The Queen's Birthday Parade; Megan Makes First Appearance Post Archie's Birth

Today is Her Majesty The Queen’s Official Birthday!

The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on the 21st of April and her official birthday which falls on the second Saturday of June. This will be the Queen’s 66th TroopingtheColour as sovereign and has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years.

This event celebrates The Queen's Birthday as she travels with momentous military parade down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade then back to the Buckingham Palace again for the Balcony fly past.

Royal Colonels: The Prince of Wales (Welsh Guards), The Duke of Cambridge (Irish Guards), The Duke of York (Grenadier Guards) and The Princess Royal (The Blues and Royals) accompanied Her Majesty on horseback, along with The Duke of Kent, Royal Colonel of (Scots Guards)

The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex along with Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, are also in attendance at Trooping the Colour.

Regimental flags of the British Army were historically described as ‘Colours’ because they displayed the uniform Colours and insignia worn by the soldiers of different units. The name ‘Colour’ continues to be used to this day.

The principal role of a regiment’s Colours was to provide a rallying point on the battlefield. This was important because, without modern communications, it was all too easy for troops to become disoriented and separated from their unit during conflict.

If Troops were to know what their Regiment’s Colours looked like, it was necessary to display them regularly. The way in which this was done was for young officers to march in between the ranks of troops formed up in lines with the Colours held high. This is the origin of the word ‘trooping’. So, what today is a great tradition began life as a vital and practical parade designed to aid unit recognition before a battle commenced.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, who wore Givenchy and Noel Stewart hat was radiant in her new mum glow as she joins Harry at her second Trooping the Colour, her first public appearance since Archie’s birth.