Hundreds of soldiers in ceremonial red uniforms and enormous black bearskin hats saluted Queen Elizabeth II at a pomp-filled parade for the official commemoration of her birthday Saturday.
The Trooping the Colour at the Horseguard's Parade ground is one of Britain's most spectacular annual displays of royal pageantry, held to mark to sovereign's birthday. While Elizabeth actually turned 77 on April 21, the public celebrations are always held on a Saturday in June.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The monarch, wearing a bright blue coat and hat with white gloves, rode from Buckingham Palace down the Mall in an open carriage pulled by two white horses. Thousands gathered to watch under sunny blue skies.
The queen, seated next to her husband Prince Philip, rolled into the Horseguard's grounds at precisely 11am, followed on horseback by Princess Anne and Prince Charles wearing the uniforms of the regiments they head as Colonels-in-Chief. Other senior royals attending included Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, and Charles' sons Princes William and Harry.
After disembarking to mount a reviewing stand while troops played God Save the Queen, Elizabeth climbed back into her carriage to inspect the troops.
The ceremony, which lasted about an hour, dates from the early 18th century. Every year, a regiment is chosen to present its color, or flag, to the monarch. This year it was the Grenadier Guards.
Trooping originated centuries ago, when flag carriers would march through ranks of soldiers on the eve of battle so all would be able to recognize their banner during fighting the next day.
The queen has attended the annual parade every year of her reign, except 1955 when a national rail strike forced its cancellation.
The hundreds of soldiers who take part are fully trained, operational troops, although specialists in ceremonial duties.
They performed intricate marching maneuvers for the queen before she led them down the Mall back toward Buckingham Palace.
Then Elizabeth and her family gathered on the palace balcony to hear a gun salute from nearby Green Park and watch 11 Royal Air Force planes fly overhead in an airborne salute.
The queen also released her annual list of birthday honors Saturday.
She gave James Bond spy movie hero Roger Moore a knighthood and made dames, the female equivalent, of actress Helen Mirren, renowned chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall and Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop cosmetics chain.
The honors are bestowed by the queen but largely selected by the government.
Pop star Sting was made a CBE, or Commander of the British Empire, along with fashion designer Alexander McQueen. Television's Naked Chef, Jamie Oliver, became an MBE, or Member of the Order of British Empire.
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