British Ceremonial

Trooping the Color and Queens Jubilee.

The Trooping of the Color, which has its roots in the ceremony used for guard mounting from Horse Guards Parade, London in the eighteenth century, was first performed on a Sovereign's birthday for King George III.

Throughout Queen Victoria's reign the Foot Guards performed this same ceremonial in honour of her birthday (24th May) and it has continued to be held ever since on a day set aside as The Sovereign's Official Birthday.

To commemorate the Jubilee, Britains have specially commissioned this series of five colours, one from each of the Guards Regiments. The Queen came to the throne on 6 February 1952 and her coronation took place on 2 June 1953. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee (25 years) in 1977 and her Golden Jubilee (50 years) in 2002. The only other British monarch to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee was Queen Victoria in 1897.