The travels of Tim and Megan: Trooping the Colour 2010

On Saturday 12 June, we went down to Buckingham Palace to watch Trooping the Colour, something we’ve been hoping to see since we arrived in London. After three years of missing out on tickets through the ballot system, we decided that we would instead line up on the Mall, just down from the Palace to watch the troops and the Royal Family go past on their way to the ceremony. Trooping the Colour is steeped in British tradition and carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) on Horse Guards' Parade.

The ceremony dates back to the early eighteenth century, when the colours (flags) of the battalion were carried (or 'trooped') down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. Since 1748, this parade has also marked the Sovereign's official birthday, and although the Queen was born on 21 April, they wisely schedule Trooping the Colour for June to lessen the chance of the Queen getting rained on.

During the ceremony, the Queen is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops. After the massed bands have performed a musical 'troop', the escorted Regimental Colour is carried down the ranks. The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past Her Majesty, and The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past. The Queen rides in a carriage back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards, before taking the salute at the Palace from a dais. The troops then return to barracks. Her Majesty joins other members of the Royal Family on the Palace balcony for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force. Interestingly, the Queen has attended Trooping the Colour every year of her reign, except in 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event.

We had a great time watching the impressively dressed regiments march past us down the Mall, particularly the bands with their full scale brass sections, dozens of flutes and huge drums. One lucky guard was in charge of the cymbals! Our favourite regiment was the one led by a red coated dog, which a woman next to us identified for us as an Irish Wolfhound (he was massive), so we assume that it is the mascot of the Irish Guards.

After the foot soldiers and bands went past, the anticipation began building for the horse cavalries, royal carriages and the headline act – HM Queen. However, before they could begin, a policewoman collapsed directly in front of us, causing some excitement. She was revived after a few minutes or so and was eventually moved off for treatment, but we were a bit worried, both for her, and for the master of the ceremony who has the whole event timed with (unsurprisingly) military precision.

However, the show quickly resumed and we were treated to over 200 mounted troops (including yet another band, showing amazing dexterity to play and ride at the same time). Then came the Royal carriages – the first with Prince William and Camilla, the second with Prince Andrew and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and in the final carriage were the Queen and Prince Phillip. Directly behind the Queen's carriage were Princess Anne and Prince Charles on horseback. It was the first time we had seen any of the Royals in person and it was incredible to see them from such a short distance. It was also great to be part of such a quintessentially British spectacle.