In a highly anticipated announcement, Buckingham Palace has revealed plans for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year, including a rearranged Trooping The Colour.
Trooping the Colour is usually held annually on the second Saturday of June. It is The Sovereign’s Birthday Parade, despite the fact it takes place month after The Queen’s actual birthday on April 21st.
However, next year’s parade will be moved from Saturday 11th June to Thursday 2nd of June so that is falls on the bumper bank holiday weekend to mark The Queen’s 70 years on the throne.
In 2012 for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, Trooping The Colour was moved to the third Saturday of the month rather than the second Saturday. This will be the first time that the event has been held on a Thursday.
The Queen’s Birthday Parade is one of the highlights of the British royal year, with tradition, ceremony and community mixing up in a unique celebration. Trooping the Colour starts at Buckingham Palace, from which The Queen and members of The Royal Family depart in carriages and on horseback to get to Horse Guards Parade, travelling along The Mall, usually with thousands of people lined up to cheer.
At Horse Guards, there are a few stands for spectators, which includes politicians and institutional figures, but also members of the public who managed to get hold of a ticket in the stands. Over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will take part in the 2022 parade, which will end, as usual, with the entire Royal Family watching an RAF fly-past from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Trooping the Colour was severely restricted in 2020 due to the ongoing global health emergency, and once again, will take place in a highly reduced format in 2021, with the parade taking place in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle instead of Horse Guards, and fewer military members being present. The only difference from last year is that The Queen will not be alone on this occasion, with her cousin, the Duke of Kent, by her side.
