Trooping the Colour LIVE 2019 | The Queen's Birthday Parade - BBC

on this special weekend as we celebrate Her Majesty's official birthday we remember that the regiment's of Foot Guards on parade are very much the Queen's personal troops and that this the Magnificent Guards Chapel in central London is their spiritual home where so many of the regimental colors are kept this year it's the turn of the Grenadier Guards to troop their color at the most spectacular military display of the year the Queen's Birthday parade [Music] and this parade takes place in a year of notable anniversaries earlier this week we marked the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings on d-day and today given the provenance of the Grenadier Guards it's fitting to note that one of the most distinguished of their former Colonels the Duke of Wellington was born 250 years ago so the Grenadier Guards are providing today's escort their current Colonel is the Duke of York the little later we'll be talking to him about his involvement with the regiment and his thoughts on taking part in the parade in around 15 minutes time the Duke will be riding from the palace with other members of the royal family accompanying Her Majesty the Queen as they make their way to Horse Guards for the ceremony of trooping the colour and lining the mouth we have 14 officers and a hundred and seventy men of the Welsh Guards who this time last year we're serving in Afghanistan eagerly waiting understands at Horse Guards around 7,000 people among them friends and families of those on parade as well as some lucky members of the public who were successful in the balance for tickets we're here on BBC one for the entire parade as ever and the great fly passed by the Royal Air Force but there's also uninterrupted coverage on the red button and this year we are streaming live around the world for the first time on YouTube now it's nine years since the first Battalion Grenadier Guards last provided the escort and so many of the families in the stands will be watching for the first time and my colleague Sonali Shah is with some of them Hugh I'm surrounded by a heady mix of excitement to nerves because this is where the heart of today's support is and I'm with the family of today's regimental sergeant major Sam Brooks Vanessa is his wife you look like you're bursting with pride if a little nervous yes really nervous we're very excited how will Sam be feeling right about now I think he's gonna be really excited he'll really want to get a good job done and this is the pinnacle of his career so it's also his last day in the role so kids any message for Dad yes that's sir Sonali with some of the very proud relatives here today and with me as someone who's experienced this parade in several roles over the years he is left hanging Colonel Vince gaunt a man with decades of service with the Grenadier Guards Vince are very good morning to you thank you great you should pledge to be here well it's nice to have you with us let me show you 2001 and take you back to that memorably went parade when you were the regimental start major that must be memorable I'm glad to say you haven't brought that weather back with you today yeah I mean there's a number of things that I've been in charge you never the weather so yeah I think we'll get away with it to know that it looks well potentially quite sunny so let's hope it stays that way now what are you looking forward to well I'm looking forward to after all the hard work that all the regiment's especially the Grenadier Guards are putting in beings out there truth all my sort of friends people have served with and their families to have a great day in front of their majesty looking forward to events thank you for being with us it's always important to remind everyone that away from the ceremonial duties the troops we see today are frontline soldiers they have a dual role and to underline that the Grenadier have adopted the saying twice the man that dual role is perfectly illustrated by their presence on the parade ground today having recently returned from deployments abroad zero this is 1 0 Delta Radio check over normally when you think of a guardsman you think of the fellow in the red tunic and the bearskin hat which is me however I'm also the fellow sigh here were my buddy Amon my helmet doing a very different job to what I do when I'm on Queens God at men we have people deployed in Iraq South Sudan here in Afghanistan we'll be back together in March getting ready for her Majesty's birthday parade in June the role that we are performing out here is reporting force protection for the mentors who helped to train the Afghan National Army our purpose out here in South Sudan is to provide engineering support to the UN mission the environment that we operate it is pretty austere the temperatures are very hot it's very humid and the glutes work pretty hard to deliver the security that we need to enable the force to operate I'm the senior major of the Grenadier Guards and we're here in Iraq to assist the Iraqis in developing their security forces so they can have a secure and stable future today we've been teaching mortal essence for the 16-millimeter more that is done by our lunch sergeants wife's I stand it and just watch over [Music] we've been awarded our medals by the colonel of the regiment the jeep of York himself which is a very rare and special occasion having been away on an operational tour for the last year I would like to pay my debt of gratitude and thanks to all of you for the work that you have done so successfully the whole battalion has been on tour in different places around the world so right now we're just talking a good time after what's been a quite a busy year for us and I'm pleased to say the commanding officer of the Grenadier today's field officer in Brigade awaiting leftenant Colonel Pitt ash field is here with me we've just seen the Grenadier zon operational duty how tough is that switch to today's ceremonial role I think actually it's a remarkable easy because many of the same things we look for operations self-discipline you know commitment what's required on the parade you know not least rehearsing preparation and as we see here this is Empress the horse I'll be riding a little bit later having a breakfast before she gets settled up and the tack put on her ready for today's parade so she's nearly ready what are you most looking forward to are there any tricky bits probably the hardest bit is the rain back on Empress where we make the horse walk backwards and a horse doesn't naturally walk backwards as you might imagine so that's needed quite a lot of preparation and a massive thanks must go to court major skulls and the house under vision stables for all the preparation they've put in to get us to this stage well the very best of luck with today's parade thank you very much Colonel Ashford I was the lieutenant-colonel piers Asheville today's commanding officer talking to sonali and these are the guards that he'll be commanding on parade so let's take a closer look at them now first Battalion guarantee regards providing the escort as we know as well as numbers two and four guards Wyler number three yard is provided by Nijmegen company representing the second Battalion Grenadier Guards then if we move along F company Scots Guards providing number five guard and last year twelve members of the company took part in the long walk home they marched 100 miles from the Menin gates to the Cenotaph for the centenary of the end of the Great War I'm taking a look at the far end of the parade ground formed up at right angles we have number six guard provided by the Coldstream Guards and it was the first Battalion coastal guards who provided the escort in last year's parade and the word about the Irish Guards well they are currently busy preparing to deploy to Iraq and South Sudan but they are represented today by the regimental band of course and by the colonel of the regiment the Duke of Cambridge will be riding to the parade a little later and the immaculate uniform of the guards is of course recognized around the world and the men take immense pride in their appearance and to understand the work that goes into the uniform and the pride with which it is worn we paid a visit to the grandi as master tailor and the team as they prepared for this year's parade [Music] everybody knows that you're going to be able to say you are one who instantly fills with pride rather than being in the army and being a soldier you are going to do it it's just that the minute you say you're a Grenadier your eyes lift a little bit more people to feel a little bit different especially first time they put on a tunic you can see what it means to be a good idea that attention to detail and the intricacies of making the tunic that Sun's up a Grenadier perfectly the precision and accuracy and the detail is required seeing is a testament to how seriously we take our old look at the new guys and seen the look on their faces when they get in fear and that reminds of myself all those years ago when it was me a great sense of pride of wearing the tunic and the basket that was the first time I'm at the master tailor yeah third week on the job so I'm I'm brand new everyone knows about what the granite is do because there's such a sort of important icon for the British Army say yeah it's enormous ly exciting to to get mine sorted [Music] the amount of work that goes into it is phenomenal we work on average anywhere between this or fifteen to an 18 hour a day plus the guys coming back off tall they've robbed have put on a stone and a half in muscle or they've lost hunting mountain bits away I haven't changed he's just gotten skinning yeah yeah you keep telling yourself that it's helpful battalions 500-plus and that is fitting out to lots of tunics to lots of tweets they have to have metal loops you have to put rank on them every day there just seems to be more people need to have a sense of humor especially at this time of year it's a lot of early starts getting back after a long day the boots can take an hour hour and a half that can sometimes be quite tedious if I'm honest the Grenadier is a massive family and that probably doesn't really home into a day at a troop where you just look around and there's just 600 of you all in the tunic and the bearskin comes down and you know now it's the time to shine back on Horse Guards Sun is peeping through the clouds little light rain earlier but it's dried up nicely now perfect conditions for this year's parade and that sharp look with uniformed nowhere more evident on parade than with the color party let's look at them because they are protecting the color that will soon be trooped through the ranks to color sentries Guardsman McKenzie Healy and Guardsman Garrett and then the sergeant of the color party is Sergeant Mark Wilson who deployed to Afghanistan last year very prominent role for them today and indeed a proud moment for all of these men and the families watching understands and at home the officers taking post on Horse Guards Parade as we prepare for the first of the Royal processions to come from Buckingham Palace very smartly marching across to their individual guards if we look down the mal a great processional route first processions about to leave [Music] [Music] national anthem being played signaling the departure of the first three royal carriages from Buckingham Palace making their way to Horse Guards Parade and in the first carriage we have the Duke and Duchess of Sussex we have the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge and Harry and Megan having recently both celebrated their first wedding anniversary and indeed the birth of their first child Archie reaching the crowds in lovely sunshine the Duke of Kent Colonel of the Scots Guards and the Earl and Countess of Wessex we have Princess Beatrice and Eugenie the daughters of the Duke of York glorious view along the MAL down towards Admiralty Arch past the Queen Victoria Memorial Beatrice and Eugenie and of course was to royal weddings last year not one because at the daughter of the Duke of York marrying jack Brooksbank who is also in today's possession in the college and already as you can see thousands of people lining Green Park and st. James's Park ready to enjoy this great spectacle as Her Majesty the Queen prepares to leave Buckingham Palace for this year's birthday drink [Music] the Royal salutes our unsounded by the field officers trumpeter of the sovereigns escort trooper Daniel Stokes of the Life Guards as a match to the Queen makes away towards Horse Guards in the Scottish state coach this year a majesty who celebrated her 93rd birthday in April attending her 67th birthday parade as sovereign a record that is completely unmatched by any other British monarchy passing the Great Canada gate on the fringe of green park crowds enjoying this great scene in the sunshine here [Applause] Queen who first rode in the birthday parade back in 1947 in her role then as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards a role which later passed on to the Duke of Edinburgh who is not taking part in today's parade having stepped down from his royal duties in 2017 and a thought for the Duke because on Monday he will be celebrating his 98th birthday and we should mention the Royal Colonels who are in this procession to following the Queen's carriage because the Royal Colonels include the Duke of York it's his second time riding as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards having succeeded his father a proud occasion for him as his regiment of course is providing the escort today and he's riding Darby Darby was a gift to the Queen from Canada earlier this year the other royal Colonels we have the Prince of Wales Colonel of the Welsh Guards a role he took over from his father on st. David's Day in 1975 the Duke of Cambridge riding in his ninth parade as Colonel of the Irish Guards and at the far end there we concede the Princess Royal probably the most skilled equestrian of the quartet I think it's fair to say hurdle of the Blues and Royals a position she's held for over 20 years [Music] so the Queen's procession well on its way that mile or so along the mouth to postcard parade and approaching the parade ground we have the first three royal carriages there's been a change of formation to greet the carriages number three guard has opened up to allow access to these first three carriages as they cross the parade ground the national anthem will be played [Music] coachmen having saluted the color and Prince Harry saluting the color as he passes the very ground towards the office once occupied by the Duke of Wellington because that is where he members the raw party will be watching today's parade it's a great vantage point the office currently occupied by Major General Ben Bathurst the the gentleman commanding the household division of the British Army and General Officer Commanding London District but today his office is being used by the Royal guests and Vince the Royal party will be met by a Guardsman and you've previously fulfilled that role I'm just wondering what the day is like and what those duties are well they took me to a very privileged position of being and I add that I had that privilege as a garrison commander and what the job was I would meet all of the extended family and members of the immediate family and then take them upstairs heavily mop stairs and then you know show them into the office and it's in the atmosphere it's easy electrically like they here to celebrate as we all are how much they supposedly would they protect you with questions lots of questions very inquisitive you know they they would want to know that the younger members who want to know if they've been to school with any of the end of the people on the parade where they stood what God's will want although they've got a program even though the the older members of the family they would they would also ask question if something has changed and I would be there to sort of fill those questions before they all got ready to jockey into position and make sure they've got a good position in the window - what's a bright I was about to ask is some competition for the best viewpoints certainly is yeah well they're going to enjoy the parade and we'll enjoy the parade as well leading the sovereigns escort along the mall is the brigade major then Colonel guy's stone who began his career with Welsh Guards and it's his responsibility now to ensure that the procession runs like clockwork and this is his second year in the role he spoke to us a little earlier the brigade major principally is in control of all the timings all the coordination as I'm leading khamoshi down the mail I'm getting a constant feed of information to make sure that I'm at the right place at the right time I would be lying if I said it wasn't nerve-racking it's pretty daunting but we've been doing this for a long time so we know exactly how long it takes it requires great concentration from the soldiers making sure they're fully committed to what they're doing and if they put their minds to it then we'll be okay the Year brigade major riding sovereign shadow and directly behind him for troopers of the Life Guards including their first ever female soldier trooper Nina croaker and alongside her troopers mackenzie martins and dell and they're followed i think it's fair to say by one of the highlights of the parade for many people the glorious sight and sound of the mounted band of the house of camo it's a great sound great sight directed by nature justin matthews who first took part in the birthday parade a quarter of a century ago as a mounted cattle drummer this will be his last terrain as he's retiring next year and it's nice to enjoy some of the music [Music] the heart of the procession of course the Queen's carriage preceded by the first and second divisions of the sovereigns escort and that's a segment provided this year by the Life Guards and their distinctive red tunics and their white plumes and as we look at the plumes by the way the helmet design was completed by Prince Albert back in 1852 so the first and second divisions provided by the lifeguards and there we have the third and fourth divisions of the sovereigns escort provided this year by the Blues and Royals in their glorious Navy tunics and red plumes and this tradition of inviting the house of cavalry to score the sovereign to the parade was introduced by King George six back in 1937 to add to the spectacle to add to the grandeur of the event the Vinson you've taken part in I think seven birthday parades and I'm just wondering at this point did you ride in any of them I know there was a the previous Major General did sort of joke with me a few times a little too seriously they only tried to get me to ride and you know I always managed to be elsewhere into the fort Dorian or sick of it no regrets not at all no I'm not made to sit on an awesome I went in for Jimmy well we can look and admire that country we go trooping the colour course organized to mark the sovereigns official birthday tradition that started with george ii whose birthday was in november and to move the ceremony to the summer in the hope of good weather that modern tradition of doing so started with edward the south we mentioned the four royal Colonels there are two non royal Colonels also an important part of today's procession to Oscar Hut's colonel of the Coldstream Guards Lieutenant General Sir James Buckner he comes from a very impressive military family his brother and father were also called streamers he's on parade today with his two sons by the way and he's carrying the sort that his grandfather used in the First World War and the other non royal colonel is the colonel of the lifeguards Major General Sir Edward Smith Osborne newly appointed Colonel of the lifeguards he's been commanding officer to both Princes William and Harry and indeed Harry served under him in Afghanistan good moment as we look at the MAL and the magnificent display of union flags to say that the sovereigns birthday is also marked in several other ways the union flag sir flying along the MAL and indeed on government buildings there's a 41 gun salute by the Kings troops in green park a little later as well as the impressive flight passed by the Royal Air Force as we have the publication as well of the Birthday Honours List we'll have something to say about that a little later on and for the birthday parade the flags of all 53 countries currently in the Commonwealth are flown along Horse Guards Road and the flags are flown in the order that their countries joined the Commonwealth starting with the Union Flag and then we see a finishing the flag of Rwanda which is on the northern side of the guards memorial Queen enjoying the views and the crowds and so nice to have a contingent of Chelsea pensioners with us today enjoying this spectacle proudly standing to attention as Her Majesty arrives on the parade ground the Chelsea pensioners led today by major Frankie Howell formerly of the Irish Guards does the Queen's carriage makes its way onto the parade ground we will have the familiar sight of the head coachman Matthew Powers saluting the color with his whip and that salute completed means that the Queen's birthday parade of 2019 is about to begin the field officer forgive his command the anthem will be played and at the stroke of eleven o'clock the royal standard will be released Oh [Music] No well being Queens first task is to inspect the line of six guards and of course also an opportunity to hear the music the mass bands the man in charge is the senior director of music lieutenant-colonel Darrin wolf and Dale of the Irish Guards joined the army as a clarinetist back in 1981 and the music for the slow inspection is entrada written by the american composer alpha dream [Music] music changes to Queen Elizabeth's March which was written for tweeners of a Queen Mother back in 1937 it's a good moment for us to reflect on the fact that this is quite an intensely personal moment for the guards because they make direct eye contact with the sovereign that's right yeah we get the guys these are their this their moment this is what they wear they're here for their here in front of the sovereign so just look as best they can and as she goes past they'll have that special moment where all the guardsmen stops to look straight at her and she looks back and she knows it's looking for which a great moment for her to program because the one thing you can't touch is the Queen's expertise core not sure now sure she knows exactly what she's looking for and and they know so you know that they're they don't bet on the best it's the best I can be Queens procession passing the sovereigns standard of the Life Guards which there's the regimental battle honours as well as the Royal coat of arms the standard bearer corporal major Daniels Knoxville [Music] that procession will continue past the Kings troop Royal Horse Artillery bonded by major Harry Wallace the carriage driver will salute the lead gun which is in effect their regimental color [Music] in the procession we have major-general Ben Bathurst who took command at the hustle division two years ago was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1983 [Music] now this is Lieutenant Colonel Darren Wolfe on Dale's last year as senior director of music and this year's program does feature popular marches some personalized selections and one piece which it has to be said is something of a rarity I think what's unusual about this year is that the composer is actually on the parade at the time it's it's played the March is entitled twice the man which is inspired by the regimental recruiting post or the ground guards this refers to their dual role which is ceremonial and operational and he's composed it especially for this troop and it's a really good piece of music it sits really nicely in the parade having it performed on such a a world stage is something that most composers can only dream of so it's it's an absolute gift Bray's like this don't come around every day of the week is definitely pinnacle of anybody's career so after 38 years I'm really pleased that this will be where I finished my career so I'm a very happy man yes it is unheard of for a musician to compose a march and to perform it on the day so we look forward to hearing that new composition by Ian twice the man in just a moment and let's reflect on that phrase then Vince twice the man where does it come from well as you can see you know we are ceremonial soldiers but we're forging soldiers first you know we are there on operations as you've seen through a number of films so the operational side is either is important and you know we we sort of hang on that that is where our life that is so we can change you we've got a skill that we can change from operations and change into ceremonial troops yes that's very shortened is it difficult to combine your roles they find that a challenge no not really it'll depend on the individual but I've got to admit you know it's it's a seamless it's just you know you know what you were joining so as you can see today you know you you would want to go through your whole career and not do what we're doing to that a Majesty sir has returned to the saluting base now that the inspection is complete and the masked bands are ready for their star turn I think it's fair to say because the parade is about to get underway with a very popular March late you know this year marks the 150th anniversary of this arrangement [Music] [Music] what's Birds Weather Center [Music] standing by for the trombone to be raised by sergeant Andrew Mercer the signal for the counter March for the mass bounce [Music] [Music] [Music] from the old to the new of this is Lots Argentine Chiapas composition twice the man this is the piece making its debut at the Queen's birthday drink [Music] there we have the lone drummer breaking away Lance Corporal booth from the equal drums marching to a position to the right to the escort that's ready for the next phase of the terrain [Music] [Music] drummer playing eight bars of the field signal called the drummer's call recalling an age when communications on the battlefield to use the drums and we have an orderly gauze burn via mommy marching forward to take the pace stick from regimental some major Sam Brooks who can then sub Wilton of the escort Captain Robert Lang giving the order for members of the escort to take up their dressing in close order a tighter formation for the march forward to collect the color in a few moments that's good for the color by the left brick [Music] yes quad stepping off with great energy and flair to the rousing March of the British grenadiers march forward hold some 16 paces from the color party ready for the collection to take place [Music] Vince we are now approaching a very big moment for Sam Brooks when the eyes of the world are upon him yeah I mean he's the only one to be in a position like this you know everything is about timing but if you are the salt major of Foot Guards regiment you know to do operations and go on a play to saw major but to do this job it's very very special indeed and I'm shooting with evil in relish every moment [Music] that's good for the cut up and down this buds [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] so regimental saw major Sam Brooks now preparing to take possession of the color protecting it with this sword ready to hand it over safely to the ensign second a tenant Robin Mackworth young who will then troupe the color through the ranks and this is what they've been preparing for for weeks isn't it Benson it is you know that the whole the eyes of the nation is now he's now on them and they would have practiced this and you know today is the danger getting on second a tenant Robin Mac with young today's n sigh safely receiving the color placing it is white color belt [Music] I start to color so the ensign and the regiment's our major resumed their positions within the escort and we've now entered a new phase in this birthday parade the escort for the color having taken possession of the color has now become the escort to the color Oh God - tada that's good too color Center so the Esper advances in slow time the bands play escort to the color by Richard writhings and his sir tuners being played at this point ever since 1978 very soon the band sir will have to negotiate this rather daunting maneuver we have 200 musicians supported by four drums having to change direction without changing formation his water is known as the spit we watched very closely and carefully by the royal guests in the Duke of Wellington's old office of our force guards and Vince in your many different roles on the parade ground I suppose you've seen the spin wheeler very close quarters yes sir I mean as a young guy with in number four guard he would be in that corner and that particular maneuver seems chaotic it worked it to I out but there's a wall of sound that hits you there not a feeling like that and of course you've got to maintain your each steadiness and your ears open to find out you know to make sure that you don't miss anything on the right it's difficult really isn't it to convey the power and the majesty of the sound the bands make yeah it literally is something that hits you that that AK sound just hits you and you know it does it does take it just takes a bit of getting used to on all the reason [Music] [Music] so the music changes as the escort makes its way color and escort continuing their slow march to the ranks the ceremony the formal ceremony of the trooping the colour gets underway [Music] grenadiers slow march arranged by Fred Harris and the specific honor here is to parade the regimental standard or the color very hard to today's tonight colour blazoned on the Burnaby is color 45 of their battle honours and those honours also embossed on the officer swords [Music] such a special moment for the insight second of tenant Robin Mac with young who told us earlier how he felt about being accorded this on my ancestor actually won the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War whilst defending the color so for me be carrying the Queen's color on parade is a particular privilege of course I'll be noticed on the day Sonne some hairs will stand on end and you know I'll be very conscious that a lot of people are watching but I'll also be conscious that it's not just my moment but it's very much my company the Queen's company's moment and the regiment's moment yes his pride more than evident given the honor that he's been accorded today into me Finn's the colour was last used on the battlefield more than a hundred years ago in 1881 so is it fair to ask what its relevance is to the modern soldier our history is everything to us and a very short ie chin higher as a recruiting you know we go through regimental history with them so now that they know the depth of the regiment and of course it's bragging rights as you mentioned those things that battle on his arm are all on the photos Amanda it's the heart of the regiment it's the the atmosphere changes you to protect it and everybody knows what it is and what it's done when you say everybody here one one would expect the more experienced officers and soldiers to fully appreciate that but what about the younger ones well they as I've said you might say it's sort of bred into them from a really early age so they understand the importance of and you know that they as I said it's one of those areas where they will always sort of talk about and particularly today they will sort of use this as they've met go through their careers and as one of those places where they can say that was my time that was my color it's a great moment for them it is [Music] [Music] that's good to know well that's good to know [Applause] [Applause] Oh oh my girls don't folks color now moves to the rear of the escort ready for the March pass to take place numbers words of our God oh my God my God all right ball on the March core of drums the for me hazel mere composed by drum H Tom Bart Berkut just after the Second World War [Music] [Music] oh my god - boy God will evolve Oh Oh mistakes da cunha much number six dog will move to the right embrace both ways right go one more force is slow on quick boys [Music] so the trooping has been completed and the next phase of parade the March fast is about begin mass bands claim to neutral slow marches by neutral we mean they're not tied to any particular regiment first is called Duke of York which was adopted by first art in 1805 when the Duke at that time became their cut Vince it's worth mentioning that this is major Neil Stratton's second time as captain of the escort carry out the role in 2014 I think with my meeting company that's correct here yeah it's not that he did got it wrong the the first time he was I yeah he was a senior captain locally promoted or acting major when he commanded nine completely and and today you know he is one of the CDA majors in the regiment's and the premier company we in the Queen's currently he's a you know front and center so very unusual indeed just to underline really for viewers who may be coming to the parade for the first time as you say it is highly unusual given all the roles that we see the spectrum of responsibilities it's very unusual to do the same or twice that's correct yeah I mean you know a very unique position he's in today and they're in a lot on him and the words about the major of the parade major ed I think who was taking part in eight previous birthday parades this is his first on horseback by the way I think it's worth paying tribute to to aired as well Vince because this is quite a difficult role bit of a unsung hero he would have to know everything to that they whining off Soviet ice field mouse on the fried so you know he's the second one down he's the second in command sorry something happens he takes the reins so to speak and then he was afraid the same as he would do on the battlefield he's the senior major the second-in-command so he's standing by with all of these words of command committed to memory as well that's correct and and had throughout the rehearsal process he would have had the opportunity to actually command the trading people [Music] [Music] so the s quarter peg to move off led by field officer ed Brigade waiting for finding officer today technically no appears a shield and fence I think you were a captain with the mining officer so tell us a little more about it yeah I mean we both served together in Afghanistan as Captain she's been a number of times Afghanistan he's he's a good guy he's a good bloke and he stands out you know he's always done that he come from a very a particularly strong group of peers of which to those and I don't think they they would be sending me saying that he from a very early age he was pictured you know to move up and to be where he is today anything really dirty well preparing to march past Her Majesty on the saluting base Prime Minister and Phillip May the president of Sierra Leone with the mall so today among the seven thousand strong crowd in the stands around Horse Guards Parade lots of the Prime Minister's colleagues ministerial colleagues prime minister of course just stood down as leader of the Conservative Party but will still be Prime Minister for the next month or so [Music] so as we prepare for the march past I think it's worth also asking ourselves for the field officer as if it was saying someone he knows very well what would today mean for him well as you have seen earlier in the program he's Leddy's Ridgemont on operations and again a foot guards household division man on parade today in front of her Majesty commanding this is the pinnacle you know he was doing it also operationally and ceremonially he's done the whole bag so you know he will feel very very proud indeed it's the 15th time that the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards have had the honor of trooping their color for the sovereign music changes to the slow march of the Grenadier Guards [Music] as Her Majesty prepares to acknowledge the color [Music] Queen maintaining a very sharp focus on what's going on the end sign having hello at the standard what's known as the flourish and will then raise it and what's known as the recover [Music] massed ranks of Grenadier Guards marching proudly past the sovereign and looking on proudly at no doubt is the Duke of York watching his regiment marching past the Queen myself of course a former colonel of the Grenadier Guards it's worth asking at this point about the Dukes involvement with the regiment Vince what do we make of it well having taken our with a physician for his father he's he's throw himself into the into the into the tradition as the colonel of the regiment he he gets involved either the lower levels I mean he DP visits and when he does really just at the top and he works his way to the bottom and he spends a lot of time with the young guards and young doctors nurses and and discusses regimental business with him and other things at the end of the day he's just a just a guy he comes as our friend he comes as our colonel and not a member of the vol family when he visits music will change for the arrival of the Scots Guards [Music] number five guard F company scots guards nicknamed the immortals following the Battle of fester bird back in 1915 marching to tune of Garberville Gaul by General John Reed of the back watch [Music] Coldstream Guards la March host of guards formed in 1650 the oldest continuously serving regiment in the British Army [Music] the adjutant of the parade captain Ben Tracy Warsaw has a brother serving in the Grenadines field officer brigade waiting tank LPS Ashfield riding out to salute the Queen to indicate that the slow march past has been completed the Queen acknowledges does we enjoy today's parade in nice sunshine with all of these bright tunics the great display of color it's worth thinking about a century ago the biggest ever parade dripping the color took part in Hyde Park 11 units are for God's paraded then imagine that having just returned from the Great War look at this there were so many soldiers there they weren't enough scarring to news so the guards to wear their hockey uniform and this piece of music the soldiers chorus that we're hearing now was played that day as the slow march of the guards machine-gun regiment how things are changed so to underline it is of course a remarkably proud day for those on program aid but also for the families and Sonali sharp has been speaking to some of them I'm with Lady Iona Mackworth young mother of today's ensign Sophie Harris is engaged to today's Sultan and Alex Thatcher he has twins on parade today now Iona we do have to start with that photo Robyn becoming enzyme looks like a childhood dream come true it is he's always wanted to join the army and adds a little boy when we gave him his guards outfit he was so excited and loved marching up and down and for years as a child he would go to sleep listening to military band music the trooping of the color music was his nighttime music every night he must be so proud today Sophie you got engaged to Robbie just before he deployed to Afghanistan last year was the timing of that commitment did it make things harder or easier I think it definitely made the goodbyes that bit tougher but it means so much to all of them go and you know such an important part of their job and then to see them all here today before me there different capacities what they were doing a few months ago it's such a privilege to see in such a special day to be a part of Alex twins on parade today I can't imagine how proud you must be tom it is a guardsman at the Grenadiers and then you have been trooper in the lifeguards is there a bit of healthy rivalry between the two yes that's always been rivalry between them since they were born yes was it inevitable that they both joined the army they they've always wanted to and I never doubted they would but today is a whole new level for us yes thank you so much for talking to us ladies and good luck with the wedding some lovely sentiments being expressed then family obviously hugely important to the Grenadier but it's a different dimension Vince isn't it because the regiment sees itself very much as a family well it does we are we are a family regiment and and we form a bond you know we form a brotherhood whatever you want to call it you know we we live eat and breathe together especially on operations you know where we look after each other and we use a buddy buddy system and of course in barracks is exactly the same you okay you look after through the know and you form that bond and friends you need to friendship for life [Music] the defense secretary since May this year penny mordant and there we have senior military figures and we have president dick just in the top of frame there the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police [Music] it's a great sight guards reforming ready to March fasting foot time a great style a new change of tempo led by the Cena time Peter sergeant Neil Brocklehurst the Scots Guards neutral quick marches wellington march composed by sailor does the Queen knows it's been a very busy week for the Grenadier Guards and everyone else her majesty included it's the second inspection for many of them goes on Monday night Megan company was inspected by President Trump and the Prince of Wales during that state visit of President Trump and the first lady [Music] does the gods navigate this corner section of horsecar to pray this vast expanses that involves a challenge yeah this is probably the most difficult sort of area because spit in this corner they would have changed from slow to thick time so from 65 phases to a hundred and sixteen paces to the minute and of course coming to the corner they've got a change arm so they're in the right place for when they march faster yeah it's a difficult corner and as you can see they've got away with it and it looks great more than got away with it's looking very stylish very energetic music is the Grenadiers spurred March arranged by Kathy [Music] number three yard approaching Nijmegen company Grenadier Guards Queen accompanied on the saluting base by the Duke of Kent who's Colonel of the Scots Guards before guard income and company Grenadier Guards originally part of the third Battalion which no longer runs music soon to change to the Scots Guards quick march [Music] Familia tune of hill and laddie they could march in the Scots Guards browsing to you and the five guard provided by a company scots guards [Music] the role of number six guards dating by the same company Colstrip guards regiment has served in every major conflict of the past 350 years Equipe marches mill Anala [Music] by the way if you're just looking at all the guards and wondering how you recognize them we have posted a guide to recognizing all five of the guards regiments on our Twitter and Instagram feeds look for the account BBC Studios live and you find it there so the mass bands paying the neutral quick march the liberators and this is being played in tribute to those who took part in the Normandy landings the 75th anniversary of which was marked earlier this week in Portsmouth hunted by a queen of course attending that event in Portsmouth commanding officer having signaled that the March varsity QuickTime is now completed [Music] does the guards reform for the next stage of the parade a moment's respite for the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel P is a shield honestly it's a massive privilege and a huge honor most importantly it's a great opportunity for all of the troops to show off their medals on their tunics in front of their family and friends my sons sort of asking you know am I going to be the red soldier or the green soldier every time I step out the door which is nice interestingly enough I have a picture here of me when I think I was aged aged five and done there with my brother my son now has that very same fancy dress outfit it's a little bit big for him at the moment they hope he'll grow into it and I'd probably say it's a bit of a warning to all the parents whose children have a fancy dress tunic and bearskin that you know fast forward 25 years you never know where where that small gesture may well lead you well it's a bit of a warning but it's a source of pride to Vince it is yeah I know as a family man and everything else it'll he should have plays that part really well so you know he bonds with it all the way through he's his wife and children get involved with the regiment and a great place so we have the guards almost at the end of their intensive phase of marching for a while is there relief at this point there is a slight relief better you know they've got to remain alert and sharp to what's going on you know underneath those tunics regardless of what you feel of the weather today they'll be soaking wet with sweat so they'll be dehydrated they'll be breathing heavy you know there's dust in the air from from about to get worse with all the cavalry so yeah it's a it's a difficult moment to stay sharp stage which time - Chris let's do a job to do well they're looking good yeah they're looking great [Music] [Music] holidays take both quick march Gold you know fedora left and right dress wristbands boomer direct write 10 verse bad waiter trick much so the foot cards having reformed and soon it'll be the turn of the mounted troops to pass the saluting base ISIL cavalry Kings troops are on artillery and the mounted bands of the house whole division so the mass bands therefore marching to one side to clear a path for the motor pants [Music] [Music] [Music] so we have the band of the household cavalry moving on to Horse Guards Parade led by the director music major Justin Matthews [Music] companied bye mercury and Perseus who like all the drum horses of the house cavalry hold the rank of Major and they are the property of the Queen and today by Lance Corporal a Kiley and Lance Corporal of Oz Richard Brown [Music] and the majestic arrival of the Kings trooper or horse artillery it's the 22nd year that the Kings troop has been on parade five officers 58 mounted troops 76 horses and six guns part of the birthday parade today they've given the name the king's truth by King George the sixth and his daughter the Queen requested that they should keep that name in memory of her former regiment this our major is $1 one Daniel Fox who joined the army 21 years ago the son is a gunner with the Avanti [Music] [Music] [Music] music being played is the rollator is slow march posed by Duchess against the mother of Queen Victoria watched very closely by the Queen because the lead gun of the Kings truth is in effect that color so it's accorded the same relevance as the guards car these 13 pounded put fire guns that we see are over a hundred years old and one of them is reported to be firing in the first rounds of a key at the Somme over a century [Music] music changes to be regimented slow the lifeguards what a magnificent sight sovereigns escort knowledged by the wrong kernels and by homage to the Queen led by the field officer of the sovereigns escort followed by the escort commander field officer Tom second riding to the second time the Queen's birthday parade standard having been lowered by the standard bearer of major Douglas Thompson two divisions of the Blues and Royals regimental slow March called the Blues and Royals now short covering course consisting of two regiments the blue bars are the Life Guards and this year in Sea Life Guards as we know having the honor of riding in front please and Royals following the third and fourth divisions the two senior regiments of the British Armed Service captain is Captain Robert Pereira riding Oscar and the farriers with their glinting axes historically the ones who would dispatch horses in Geneva [Music] [Music] music changing to the tune of the Royals goes by Blankenburg is the King's Troop hasil cavalry make their way down side past the guards memorial field offices trumpeter trooper Daniel Stokes of the Life Guards this is trooper Stokes his second birthday parade his first as trumpeter signaling the neutral trod the Horse Guards trot trumpeter traditionally riding next to the commanding officer always on a gray horse which could be seen more easily on the battlefield among a sea of black horses [Music] so determining Stroup again the truck passed the saluting base and it does surprise people Vince but we remind them every year that the involvement in the Kings movie is not some kind of ancient tradition no no not at all I mean it makes it makes now yeah very recently the last decade of the Impala paper I would just say that you know this brings the whole thing together so you know you've got the artillery the guns you've got the cavalry tanks and you've got the infantry Foot Guards so it all makes the battle so you know if you look at the way the battlefield is formed this is it and does this is going on all this activity all this color or this energy just a word about the soldiers who are standing and waiting patiently yeah well they haven't got a choice so we have about that value there but they'll be asking maybe thinking you know ride a bit faster so we can get off but there's still a lot to do so you know remaining alert is important Kings true based at Woollett 75 horses operate today all of them color graded from like beta black when the horses are named and given the same initial letters the quality officer so many of the horses created today of names beginning with W the major ones [Music] Majesty now acknowledging the color of the lifeguards which remains at the carry during the trot Basti lifeguards tracing their history back to the court of the Exile charles ii but musics always been important to the regiment we spoke earlier Vince about the bugle calls and again it's worth reminding people that the use of the bugle is not redundant no no most of the regiment you see today will use the bugle for different parts of the day saw the daily routine so for instance in reveille that the bugler had got off early then everyone else he would have blown his bugle - for the reveille and then that means get out of bed and then throughout the day there will be a dinner call you know there's even a call for you know drop everything can falls on duty to report to the office you know so the last thing that night you know got a bit director of music major justin matthews leading the band of the hustle cavalry as they pay their tribute to the Queen on her official birthday cattle drummers riding the drum horses crossing their sticks in their individual salutes to Her Majesty the Queen these musicians wearing the state coat which signals that they are members of the royal household the crimson velvet the gold braid the lace it's a great sight it's the oldest ceremonial uniform in the regular army and it has remained virtually unchanged since 1685 because we watch the mounted band Vince I think it's worth paying tribute as well to the fact that they are undertaking several challenges at once well yes I mean they would have gone through basic training the same as everyone else but then they would have done the training at Nana hall to their musical ability and and to be you know posted to the household cavalry bandy is something that is quite special and they would have have to gone through six months of her training riding training to get to this point so the band of the hostile cavalry horse the director of music of turning woods signaling that he's handing back control to the field officer for the final birthday salute saluté tweezers [Music] Oh goes in Kultura left and right dress the guards take their dressing this time all the guards one long line and just lets pay tribute to the fact that this precise move is accomplished with no word of command begin God woofle three Rex Oh God we're done oh boy divisions right gold quick thoughts toon is the adjutant posed by drum major tom Birgit guards clothes up to reduce the length of the procession along the MAL as they all return to Buckingham Palace [Music] Oh God on the edge goes well for clothes cold when I know I left quick march corner drums playing crushers glory those by gottfried teeth cup this is the moment where the taste stick will be returned to the regiment's our major Warrant Officer wants and Brooks by the oddity guards Monday Ami [Music] go and the left guide of the escort color sergeant Kemal Richards moving up to the right there too so that all the guards can see him clearly and when he drops his arm it's the eyes forward to signal to all six guards and making his way to the approach road as we near the end of the parade is garrison son major won't officer class one Andrew Stokes it's his fourth birthday parade and it's worth just underlining the immense role that the Garrison's art major plays in today's parade wins well today's variety is all orchestrated by him and Sam Brooks would have taken his battalion and regiment and every else through but it would have been burned that would have been the guy who puts everything together to make it where it is today his qualities well you know I know him well he's a he's a he's a good guy and again he's one of these guys who people might not know that he's actually a major in the army and he's the government's art major over London district he's he's got those sort of qualities where he stands out field officer asking her Majesty's permission to march off to conclude this birthday parade of 2019 you might eat your god deformed up waiting to be Michael field officer in brigade waiting are being completed most of his duties now on this parade in 2019 and so far Vince can be pretty please lived I think how things calm extremely well I think that everyone on tried it on a fabulous job and and even looking at them now you know they are steady they're ready to go and you know that they'll be there all the white the end garrison sergeant major signaling that all is ready for the Queen's procession to leave the parade ground you mentioned that you that you know Andrew or Vern as he's known a little bird says you taught him all he knows is that true well I told him some of the things he not I wouldn't say I taught him everything he taught op soldier and he's special selected are how is the the well he's instructor for the late entry officers course when he was selected for a commission they have to go through a course and he came through he was an actual in student and you know it's no surprise that he takes all the glory today well he said an exceptionally busy week with the state visit and the events in Portsmouth and of course leading up now to the Queen's birthday parade and the success of the week lots of it has to go down to him Julie well it does as everyone will know you know there was a tunic there was there were silos there was a man and you know he orchestrate he did the the majority of all of that and he did it really well and you know everybody should congratulate you for that great scene on Horse Guards Parade as the queen prepares to leave the parade ground those royal guests who were in the Duke of Wellington's old office have now left the building and they are making their way back to the palace already ready for that little reception that takes place before the appearance on the balcony a little later on they'll be looking forward to the the party surely but also the great birthday fly passed by there all air force that that will be a highlight for lots of these people waiting in the park it's a great spectacle to end the dipping [Music] the March off music very appropriately is a to called aroma another reference of course to DJ because that was the little ports where British troops landed on the beach the beach Conan Gold one of the five landing beaches of the Normandy invasion that we've spoken a lot about this week the Grenadier Guards heavily involved with the Battle of Normandy most notably operation good words just weeks after d-day took place one of the biggest tank paddlers of the Second World War so that heritage that tradition and the pride in that's very much alive today Vince yes it is I mean there as I said history is that he's at one of the main factors and one of our great recruiting and you know parts of what we do so you know heat ones through the entire regiment and as you can see they you know they're here today and they're showing off and doing looking large and being nutty well her majesty's enjoying the sunshine and it didn't look like a sunny morning i have to say when we turned up a little earlier but it's been really pretty perfect in terms of conditions for everyone on parade today with this rosy music let's have your honest verdict on the parade limits well I would say the goodest the grantee is trimming the column and he was an excellent array then you won't get better than that is that holy objective do you think yes so what happens now of course is that the the Queen and other members of our family and senior officers including the MH general and others will return to the palace and without giving too many secrets away Vince I think that's the time when some conversations I had about the parade and the Queen if she does have something to say good or bad she'll she'll express herself oh definitely yeah in the past I've heard that the commanding officers have gone there and indeed peers will will have the chance to meet her majesty and other members of the royal family straighter after this parade you know and if something has gone gone wrong or something is something different she would have noticed that and she's she's on the money she will tell you the way it is and she will pick you up at you on the back of the sign in the same way so you know as I said before she's got an eye for detail and that's where she lets you know [Music] would be magnificent site of the house of cavalry news Royals this brings a formal end to the Queen's Birthday parade on horse carts but the celebrations continue and later the Kings troop will be riding into Green Park and firing a 41 gun salute after which the royal family will appear on that famous balcony to watch the traditional birthday fly passed by the royal air force on this tradition by the way of the monarch leading the guards back to Buckingham Palace was established by George v back in 1914 because the parade at that point had become so popular it was decided to provide an even more impressive experience for the thousands of spectators and no one here today would quibble with that because there are many thousands of spectators gathered in central London for one of the big events in the Royal and ceremonial calendar and indeed the monarch leading the troops back towards Buckingham Palace is one of the great sights of the day and as the carriages make their way along the MAL they'll pass the street liners of the Welsh Guards who've been on to me all week about mentioning the fact that they too are providing a very important service today so let's hear it for the Welsh Guards who've done a sterling job standing patiently in place since before the procession began and let's face it Vince it's an exhausting job well it is I thought there there there before anyone else there they own some heroes there look before anybody else there that before he else and they're the last ones back into the barracks so if they've got a job to do you know that intermingled as you as you will see along the the line lining the ruse with the Metropolitan Police who we work closely with within London district but they've got a job to do they'll be looking that the other side of the road to ensure that if there's anything going wrong they they can bring the notice of the policeman to that particular issue and just wondering how was the Queen watches very carefully what's going on how the street liners keep their energy levels up and you know we've discussed earlier about the kind of feat of endurance that's involved not least on the parade ground so how did the street liners do it well there is a there is areas of patrolling which they're allowed to do once the presenters have gone past but it's a long Stan for those guys so what we do is there's a little trick where we issue them barley sugars and they press that barley sugar between the belt and the tunic and of course they have to get people's attention to you know take it out of the belt somebody remember the public maybe Orson Johns Ambulance or even a policeman you know unwrap stir sweet and pops it into the guards both very neatly done so as we follow the royal carriage procession back to the palace I'm delighted to say that we've been joined again by the author and commentator Robert Hartman who writes for the Daily Mail and the broadcaster and Sunday Times journalist Roy anika to both of you a very warm welcome thank you very much coming morning Robert is a seasoned observer I'm just wondering what is your verdict so far on the 2019 parade why here is ever a magnificent sight and underlining once again that profound bond between the monarch and the monarchy and and the armed forces at the end of a week when that ready has come to the fore both with the state visit of the president the United States where a lot of echoes of the great transatlantic alliance the Second World War we heard a lot of those in the speeches and then those very moving intensely moving anniversary commemorations of the 75th anniversary of d-day with the Queen absolutely at their heart earlier in the week again quoting her father you know those veterans they were there they were the they were the king's men fighting for king and country and here was the Queen today the only head of state in the world who served in uniform in the Second World War there she was speaking not just on behalf of Britain but as she said on behalf of the entire free world thanking them and here now there she is at the heart of all of her troops and I think it just goes a long way to illustrating that historic bond I've been struck Robert in the past few days by how many people have come along and said that they listened to every single word her Majesty offered in Portsmouth in a very short address but that every word packed a punch it did I think she'd given it a lot of thought it was it was a very touching moment as well where she was in a sort of sealed off VIP area with the veterans and the world leaders and she she began her speech and she talked about the resilience of the of the VD generation saying that at the 60th anniversary who'd have thought they'd be here at the 75th but here they are which was great roar from the crowd you could hear in the distance and I think there is this real sense of that the Queen represents so much more than it's not just the crown it says who she's she is a living link with with what many would call the greatest generation in our history and I think these were immensely touched by her words there was a a notable air of surprise when we had to repeat that the Queen was 13 already 13 when the second world war broke out so that's that's the link isn't it it is and and and she was in uniform she became good colonel at the Grenadier Guards so we've seen today in the middle of the war and her 16th birthday it was her first military appointment means an awful lot to her and then of course she was serving in the 80s by the end of the war she lived through those dark days she remembers the stresses on her father the king and they in very dark days after the fall of France and and that sense of that redemptive sense of they're pre assurance but America came into the war in the run-up to d-day I think all those all those emotions were were as true to her as to anyone else during the sweetest anniversary definitely was made made a very strong undercurrent to the the u.s. state visit and then to see her a Portsmouth meeting and listening to those those veterans and looking really animated really enjoying that splendid service if it's been a week that she will his room remember just as much as the veterans who were there themselves in a very special week broy it's great to have you with this what strikes you today I think the thing to remember about this as well is it's very much a family Acacia movement with reflecting on the week that the the state and ceremonial elements of the week that the Queen has had because Rock visit this for her it's very much a family day and so we haven't all seen the Dutchess of Sussex back to work for the first times that's having baby Archer just over a month ago joining the Queen and members the royal family and that just watching that beautiful psychics will respect a cure to see the sovereigns escort the household cavalry accompanying the greenback to Buckingham Palace as you imagine only hue they're a couple of really interesting stories this year with the household cavalry trooper Nina Kroger being the first female trooper to serve with the household cavalry something that has been made aware of riding on the retinue with her in the sovereigns desk on the way back also alongside trooper Kruger trooper Samuel Sullivan whose father Steve Sullivan survived the IRA bombing in 1982 he is also riding on the retina at the back and I think something to reflect on Lieutenant Colonel pani Williams who is the commanding officer of the Household Cavalry his first trooping as commanding officer will be absolutely thrilled with her here's a men and women who've done colonel paddy is awarded the Military Cross for his service in Afghanistan in Helmand province and he mounts the key thing about the house or coverage we're seeing now they are the operational and ceremonial regiment so a wonderful day for them great Co they're all family we're looking forward to seeing perhaps a new face on the balcony shortly we shall see we shall see what transpires it is a big year for the house of cavalry and as we mentioned earlier after 200 years they're leaving their home in Windsor relocating to Salisbury claim and to mark the occasion they were given the freedom of the town and that was in a parade attended by the princess royal of forces in the parade today as Colonel of the Blues and Royals and Finn's that's an historic moment isn't it because you know most regiments move around a lot but now I mean that they've been very lucky to but you actually know that they have been in Windsor for for some years I mean they're three regiments they used to be a regiment of heavy tanks in Germany like tanks armored recce which is still in Windsor and of course the ceremonial side you see my politics but yeah I mean for them each age though they put down roots you know family ties as we'll be talking about families throughout the program you know it is it Miniver took for them to move from that area to move elsewhere as part of the role I'm a dwarf but it is what it is and so you should be prepared to of sticks and move and you know a lot of other regiments as you said have been making the facet lots of choice queen fighting alone in the carriage which reminds us that the Duke of Edinburgh course having stood down from his public duties is not attending the parade he'll be celebrating his 98th birthday on Monday it's the second year Matiz not attended me birthday parade of course having attended for all of those years I think it's a fair bet Robert that he'll be watching certainly affair that Hugh's not only watching probably taking notes and that's a scary thought it's certainly a scary thought for those in charge of this parade there will be a post-mortem I have no doubt [Music] this is the first time that the BBC has streamed the event around the world it's on YouTube in a new departure so reaching a whole new audience there's been intense interest in it and Roya I think that reflects the fact that we're at the kind of time where people like tradition they like that link with the past and what happens today and this display today a very impressive military display is the kind of British tradition that still is incredibly popular around the world absolutely it is and I think we saw that this week with the state visit of President Trump we saw the pomp and pageantry and new British military doing and it's doing its very best and those are the conditions at the Queen really respect and admires and that's why you have birthday for achievement kind of is so important to her and to the whole family observing those traditions and also the monarchy as he mentioned earlier that the close links with the Armed Forces Queen has had to be ample it's kind of cheap paying her respect and her thanks to us as well Robert IVs fair to say that one of the themes in your book which is called queen of the world is that it is to do with the fusion of old and new it's to do with the way that the royal family is somehow able to hold on to its its ancient role if you like in terms of our history but also blending some modern elements and that's not an easy balance to me no it's it's not you and no it's it's something the Queen has been very conscious after I terrain and that sense at you monarchies have to evolve they have to move with the times or or they disappear but at the same time they they must they mustn't get ahead of the times and and it is a hit is a tough balance but you know days like today as you say but although the full kind of be a tradition that legendary what people expect to see when they come to Brit Brit at the same time it's a younger members of the royal family coming through it's as you say it's coming into beats being live-streamed and throughout the the year we've seen a range of events from the very traditional ones to modern birds we've seen you know whether it's it's it's the Duke of Sussex organizing his Invictus games as were some of the new developments that gig of Cambridge with his work with football and mental health you see the royal family they're doing the things that people expect them to do there we see all the the family out waiting there to welcome home Her Majesty as she comes back to the palace and very much ancient and modern together this here taking salute at the center gates police sergeant ray Wrigley served at the least over 30 years along with his colleague PCE and Davy within today they'll be retiring this year so a lovely day for them to remember [Music] does the royal family looks on here the Wessex in the center then the Duchess of Cornwall it's worth reflecting on the fact that those taking salute are ready for the changing of the guard in Buckingham Palace which of course is a daily event but as we'll see a little later of the special this year because the Queen's color squadron of the Royal Air Force has been marching the guard for the past 24 hours the first time they've done so on the Queen's birthday parade in itself before the Grenadier Guards take over today as they do in tradition the escort will mount God after the train itself and that's a duty that lots of people don't realize exists base the fact that the work is not completed I mean these these guys would have would have been up there you know 6:30 you know some before that and they've got all the way through this parade you know that the that's not only the physical but the mental aspect of doing something in this sort of area this magnitude of a parade when it comes to the end of the parade the guys will then mount God above the palace and carry out their duties them to what we're all used so the Queen has returned home back at Buckingham Palace watched by many members of the royal family on that balcony in a short while Her Majesty will join them ready for the traditional birthday fly past and thousands of spectators enjoying the proceedings already others making their way along the mound to gather in front of the palace to enjoy that spectacle too so plenty of expectation there and having attended the parade since he was very young the Duke of York has now completed his second birthday parade as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards it's a good moment for us to catch up with him I spoke to him just a few days ago during the preparations for today's event your old honey is good to talk to you good morning can I test your memory a little to start yes let's have your earliest recollection of the birthday parade oh I must have been I suppose about five or six watching it all unfold from the window if I came Palace and then took and stand on the balcony and and see everybody coming back those are my earliest memories of the troupe how was your perception of the event changed over the years it's interesting because as a child one looks at it is all frightfully exciting as lots of red tunics bear skins old guard a new guard or on parade together until it is over and then having the role of colonel Grenadier Guards thrust upon you I have a completely different appreciation of the effort that everybody puts in not only for their own part in the parade but it's the number of different pieces that fit together can we talk about the role of colonel of the Grenadier Guards because there's a very rich heritage to the role and indeed you're following in the footsteps of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh I don't remember my mother being the colonel and I learnt a lot from what my father has been doing as colonel but you put your own little twist on it and so what I've been working at is getting to know everybody remember that these are household troops these are the people that are the closest to the monarch and the Queen's company is the Queen's bodyguard we have been speaking to quite a few the guardsmen and they all say the same thing really which is that they're impressed by the level of your involvement and your commitment to the role I come from a service background some like I understand how important it is to be able to work with where your men and if you had a ship because I've had you understand what they expect of you it's about making everybody realize that we are all of one company I happen to be a member the royal family but I've been there done it seen it and it's a great privilege as it were to be there whatever describe a ceremonial head I am constantly amazed by the reports that I get from around the world about how the Grenadier is actually perform as a team I am extremely proud to be your colonel and I look forward to seeing many of you as the next couple of years goes by [Music] given that the Grenadier Guards are providing the escort taking center stage that adds a different dimension again to this year's parade for you yes somebody will be with note pads and pens are always are in those against oh yeah when he's done that wrong or oh that was good but I'm looking forward to seeing as it would have my soldiers on parade doing what I can only describe as an absolutely outstanding job what is it in your view that explains the enduring popularity of the print we're very good at pomp and circumstance but there's so much more that underlies all these various parades and we have but just a small cog in a very large machine that is the United Kingdom and what it stands for is it possible for you to enjoy fully enjoy the parade in this role given yes that you've got I've got to think about quite a few things I know you enjoy it there's a sort of half a brain that is working on what's he going to be doing underneath you and you particularly enjoy it when you haven't fallen off and you've got yourself back inside the gates or through the archway of Buckingham Palace that's the moment you can get it was last year all right this is only the second time I've done it so it's going to be an interesting experience you're all highness we wish you well enjoy thank you thank you thank you yes that was the Duke of York describing his involvement with the regiment preparations for today's parade and so to hear about the relationship from the perspective of the Grenadier Guards sonali spoke to their regimental attend colonel before this morning's parade took place major-general Rolly Walker you work very closely with the Duke of York in his role as Colonel of the Grenadier it sounds like he's thrown himself right in we're about a year into his Colonel C and I am amazed by how much time he's given up to spend time with us so he's been really engaged and active colonel do you think his military background has helped that transition into that role I think it's a huge part of it there's instant empathy with with our soldiers granny has been on operations this last year he knows exactly what they're going through what their families have been going through and they can look at him and see someone and realize we're all of one company so there's that mutual respect what did the Grenadier say to you about him I think they're very pleased because he's so visible he's made a real effort to get to know them he's entertained them of all ranks some of our retired veterans as well as the most junior ones so they all know him which is which is a large part of being the Canon over the past couple of hours we've had a lot about the importance of family in the regiment and of course the Duke of York is taking on a role that both his mother and father have had has that helped I think he's got expert advice from two former Colonels and I think it means a huge amount to us that they've kept it in the family now you yourself nine years ago led the parade how proud are you of the regiment today very I'm relieved that I'm not doing it again but no it's a huge day and I know the commanding officer has put a lot of effort into getting this ready and like nine years ago they've just returned from operations and therefore there couldn't be a more fitting way to showcase they returned back to these shores thank you so much for your insight today very much thank you very much indeed back at buckingham palace with a match to the Queen having returned and the royal family now having left the balcony there in the rooms there to enjoy a bit of a reception before the fly past takes place and we have the changing of the guard in the forecourt then we have the Grenadier Guards taking over from the Queen's color squadron of the Royal Air Force having finished the iterate let's take our positions right away and stay on guard until tomorrow and standing prominently to attention in the great art raid the center of Buckingham Palace to symbolize this handover of the guard today Modelling officers respectively of the Queen's color squadron and the Grenadier Guards the first time that the Queen's color squadron of the Royal Air Force has been on guard duty on the day of the birthday parade they have of course behind a guard many times over the years but it's the first time that it's coincided with the birthday parade and their commanding officer today been Oh does we see the ceremony taking place which is very familiar to lots of people who turn up in the morning at Buckingham Palace during the year for one of the main features of London life it's worth underlining again Robert really that military service is something that the Queen places such importance on she does indeed here it's it's it's often said the Windsors really are the ultimate force his family the Queen is the daughter of a Royal Navy officer married to one have children grandchildren have been in the Armed Forces and I think when you sort of spend pretty much every day of your life with someone in uniform often even at the breakfast table following you everywhere your life frequently involves events involving all the Armed Forces it's just it's it becomes second nature and it's incredibly important to her and it matters a great deal to the Armed Forces going back to the veterans we spoke to this week they all of them talked about that their pride in the Queen and the crown and today's servicemen and women all pay tribute to the importance of that bond changing of the guard taking place in lovely sunny weather which reminds us that the conditions can often be a challenge for members of the Armed Forces on a day lighted in me what can often be a sweltering day some 2,000 soldiers on parade and some 300 horses - as we saw thousands of members of the public of course gathering in st. James's Park and around Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace and looking after them is very much a full-time job so we spoke to three individuals each of whom plays a different part in ensuring their welfare and well-being on the day my name's tiny icing and I am the tactical commander for the event of trooping the colour of 2019 on behalf of John Ambulance our job here today is provide medical cover for the public the military and I'm a police in this particular area my name is major O'Hara Telfer I'm the regimental veterinary officer for the house of cavalry mounted regiment and I'm responsible for their health and welfare throughout the parade my name is major in Parsons I'm a cardiology doctor monitoring the guards at the Queen's birthday parade to try and find out why some soldiers are more susceptible to fainting than others and what we can do to prevent it from happening in certain stresses that tend to make it worse are heat and standing upright for a blonde period of time which is very relevant in terms of the Queen's birthday parade and I think if we put my guys in that situation we have to do whatever we can to be able to make life easier for them no one quite knows why the fainting reflex happens we think it's probably just a brain preservation thing it just hits the brakes turns everything off and then down you go so it's not weakness on your part it's just what it is we are working on something at the moment and the Queen's birthday bro it might be a really good way to test that in sort of field research so feel research is always better research because it's much more true to life event control event control from silver they just gotta just confirm that a Foxtrot units are now on the parade grounds it's a well-planned event so it means that the casualties are quite few from a patient point of view it's Lister's carts grazes people that were owned well in the morning but didn't want to miss the event so they come down and they need our assistance the right Jones good tips reporter it's a good weather even though it's quite warm we can't assume that's just the weather there could be an underlying issue there and that's what we will check out is 120 houses a little high syndra ambulance is there for the members of public but it's a senior officer request urgent medical assistance then all members are allowed to attend the parade ground itself we're here to make sure that people go home the whole point of being here is only if something goes wrong if we do we want to provide a quick and safe service for those people [Music] whenever our horses go out for a state occasion we would always take out the veterinary ambulance we very much prepare for the worst and thankfully have never touch with seen it if a horse were to go lame on the parade then our priority is that horses welfare we will take it to one side take all its tack off cool it down give it a drink if it is a severe emergency then at that point the veterinary team will leave the parade and return the horse to barracks just trying to build up a bit of a picture you need to see at what point you're afraid people faint who's more at risk we've got a good idea who we think will be so have you Casey down the rank what you might see something soul just sway about before is no that's not something that ought and has the effect I've been improving their blood supply from their veins back up to the right side of the hop it's one there you can just see with mclees way backwards and forwards like this it's quite subtle the medics here at the standby he obviously seen something sparked their attention so just how long the baton fainted they're what they're trying to do is get him over to the main ambulance point and getting cooled down back on his feet and he'll be right as rain in a couple minutes [Music] this year we adopt some conservative measures tradition all his previously was like they do physical training in the morning that has the effect of decreasing their blood pressure and so I can put the garden more risks water directed the soldiers to increase their salt intake we may actually help before and after picture to see if any of those are good effect having raced up the MAL I'm pleased to say that major parsons has joined me fresh from the parade ground now we saw you in the film taking lots of precautions against fainting did they work today yeah absolutely no faint is today on parade which I'm very pleased to say can't take all the credit because I think it was a bit of a nicer well the weather was certainly less hot than the previous couple of rehearsals so yeah but everything seems to work well we essentially asked the guys to salt load as of Monday and try to get them acclimated as much to be kid to the heat as we know thermal stress is a big thing in making people faint and that you know peers on the job what it does is it increases the plasma volume is the amount of water in the blood and that just means that you can stand up for longer it's a little bit of a trick to hide behind rate you you also just try to sort of understand some of the old wives tales passed down through the generations to try and work out what's useful and what's not useful wicking toes eating sweets that's nothing could you give us any tips on what's not so not useful well the big breakfast I mean it was always a thing that soldiers marched on my stomach actually a big feed we think probably diverts all that blood flow to the gut and then you've not got it all beating out through the heart so we try and just try and work with their commanders to be able to support the guys as much again and one key thing about your research is that it may help operational duties in the future yeah we certainly hope so so I mean it's two extremes of soldiering in a way you've got the ceremonial stuff then you've got the operational and stuff but in a way if you swap the bearskin for a helmet swap the tunic for a body arm and the physiological stresses are very similar and we hope as we move forward with ways to sort of be able to support the plasma volume now the stuff that we're working on it's worth fainting will be useful operations points so one of the main reasons people coming into the hostel when I was deployed in Afghanistan was because of fainting well all the best through the research major partners thank you very much thank you very much just a sense of the pride and the excitement of the day itself and look at that great sight vast crowd making its way along the mall down towards Buckingham Palace with the Queen Victoria Memorial glinting in the sunshine and it's turned out to be a lovely day have to say very soon we'll be in Green Park just to the left of the image there we'll see the Kings troops moving into Green Park for the 41 gun salute why 41 well there's a 21 gun salute for the Queen's official birthday and then they add another 20 gun salute because it's taking place in a Royal Park so the crowds here will hear it very very clearly a 41 gun salute in neighboring green talk which will fill the year skies with sound around Buckingham Palace it'll be heard all through central London because of course the Kings troops fire their guns on all important events ceremonial events including the Queen's actual birthday on the 21st of April we were explaining earlier that today is the official birthday a tradition that was restarted by Edward the seventh one hundred years ago just over a hundred years ago this tradition of organizing the official birthday on a day like today there's no better example really of the reason for the official birthday in June especially for those monarchs who suffered a birthday in the depths of winter as lots of them did so June seemed a better option than November and there you have the the movement of people it's a great flow a great sea of people moving around towards the front gates and the main carriage gates of Buckingham Palace ready for the fly past itself and we caught a glimpse there the Kings troops making their way into Greenland and riah I just think it's worth at this point noting the Kings troop contribution is to a day like today because we were saying earlier it's a relatively recent addition in 1978 but by now they've earned their place as a pretty irreplaceable part of the parade absolutely and those incredible wheat that we can hear the rumbling in the background yes the gum salute they've been such an important part of today and and all week actually we saw and heard the amazing gun salutes for the state with President Trump state visit earlier in this week and they are something they are one of those sights and spectacles that everyone really looks forward to seeing and hearing on the day it's such an extraordinary sight and sound the King Street War Horse Artillery you know so many of them very well and I'm just wondering what is their attitude to taking part in events like this well I've been lucky enough to spend much more time here with the household category and the household cavalry and for them it is such an honor to take part they are of course the most senior Regiment in the army the Queen's Monarchs personal guard it's a very proud day for all of them and as I mentioned earlier on the key thing to remember about the house recovery which you can sometimes forget on days like this which is all about ceremony is that they are part of the house of division they are the only operational and mounted ceremony regiment in the world these are men and women you have served and will serve on operations abroad they are fully trained in reconnaissance and tanks of course they're all moving shortly from Windsor to bull furred on the armoured side say for the household cavalry it's a very important reminder of their connection with the Queen but also the dual role which they hold well one of the traditional birthday celebrations is the announcement of the new Honours List of course among them we have Warrant Officer only Hut who gets the meritorious service medal today mention of Li because he plays a crucial role in organising the birthday parade and dimension to to our friend David Cole who's the director music of the Royal British Legion but lots of other deserving recipients of awards as well today congratulations to all of them and sonali's been joined by guest who has a special reason to celebrate today that's right look who has a very big smile on her face today I'm with the BBC's Culture Arts an entertainment correspondent Brenda amana's who has won been awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and diversity when did you find out congratulation I found out I think it's approximately a month ago now so I've had to keep a secret till then which has been the hardest thing ever and who was the first person you told it had to be my mom my mom and the look on her face I think was worth it all I mean that's what it was all about for me really they my mom's obviously postman Tasha generation they came here so for eight had better themselves and for better for us so to be able to say hey Gayle look what I've done and to see her response I know what it means for her and the validation is important to her so I'm delighted to be making her happy Bonnie this morning do you know when you'll be visiting the palace I don't you know I don't know a thing about the protocol from here or I didn't even know what to do when I got the letter it was a bit of a shock and it was a formal letter it was a white land show and it wasn't brown so I knew it wasn't bad news and it took a while to get used to it and it took a while to learn to keep my mouth shut I'm not saying anything so what happens next not sure i think i'm panicking about what to wear you've been working very hard outside of your BBC commitments trying to increase diversity talking so much about the importance of arts do you think it will actually just aid your work I hope it does I really do I mean I'm passionate about the arts and I'm passionate about people but community arts community I think arts at the trance there's a transformative I think it's important I think it brings us all together and to be able to use that to push my passion for inclusion it's it's just a gift really I think we all have our own unique DNA's we all have something to offer and I think all we ever want is the opportunity to do our best and be our best and that's what it's about for me that's what diversity and inclusion is about and to be able to do that's amazing well many congratulations again thing all of us thank you in Green Park King's Troop preparing to fire the first round the blood okay commanding officer major Harry Wallace is the one giving the orders right the interval between each round of fires ten seconds each round counted and marked on a leather pad Kings troops warring it's important part in today's celebrations of the Queen's official birthday we're looking ahead to the appearance of the royal family on the balcony of buckingham palace there's be no last month the royal family welcomed its youngest member into the world the birth of the archie harrison mountbatten-windsor and over the years we've seen many royal youngsters making their first appearance on the balcony at the birthday parade [Applause] [Music] young Bonnie Prince Charlie is a thrill spectator watching his mother received the traditional owners of a sovereign [Music] the March pastor to panis was barely over when down came the rain anyway the tribes ignored the weather they wanted to see the royal family on the balcony [Applause] now of course the crowds are waiting to see between on the balcony when she appears to they're loudly expressed in life she has three months old can't ever get her his first taste of a life final public occasion and the moment all the crowd have been waiting for the Prince of Wales carrying Prince William what an amazing sight you take Harris is the princess and there our blimp servants George in his first appearance on this balcony it's the first time we've seen a sovereign and three future sovereigns together in public [Applause] the first appearance on that balcony for Princess Charlotte with the Duchess of Cambridge [Music] the royal standard the immense rose under fluttering the breeze above Buckingham Palace telling us that the queen is in residence as we will find out in just a moment if there'll be any first appearances on this balcony but before we talk about those is also worth Robert noting that one of the veteran observers if I can call him that the Prince of Wales is also in a very significant year the 50th anniversary of his investiture as Prince of Wales indeed you yes and this is a great week of anniversaries it's important to look ahead to the end of the month and it will be 50 years since they're great at Caernarfon Castle and when he was invested as Prince of Wales and he'd be gained back to Wales at the end of the month um this time not to canal van in fact but he's going to de-spawn G which which is also celebrating 50 years it was 50 years since Swansea was given city status the prince conferred of himself after he'd been invested he went on a tour of Wales went to Swansea in and made Swansea a city so he's going back there will be welcomed by charities from from all over Wales and he will go Tara wells as indeed he does every summer I think he's been to llandaff Cathedral and which I'm sure you know Hugh well very well fine place and he's going to visit sir the home of them think the great the great Welsh toads could win so it'll be a week of great Welsh events but yes thinking back to that extraordinary day in the summer of 69 in the space of a month you had three amazing things you had man landing on the moon you had the first ever royal documentary and yet you had this came back this theme of ancient modern there in the ramparts of Caernarfon castle you had the Queen priming her son as Prince of Wales modeled of course on the great ceremony invented by David Lloyd George before a previous Prince of Wales back in 1911 athili right which which in turn had sort of drawn various influences from King back too far you watch this was far better than mine but I think knowing blurred out her and we are we expecting any surprises and disappearance I've just seen some lovely photos of Prince Louie with Princess Charlotte watching from behind a curtain watching his father treat her back down the master I think we are going to see fingers crossed Prince Gary make his debut on that balcony which will be quite lovely sight well that will indeed because we've been looking at term the debuts on the balcony for lots of royal children over the years and ages do very so this would be quite a young appearance it will be he just celebrated his first birthday just last month but it will be the same age roughly as Princess Charlotte and Prince George made their debut just just under and over one so lovely lovely the first time we've seen all three Cambridge children on the balcony with some of their cousins and Prince Larry will be sing wonderful fly pasture it's pretty old always so enjoys [Music] looking up into the sky is where we see the fly past starting to form high above the skies over central London and waiting for the year the Queen to lead other members they're all family out onto that famous balcony to greet the crowds of course and they'll be delighted with the sight but of course - and be there in time in good time for the flight paths to take place I don't want to miss it up there we can see the windows opening and her Majesty ready to [Music] urghhh relatives a close family onto the balcony it's out to a great roar of applause from the crowd below [Music] [Applause] Prince of Wales Colonel of the Welsh Guards Duke of York as we mentioned earlier talking to him about his role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards and there we have the new appearance absolutely princely making his debut on on Bath me that's a very lovely sight Duchess of Cambridge just holding him close and very sweet little outfit which looks very reminiscent of an outfit that you could cambridge war when the balcony when he was little nipper oh look he's having a good look and he clearly likes the fly past and he's perfected his royal wave you jika Cambridge will be encouraged by that he's spoken of his hopes the board his children boys and the girl will be involved in the Armed Forces one day Prince knew he looks like he's well on board with that plan so we have the formation of helicopters we have a puma piloted by squad leader liam Glaspie and flight lieutenant Caryn's it conducted his flight training alongside Prince William in 2009/10 and we have the Chinook of course see the Dutchess of Sussex there again on the balcony item public for the first time since today since about the Archie it's like the Philips children there have their flying book which they always ever be a squatting on planes and helicopters the BAE 146 regularly used to transport the royal family of course and senior government ministers across the world as well as military commanders on the front line in typhoon fgr fours reaching across the sky towards Buckingham Palace the royal family waiting just be look at the tighten formation Lucca Cambridge just pointing out as they wait for the spectacular phenom the red arrows streaming red white and blue as they will do over Buckingham Palace for this Queens birthday parade of 2019 and water cite that is [Applause] [Music] not just a great sight but a great sound as well as they Thunder through the skies thoroughly enjoyed by her majesty the royal family will stay on the balcony for the final royal salute of this birthday parade a huge round of applause for the fly past and the applause joined in there by the youngest member on the balcony itself very proudly waving and really getting into the royal habit pretty quickly queen Kaylee's enjoyed the parade today and acknowledging the cheers of the crowds [Applause] it's very absolutely loving what's going on very abused lasted entering the spirit fully I think absolutely and so the Queen's birthday parade is over it's the 67th of Her Majesty's reign marked by a really great display of precision and style on horse guards and the memorable sight of the vast crowds here at Buckingham Palace wishing Her Majesty a very happy birthday don't forget you can enjoy it all again our highlights program is on BBC 2 this evening at 7:30 but for now from my special guest Lieutenant Colonel Vince gaunt Robert Hardman and Roy Anika and indeed everyone on the BBC team at the Queen's Birthday parade thank you for watching and good bye you

Channel: BBC

Views: 3,005,718

Rating: 4.7124352 out of 5

Keywords: commonwealth countries, A Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day watch online, prince william and harry, prince william, prince william and kate middleton, kate middleton, westminster abbey service, westminster abbey choir, westminster abbey organ, royal family, special coverage, Meghan Markle, prince harry and meghan markle kiss, state landau, Prince Harry, british pageantry, monarchy, carriage parade, live from westminster abbey, The Queen's Birthday Parade

Id: 6DGNtgDV2R8

Length: 154min 53sec (9293 seconds)

Published: Sat Jun 08 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/mountaintribesman]

I couldn't help but notice the demographics of the parade: it looks over 99% white British. I think that is a good reason why it is accurate to say that London is not an English city.