decided to use his real birthday for the national holiday. George VI (reigned 1936-52) was born in mid-December and Elizabeth (reigned 1952-present) was born on April 21-both times of year when the weather in England is notoriously unreliable. So it made sense to continue to observe the Sovereign's Official Birthday in June, at a time when the weather is more likely to cooperate.

Because Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over England for such a long time-her coronation was on June 2, 1952-this day is commonly referred to as the Queen's Birthday. It is usually observed on the second Saturday in June, although the queen's other obligations occasionally necessitate moving it up or back a week. The official birthday celebration is closely identified with the ceremony known as TROOPING THE COLOUR , an event that takes place on HORSE GUARDS PARADE in Whitehall, an area of London where many government offices are now located and where Whitehall Palace, the official residence of England's royal family in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, once stood. The queen is escorted from her home in Buckingham Palace by her Household Cavalry to the parade grounds, where she sits on horseback and carries out an INSPECTION of the Household Troops assembled there. The flag or COLOUR of a particular regiment (a different one is chosen each year) is then "trooped" or carried through the ranks where each and every soldier can see it. The troops then march or ride on horseback past the queen, after which she returns to Buckingham Palace.

A ROYAL SALUTE of forty-one guns in London's Green Park brings the event to a close. SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS Colours "Colours" is a British term for the regimental flags that were traditionally carried into battle and used to rally the soldiers and help them recognize the other members of the group they were fighting with. Although this is no longer done, the colour still symbolizes a regiment's spirit and is carried in parades as a memorial to its fallen soldiers. The Queen's Colour is solid crimson. If she is present during the ceremony, her colour is carried through the ranks of her Household Troops, as is the colour of the particular regiment (Coldstream, Grenadier, Scots, Irish, or Welsh Guards) in residence in London at the time. Horse Guards Parade The Horse Guards Parade, where the Trooping of the Colour takes place in June, is London's largest open space. Built in 1745 to house the guards for the royal palace of Whitehall, it has also served a jousting ground and a tennis court.

The Parade is entered through a low arch, where two sentries stand guard, and a number of government offices and the prime minister's Downing Street residence are located along the perimeter. Inspection The queen's "inspection" of her assembled troops at Horse Guards Parade is more of a formality than an actual, soldier-by-soldier inspection. Since every soldier has already been inspected a number of times beforehand to make sure that his uniform is spotless and his equipment is clean and in perfect condition, the inspection is a symbolic way of letting the soldiers know that the queen acknowledges their presence. Royal Salute The Royal Salute-the firing of forty-one guns in London's Green Park-after the queen has returned to Buckingham Palace is a symbol of the people's respect for their sovereign. Gun salutes originated in the sixteenth century as a naval tradition: A warship entering a foreign port would demonstrate its peaceful intentions by emptying all of its guns first.

By 1688 rules had been established regarding how many guns should be fired to show respect for an admiral (nineteen) and a member of the royal family (twenty-one)-the latter number being chosen because most naval ships at the time had ten guns on each side, and an extra shot would be fired as a signal to begin. The forty-one-gun Royal Salute represents two complete rounds from the gun deck of a ship plus the shot that serves as a starting signal. Trooping the Colour The ceremony known as Trooping the Colour has been part of the celebration of the king or queen's birthday since the mid-eighteenth century. Symbolizing the soldiers' loyalty to their sovereign, it consists of an intricate series of fast and slow marches and other parade maneuvers that take months of rehearsal to execute without error. The ceremony was originally known as "Lodging the Colour" because the flag that is carried past the troops was lodged or returned to the regiment's quarters afterward for safekeeping. The ceremony is accompanied by military music, typically drums and pipes, and it takes about an hour. The public is invited to watch dress rehearsals for the event, which take place on the two preceding Saturdays.

Trooping the regimental flag was at one time necessary so that new recruits would learn to recognize their flag and rally around it in the confusion of battle. Nowadays it serves a largely ceremonial purpose. Queen's Birthday FURTHER READING Dobler, Lavinia. National Holidays Around the World. New York: Fleet Press Corp., 1968. Dunkling, Leslie. A Dictionary of Days. New York: Facts on File, 1988. Trawicky, Bernard, and Ruth W. Gregory. Anniversaries and Holidays. 5th ed. Chicago: American Library Assocation, 2000. Van Straalen, Alice. The Book of Holidays Around the World. New York: Dutton, 1986. WEB SITE Sovereign's Official Birthday, Trooping the Colours, Queen's Birthday History & Cartoon Fun. Brownielocks and The 3 Bears present Cartoon Fun and This celebration is held in England and is normally held on the second Saturday in June. There are exceptions. For example, in 2013 it will be held on June 15, which is the third Saturday. It is also celebrated in other countries that have ties to the United Kingdom.

The basic color associated with this celebration is red because that is also the color of Queen Elizabeth's flag. The origin of this observance was Queen Victoria's (ruled from 1837 to 1901) idea. The British have celebrated their sovereign's birthday for centuries. But, Queen Victoria wanted to make an "official" birthday celebration. Although her birthday was really on May 24th, it was decided to celebrate it publicly in June. Both Edward VII (1901-1910) who had a birthday in November and George V (1910-1936) who had a birthday in December and Elizabeth (1952 to present) who had a birthday in April, all agreed to continue the official birthday celebration as being held in June every year. One of the reasons is that the weather in England was always better in June that in the actual birthday months of the sovereigns. This just made sense! Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over England for a very long time and had her coronation on June 2, 1953 (commonly referred to as the Queen's Birthday).

But it is usually observed as I said above, the 2nd Saturday in June, unless other obligations require it to be moved up or back a week. The official birthday celebration is closely identified with the Trooping of the Colours Ceremony. This takes place on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, an area of London where many government offices are located. It's also where Whitehall Palace, the official residence of the royal family back in the 16th and 17th centuries, once was. The queen is escorted from her home at Buckingham Palace by her Household Cavalry to the parade grounds, where she sits on horseback and carries out an inspection of the Household Troops which are all assembled there. The flag of color of a particular regiment (a different one is chosen every year) is then "trooped" or carried through the ranks where each and every soldier can see it. Then the troops either ride or march past the queen. Then the queen returns to Buckingham Palace. A royal salute of 41 guns in London's Green Park brings this event to its conclusion. Symbols and Customs This is the firing of the 41 guns in London's Green Park after the queen has returned to her residence in Buckingham Palace.

This is done as a symbol of the people's respect for their sovereign. Saluting with guns dates way back to the 16th century as a naval tradition. A warship entering a foreign port would demonstrate it's peaceful intentions by emptying all of it's guns first. (This would seem like an attack to me, but hey! ) By 1688, rules were set up limiting how many guns should be fired to show respect for an admiral. They decided 19 would do it. Then they decided to show respect for the royal family would be 21 guns. (They decided this because most naval ships back then had 10 guns on each side, plus an extra shot would be fired as a signal to begin.) So, add 19 + 21 + 1 = 41. Thus, the 41-gun salute = two complete rounds from the gun deck of a ship plus the one single starting signal shot. Originally this was called, "Lodging the Colour" because the flag that is carried past the troops was lodged or returned to the regiment's quarters afterwards for safe keeping. Trooping the Colour (Color) goes way back to the 18th century.

It represents the soldiers loyalty to their King or Queen. This ritual consists of intricate fast and slow marches and other parade maneuvers that take months of rehearsal to perform without errors. The ceremony is accompanied by military music, primarily drums and pipes; and, it lasts about one hour. The public is invited to watch the dress rehearsals for this, which take place on the two Saturdays prior to the official event. Return to our June Holidays Page for more celebrations. Source of Information: "Holidays, Symbols & Customs 3rd Edition" By Sue Ellen Thompson Omnigraphics, Inc. ï¿½ 2003 Like this background? Get one for your site! All graphics on this site (still and animated) have our embedded watermark. They are not public domain! All contents (Graphics and Text) are covered by U.S. Copyright Laws. No reproduction of any kind, downloading, copy, paste, save, etc. is allowed. All rights reserved! Like Brownielocks on Facebook Thanks for Visiting. We love you!

Trooping the Colour: The Queen's Birthday Parade - visitlondon.com Trooping the Colour: The Queen's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour: The Queen's Birthday Parade Free 17 June 2017 Email Facebook Twitter Google+ Trooping the Colour Pinterest Watch troops from the Household Division honour the Queen's official birthday with a fantastic military parade that has taken place in London for two centuries.Read More About Experience a traditional ceremony full of military pomp and pageantry, with Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade , near London's St James's Park . Marking the Queen's official birthday, this annual event features hundreds of officers, horses and musicians from the Household Division in ceremonial uniform. The Queen herself attends the ceremony where she carries out an inspection of her troops, before leading her Guards in a parade down The Mall to Buckingham Palace . Once at the palace, the Queen takes the salute, and guns are fired in Green Park and at the Tower of London . Finally she joins other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony to watch the Royal Air Force fly-past. Events begin around 10am and the RAF fly-past takes place at 1pm.

Watch video on YouTube History of Trooping the Colour After existing in various forms since the 17th century, the Trooping the Colour ceremony has been held every year in London to mark the sovereign's official birthday since the accession of King George IV in 1820, except during the world wars and a national strike in 1955. Although the sovereign's official birthday is celebrated in June, Queen Elizabeth II's actual birthday is on 21 April. Monarchs are traditionally given a second birthday if they were not born in the summer, in case the British weather is unsuitable for an outdoor event! Tickets for Trooping the Colour Tickets for the seated stands on Horse Guards Parade are available to the public. Applications should be made in January or February by post, and tickets are then allocated by ballot. Find out how to apply for Trooping the Colour tickets. If you do not have tickets for Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade, you can join the crowds of spectators along The Mall from 9am to watch all the action. Alternatively, tickets are available for the rehearsal events held on the two Saturdays before Trooping the Colour: the Major General's Review on 3 June and the Colonel's Review on 10 June.

Queen's 90th birthday: How is it being celebrated? Queen's 90th birthday: How is it being celebrated? The Queen turned 90 on April 21 Credit: Mark Cuthbert/PA/pool Gordon Rayner , Chief Reporter 12 May 2016 • 10:43am Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebrations will be one of the highlights of 2016, and you can play your part by following our guide to the festivities. The Queen celebrated her birthday on April 21 , but events are also taking place in May and June, some of which are free and some of which require tickets, but the key is to plan ahead if you want to participate. We have included links to websites where you can buy tickets and where you can download forms for street parties. We will be updating this page whenever new information is available. The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh at Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of her birthday The Queen's birthday The Queen's 90th birthday was on April 21, when she unveiled a plaque marking the start of a four-mile Queen's Walkway at the foot of Castle Hill in Windsor.

It connects 63 points of interest in the town, commemorating the Queen's achievement in becoming our longest-reigning monarch after more than 63 years in 2015. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh also went on a walkabout to greet members of the public and the Queen lit the first in a chain of beacons that marked the occasion up and down the country. Watch: The Queen's 90 years in 90 seconds Watch | The Queen's 90 years in 90 pictures 01:39 May 12 to 15: The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration May represents the first of two major celebrations of the Queen's birthday. The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration will be a 90-minute long extravaganza with 900 horses and more than 1,500 riders and performers. It will be along similar lines to the Diamond Jubilee horse pageant at Windsor in 2012, though this time video projection and theatrical lighting will play a big part. The event will be held every evening from May 12 to 15, with the Queen attending on the final evening.

Watch: Archive footage from throughout the Queen's life Watch | The Queen's life on camera - in 90 seconds 01:33 All 25,000 tickets for the arena sold out soon after they went on sale last November, and 5,000 free tickets to watch the show on giant screens next to Windsor Castle and see celebrities arriving on the red carpet have also been allocated. If you missed out on tickets, ITV will be showing the final night in a two-hour live broadcast hosted by Ant and Dec, from 8.35pm. The horses will be used to tell the story of the Queen's life, with famous names introducing each segment and proving musical accompaniments. Among the stars taking part are Kylie Minogue, Damian Lewis, Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Shirley Bassey and Gary Barlow. June 10: Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral A weekend of events to celebrate the Queen's birthday and, unofficially, the Duke of Edinburgh's 95th birthday, will start on June 10 with a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. The congregation will be made up of invited guests only, but the service will be televised.

June 10 is also the Duke of Edinburgh's 95th birthday, but he has specified that he does not want any public celebration of the date. June 11: Trooping the Colour Saturday, June 11 is the date of this year's Trooping the Colour, the official annual celebration of the Queen's birthday. Otherwise known as The Queen's Birthday Parade, it is a chance for the Queen to inspect soldiers from the Household Division. It takes place on Horse Guards Parade behind Whitehall, and is televised live by the BBC from 10am. Members of the Royal family appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after Trooping the Colour The Queen and other members of the Royal family travel to and from Buckingham Palace in carriages, meaning there is ample opportunity to see her for anyone standing on The Mall. She will then appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at 1pm to watch a fly-past. This will be the only "balcony moment" of the birthday celebrations and is another good chance for members of the public to see the Queen, albeit from a distance.

Queen's 90th Birthday 2016, Trooping the Colour, Celebrations, Traditions & History Official site: The Queen's 90th Birthday Celebration Happy Birthday, Your Majesty! Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 90th birthday in 2016 with -- need we say it? -- a birthday party fit for a queen! Great Britain is pulling out all the stops this year with a 90-minute multimedia event commemorating "a life well lived". The party staged at Windsor Castle outside London will include 900 horses and more than 1,500 participants from around the United Kingdom -- and the world -- who will take part in the retrospective. All about Queen Elizabeth II's 90th Birthday Party Although she was actually born on April 21, the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated each year in the UK on a weekend in June for purely practical reasons. The day usually presents more acceptable weather for a public party! However, in 2016 the party is being moved up a month, and celebrated over four days from Thursday, May 12th to Sunday, May 15th 2016.

The festivities this year will include a look back at her birth, through World War II, her marriage and family, and her more than 60-year reign as the world's longest-reigning monarch. Performers will come from a number of countries including Oman, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, Fiji, Australia, Azerbaijan and the UK. With a nod to tradition, the 90th birthday celebration will also include The Queen’s Mounted Troops and more than 100 pipers. If you're not in town on the big day, the festivities traditionally air live, all or in part on BBC One. As well as in London and Windsor , events related to the Queen's Birthday are scheduled throughout Great Britain, in New Zealand (first Monday in June), Australia (second Monday in June), and in Canada , (on the last weekend in May on Victoria Day ) when schools are usually closed and bank holidays called to celebrate with a day off. A 1924 London Underground poster told commuters how to get to the celebration. Queen's birthday fun facts • The first British monarch to celebrate their birthday other than his actual birth date was King Edward VII.

Although born on November 9, his official birthday was marked throughout his reign in May or June when there was a greater likelihood of good weather for Trooping the Colour. • In the UK, the most important and watched event related to the day is the historic military ceremony known as Trooping the Colour - with a parade down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade , including a fly-past of military aircraft and gun salutes fired at noon at Hyde Park. • Today, Australia is the only country in the world to celebrate the Queen's Birthday not once, but TWICE. While most of the country observes the day on the second Monday in June, Western Australia celebrates the Queen's birthday on the last Monday in September or the first Monday in October. More about the Queen's birthday around the Web: Around the Web, find out more at top sites offering facts, information, picture galleries and historical background celebrating the life and times of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II ... The Queen's Birthdays - The official British Monarchy web site explains the tradition and celebrations with more on the Trooping the Colour. Trooping the Colour (The Queen's Birthday Parade) - History, tradition and customs surrounding the annual celebration held at Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall with related pictures.

Trooping the Colour - Photos from the Queen's Birthday Parade - Take the virtual tour in a large photo collection courtesy of UKStudentLife.com. Queen's Birthday - How it's celebrated in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and at other points around the globe, from Wikipedia. Trooping the Colour 2014 London British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales Trooping the Colour The Trooping the Colour takes place on the second Saturday in June at Horse Guards Parade , Whitehall in London . What is the Trooping the Colour? The official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour (Carrying of the Flag). The official name is “the Queen’s Birthday Parade”. Each June, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse Guards Parade , Whitehall in London . The Queen attends the ceremony to take the salute from thousands of guardsmen who parade the Colour (their regiment's flag). It is only the Foot Guards of the Household Division that take part in the Queen’s Birthday Parade, with the exception of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, (based in St. John’s Wood).

The Kings Troop, parade round with the Household Cavalry after the Foot Guards have trooped the Colour in slow and quick time. The Sovereign's Official Birthday The Queen's birthday parade is the biggest royal event of the year. In 1748, the celebration of the official birthday of the sovereign was amalgamated (merged) with the Trooping the Colour. The Trooping the Colour is tradition going back to the days when the Colours (regimental flag of the regiment) was trooped in front of soldiers to make sure everyone could recognise their flag in battle. The Colours today are trooped in front of the Queen troops of the Household Division ( Foot Guards and Household Cavalry ) Parade Route The parade route goes from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horseguards Parade, Whitehall and back again. Time Whitehall London SW1A 2AX. Tickets for seated stands around Horse Guards Parade are allocated by ballot in March and successful applicants are notified and asked for payment (cheques must be paid from a British bank).

For further information about Trooping of the Colour, visit royal.gov.uk trooping colour queen's birthday parade trooping colour buckingham palace trooping the colour flypast trooping of the colour 2010 © Copyright - please read All the materials on these pages are free for homework and classroom use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from the Mandy Barrow. London Ceremonies and Traditions | London Tours & Attractions | LondonTown.com London Tours & Attractions The euphoric reaction to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 underlined just how much we Londoners love our pomp and ceremony. London is steeped in over 2,000 years of history and many of the capital's longest-standing traditions are still very much alive. Head to London's palaces, courtyards, parks and castles for ceremonies embedded in history - unique days out or moments of regal nostalgia. A number of annual parades regularly adorn the capital's most ancient sites, from Trooping the Colour to the State Opening of Parliament. Read on for an in-depth look at some of the city's most spectacular rituals.

Perhaps the epitome of London's surviving pageantry can be found in this daily ceremony Enlarge Close A hugely popular spectacle, the Changing of the Guard takes place at a range of royal locations in and around London daily during the summer (April-July) and on alternate days for the rest of the year. There is no ticketing, so make sure you get there early. Ever since 1660 Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign Palaces. The Palace of Whitehall was the main residence until 1689 and was guarded by the Household Cavalry (they can still be seen here today; outside Horse Guards Arch). The court moved to St James's Palace in 1689 and when Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace (1837) the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace and a detachment guarded Buckingham Palace, as it does today. Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Palace Road, SW1 Changing the Guard takes place inside the railings of the forecourt to Buckingham Palace . The Foot Guards provide a colourful display in their red tunics and bearskins and are accompanied by a band throughout.

During the 45-minute ceremony the New Guard replaces the Old Guard and a detachment is left at Buckingham Palace with the remaining New Guard marching on to St James's Palace. For a good view, get there early and position yourself near the railings of the Victoria Memorial. The Changing of the Guard is free to watch and takes place every other day at 11.30am and lasts approximately 45 minutes. Dates alternate each month; odd days one month, even days the next. Check website for details of specific dates before you visit. St James's Palace, The Mall, SW1 Part of the Old Guard marches from St James's Palace to Buckingham Palace at 11.15am and returns at 12.05pm. Please note that this Changing of the Guard only occurs on days when the guard at Buckingham Palace is changed. Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, SW1 For a chance to see the Queen's Life Guard, head for the separate ceremony that takes place daily throughout the year at Horse Guards Parade , on the site where the London 2012 Olympic beach volleyball was held. A similarly colourful spectacle, this is a 25-minute ceremony.

The Guard march from Hyde Park Corner, via Constitution Hill and The Mall to Horse Guards Parade. Changing the Guard at Horse Guards Parade is free to watch and takes place daily at 11.00 (Mon to Sat) and 10.00 (Sun). Windsor Castle, Windsor and Maidenhead, SL4 William the Conqueror chose to build a castle at Windsor more than 900 years ago to defend the western approach to the capital. As one of the Queen's official residences Windsor Castle still plays a formal role in State and official occasions. To share in the pageantry of this palatial residence you can watch the Changing the Guard as they march up through the town to the castle, accompanied by a band, when the Queen is in residence. When the Queen is away, they Mount Guard by the Henry VIII gate in winter, and on Castle Hill in summer. Enlarge Close Often cited as the ceremonial event of the year, the Trooping the Colour marks the 'official' birthday of the Queen. Her actual birthday is 21st April (see below) but it is a long-standing tradition to publicly celebrate her birthday on a summer day.

This tradition dates back to the early 18th century when the Colours (flags) of the battalion were carried (Trooped) past soldiers to reinforce the colours of their regiment so that they would recognise them in battle. Ever since 1748 this ceremony has also marked the Sovereign's birthday. Trooping the Colour takes place in June when the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace to her arrival at Horse Guards Parade when a gun salute is fired from Green Park. The action centres on Horse Guards Parade, where the Queen receives the royal salute and inspects the troops. Following a performance from the massed bands the 'Colour' is carried down the ranks and the Queen leads the troops to Buckingham Palace. The Queen then appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at 1pm to watch the RAF (Royal Air Force) fly past, which is accompanied by a gun salute at the Tower of London . Members of the Royal Family attend and a number of tickets are sold in advance each year. However, if you arrive early, you can grab a good view of the troops along the route from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, via The Mall .

Alternatively you can watch the two rehearsals - The Major General's Review and The Colonel's Review - for free, minus the Royals! These rehearsals take place before the big event itself. The Major General's Review occurs on the Saturday two weeks before the official parade. The Colonel's Review takes place on the Saturday a week before the parade. TICKETS: The Ballot for tickets for seated stands around Horse Guards Parade opens in January and closes in February. Applications should be made in writing, during January and February only, enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope to: Brigade Major, HQ Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX. Enlarge Close The Queen usually celebrates her actual birthday, 21st April, privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London: there's a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower Of London , all taking place at midday. The Queen's Birthday Gun Salutes take place on her actual birthday, ahead of her official birthday in June which is marked by Trooping the Colour .

At Hyde Park the Queen's Birthday Gun Salute is carried out by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery who ride into the park from the north by Marble Arch along North Carriage Drive, line up abreast and gallop down the parade ground to roughly opposite the Dorchester Hotel. The Troop itself arrives at around 11.45am ready to fire the first round at midday. The guns are then unhooked and the salute is fired off. Duty performed, the horses gallop back up towards North Carriage Drive. The band arrives separately and can usually be seen from about 11.30am. It is a spectacular show of pomp and ceremony and it's also the only time when you will see horses legally at a full gallop in Hyde Park - with a ton and a half of cannon in tow. Happy Birthday Liz! Enlarge Close Dating back to Medieval London, this spectacular annual ceremony marking the beginning of the new parliamentary year takes place May (prior to 2012 it took place in October or November) and features peers and bishops in traditional robes and a royal procession involving the State Coach (visible to the public).

The Yeomen of the Guard (royal bodyguards since 1485) are responsible for searching the cellars of the Houses of Parliament before the Queen arrives - a duty undertaken ever since the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament. The televised ceremony that follows takes place in the House of Lords.The proceedings begin with Black Rod (the Queen's Messenger) calling 250 members of the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The door is initially slammed in his face before being re-opened. This reminds people that the Commons can exclude everyone but the Sovereign's messengers. The Queen reads the Queen's Speech from the Throne in the House of Lords. This speech is prepared by the government of the day and outlines the forthcoming policies for the year. The Queen then returns to Buckingham Palace . The Royal procession starts at Buckingham Palace (11am), follows The Mall to Horse Guards Parade and Whitehall and then Parliament Square . A gun salute is fired at 11.15am from Hyde Park . A good vantage point is St James's Park .

Enlarge Close The annual Lord Mayor's Show has been taking over the streets of London for nearly 800 years now. The parade involves over 6,000 people, bands, over 140 decorated floats, costumed performers and a gilded State Coach that the Lord Mayor travels in. If you aren't sick of fireworks by this time (the show traditionally takes place in November, just after Bonfire Night), this is possibly the most dangerous and amazing of all the public shows in the capital. River barges are piled high with explosives and set adrift on the Thames with several brave men on board. The fireworks are let off between Waterloo and Blackfriars Bridges, not far from the scene of Guy Fawkes' attempted crime. Wrap up warm and head for the river. The best vantage points tend to be around the Embankment and Gabriel's Wharf. If you are really on the ball get there early and grab the best seats in the house in the public gallery of the Oxo Tower . The Lord Mayor is required to swear an oath of loyalty to the Queen (in the presence of the Lord Chief Justice) at the end of the parade which runs from Guildhall to the Royal Courts of Justice .

Spectators are welcome. The procession leaves Guildhall at 10.50am for Mansion House . At 11.05am it leaves Mansion House and travels via St Paul's Cathedral , the Royal Courts of Justice and Victoria Embankment before returning to Mansion House at 2.35am. The fireworks display on the Thames occurs between Waterloo and Blackfriars at 5pm. These times are subject to change. Search the events guide for the latest details. Enlarge Close Every night the Tower of London is locked up by the Chief Yeoman Warder who, dressed in Tudor uniform, makes his way to the gates from the Byward Tower at exactly 9.53pm to meet the Escort of the Key, clad in the familiar Beefeater uniform. The pair tour the various gates, locking them ceremonially, before being challenged by a sentry at the Bloody Tower archway. "Who goes there?" asks the sentry. "The Keys," replies the Warder. "Whose keys?" "Queen Elizabeth's Keys." "Pass Queen Elizabeth's Keys. All's well." Once all the Tower gates are locked, the Last Post is sounded by a trumpeter and the ceremony is concluded.

This ceremony represents a 700-year-old tradition and lasts no more than 10 minutes. The Chief Warder represents the Yeoman Warders (more commonly known as 'Beefeaters') who have looked after the Tower since the 14th century. Today they perform the role of tour guide in addition to their ceremonial duties. Tickets for this ceremony are free but you need to apply 6-8 weeks in advance. Write to: The Ceremony of the Keys, Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London, England, EC3N 4AB, stating the names of the attendees and enclosing a self-addressed envelope, together with the requisite British Postage Stamps, or a minimum of two International Reply Coupons (American Postage Stamps are not valid in the UK). Visitors need to arrive at the West Gate by 9.30pm. Ceremony takes place at 9.53pm throughout the year. Enlarge Close On Maundy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, the Queen gives Maundy money to a group of pensioners from one diocese each year.

In the early 20th century, the Royal Maundy Service occurred at Westminster Abbey , but today the service and tradition is held in a different church (usually a cathedral) every year. Westminster Abbey was the site of 2011 Royal Maundy, while in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year the event took place at York Cathedral. The 2013 service is at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. The Royal Maundy ceremony is held in the presence of the Yeoman of the Guard and traces its origins to the Last Supper when, as St John recorded, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Maundy money started in the reign of Charles II with an undated issue of hammered coins in 1662. Today's recipients of Royal Maundy - as many elderly men and women as there are years in the sovereign's age - are chosen because of the Christian service they have given to the Church and community. Four Maundy Children (two boys and two girls) are also present.

The pensioners are given two purses by the Queen - one white purse containing the Maundy coins (sets of one penny through to four penny silver coins totalling the same number of pence as the years of the sovereign's age), and one red purse containing ï¿½5.50 (ï¿½1 representing the money for redemption of the monarch's gown, ï¿½3 in lieu of the clothing once given, and ï¿½1.50 in place of the food once presented). Ceremonial Events | Trooping The Colour / Queen's Birthday Parade Page Top Trooping the Colour / Queen's Birthday Parade In June each year the highlight of the ceremonial calendar, Trooping the Colour, also known as 'The Queen's Birthday Parade' takes place on Horse Guards Parade in London. Trooping the Colour 2017 Dates for Trooping the Colour and the two reviews in 2017 are: Major General’s Review - Saturday 3rd June. The Colonel’s Review - Saturday 10th June Queen’s Birthday Parade - Saturday 17th June The Colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards will be Trooped at the Queen’s Birthday Paradein 2017.

Although The Queen was born on 21 April, it has long been the tradition to celebrate the Sovereign's Birthday in the summer. More than 1,400 officers and men and approximately 400 musicians from the Massed Bands of the Household Division take part in Trooping the Colour and the Reviews which are full dress rehearsals for the Queen's Birthday Parade. The Ceremony The Queen travels down The Mall from Buckingham Palace, by carriage, with a Sovereign's escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. As the clock on Horse Guards chimes eleven Her Majesty The Queen arrives to take the Royal Salute from the officers and men of the Household Division on parade. After the salute The Queen rides up and down the ranks, in her carriage, inspecting the troops on parade. After the massed bands have performed a musical 'troop', the Regimental Colour being trooped is escorted down the ranks of Guards. The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past Her Majesty, and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past with their Guns.

The Queen, in a carriage, rides back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards, before taking the salute at the Palace from a dais in front of the palace railings as the troops march past on the way to their barracks. Her Majesty The Queen joins other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past by the Royal Air Force at 1 'o' clock. Watching Trooping The Colour You can apply for tickets , to the seated stands, for the Queens Birthday Parade and the Reviews between January and February each year. Those without tickets can watch the procession, from The Mall, or from the edge of St James's Park facing Horse Guards Parade. Check out Timings for the Queen's Birthday Parade for more information and suggestions on where to watch the parade. Trooping the Colour Rehearsals In the two weeks leading up to the Queen's Birthday Parade, there are two full dress rehearsals which you can watch from the Mall and the corner of St James's Park: The Major General's Review - held on the Saturday two weeks before the parade. The Colonel's Review - held on the Saturday the week before the parade.

Timings for the Reviews are the same as those for the Queen's Birthday Parade, with the exception of the Gun Salute and Fly Past. Insider Tip For those in London in May it is always worth checking the Dates for Changing the Guard to see if the New Guard is scheduled to mount from Horse Guards. This indicates a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour is scheduled to take place and that the New Guard, led by a Regimental Band, will march from Horse Guards, up The Mall, to Buckingham Palace to the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. There are normally four rehearsal each year and although Horse Guards is cordoned off you can watch from the corner of St James's Park. About The Colour Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle when a Regiment's Colour was carried, or "trooped", down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers who would use them as a rallying point in the confusion of battle. Tickets for Trooping The Colour Tickets for Trooping the Colour, The Major General's Review and The Colonel's Review are available to the public, in the seated stands. To be included in the ballot for tickets you should state how many tickets are required, and include a stamped self addressed envelope.

Overseas applicants should include an International Reply Coupon. Three (3) tickets per application is the maximum for The Queen's Birthday Parade. There is no maximum, within reason, for the Major General's or Colonel's Reviews. Applications can be submitted from January to the 28th February in writing to: Brigade Major London SW1A 2AX Applicants from Canada, Australia and New Zealand may instead apply to their respective High Commission in London for tickets to The Queen's Birthday Parade. For the Major General's and Colonel's Reviews applications should be submitted to the Brigade Major, HQ Household Division.. You will be informed by mid-March if your application has been successful and any payment will then be requested. Ticket prices, for successful applicants are: GBP 30.00 each for Trooping the Colour GBP 10.00 each for The Colonel's Review Tickets are free of charge for The Major General's Review. Dress Code The Queen's Birthday Parade - Morning Dress, Lounge Dress, Lounge Suit or Jacket and Trousers, equivalent for the ladies (no denim). Military personnel may wear Ceremonial Day or other Service equivalent. Colonel's Review - Lounge Suit or Jacket and Trousers, equivalent for the ladies (no denim).

Major General's Review - Smart Casual (no denim). Hats are optional but recommended in the case of hot weather. Non compliance with the dress code may result in entry being refused. Getting To Trooping The Colour Location: Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AX By Underground

Question: What event takes place on the official birthday of the sovereign?
Answer: Trooping the Colour