Editing Trooping the Colour (section)

==Ceremonial commands and troop movements==
The entire parade is supervised by the [[Field Officer in Brigade Waiting]] (sometimes shortened to "Field Officer"), with the assistance of the [[Second-in-Command|Brigade Major]] and the [[Adjutant]], all on horseback, and joined by the London District Garrison Sergeant Major, who is unmounted and coordinates the proceedings of the ceremony.

=== March on ===
[[Image:Marker on Horseguards.jpg|thumb|Colour marker point marching at end of parade]]

A detail of guardsmen bearing marker flags marches on, to mark the positions of Nos. 1-6 Guards. (These marker flags are the respective company colours from each regiment.)

Preceded by their regimental bands, Nos. 1-6 Guards march into position. No. 1 Guard is "Escort for the Colour."

*Nos. 1-5 Guards align in two ranks on the west side of the parade ground facing [[Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards Building]].
*No. 6 Guard lines up perpendicular to them on the north side, thus making an "L" shape. Up to eight Guards companies may take part. Nos. 7 and 8 Guards, if present, would line up next to No. 6 Guard. In 2009, to reflect the successful recruitment efforts of the Irish Guards, there were seven Guards on [[Horse Guards Parade|Horse Guards]].<ref>BBC1 television commentary, 13 June 2009</ref>
*The massed bands are on the south side, by the gardens of [[10 Downing Street]].
*Adjacent to No. 6 Guard is the Colour Party made up of 3 soldiers. A snare drummer joins them in the march on. As the party takes its place the drummer marches off and the colour's casing is removed, revealing the colour to be trooped.
*The King's Troop, the Household Cavalry, and their mounted band form up behind Nos. 1-5 Guards.{{efn|group=note|2011 marked the first time that the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery did not attend the ceremony since its first appearance in 1997.  Instead, they performed the gun salutes on the anniversary of the Queen's coronation (2 June) and on the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday the day before. The job of handling the salutes was entrusted to the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] in the Tower of London grounds with a 62-gun Royal Salute as per tradition.}}

With the foot guards in their home service order and the mounted band in state dress uniform, the assembled ranks of Household Division make a colourful spectacle.

Guards half-companies line up on the road to Horse Guards Parade to provide security to the Royal Family that will arrive later and to the marching and mounted contingents.

===Arrival of the sovereign===
[[File:190608-D-PB383-026 (48024991393).jpg|thumb|Carriage carrying the then [[Queen Camilla|Duchess of Cornwall]], [[Catherine, Princess of Wales|Duchess of Cambridge]] and the [[Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex|Duke]] and [[Meghan, Duchess of Sussex|Duchess of Sussex]], June 2019]]
Preceding the sovereign, senior members of the [[royal family]] arrive in [[barouche]]s to view the ceremony from a central first floor window in the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]]'s former office in [[Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards]] Building. This procession turns at the [[Guards Memorial]], and No. 3 Guard has opened ranks to allow their carriages to pass through.
   
[[Image:ElizabethIItroopingcolour.jpg|thumb|left|[[Elizabeth II]] riding to Trooping the Colour for the last time in 1986 on her horse [[Burmese (horse)|Burmese]]. She travelled in a carriage of the [[Royal Mews]] for the remainder of her reign.]]

Preceded by the [[Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment|Sovereign's Escort]], the King (Colonel-in-Chief) will journey from Buckingham Palace down [[The Mall (London)|the Mall]], on horseback. Directly behind the King in the Royal Procession ride the [[Royal Colonels]]— [[William, Prince of Wales]] (Welsh Guards), [[Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh]] (Scots Guards),<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Victoria Ward |user=victoria_ward |number=1668509202271330306 |title= The Duke of Edinburgh to ride on horseback in Trooping the Colour parade as Royal Colonel of the London Guards}}</ref> [[Anne, Princess Royal]] (The Blues and Royals). In a carriage behind the procession ride [[Queen Camilla]] (Grenadier Guards) and [[Catherine, Princess of Wales]] (Irish Guards){{snd}}who are followed by the non-royal Colonels of Regiments (those of the Coldstream Guards and The Life Guards). Other officers of the [[Household Division]] and of the [[Royal Households of the United Kingdom|Royal Household]] follow, all mounted, including the [[Master of the Horse]], the [[Major-General commanding the Household Division]] with his [[chief of staff]] and [[aide-de-camp]], [[Silver Stick]]-in-Waiting, the regimental [[adjutant]]s and a number of the King's [[Equerry|equerries]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} As the King passes by the Colour of the unit being trooped, he salutes it.

As the King arrives, the Royal Standard is prepared to be released and flown from the roof of [[Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards]]. The King then will alight at the Saluting Base to start the ceremonies.

The field officer commences the parade with the command: "Guards – Royal Salute – Present Arms!" and the [[national anthem]] ([[God Save The King]]) is played by the Household Division's Foot Guards Massed Bands, led by the senior director of music of the Household Division. Simultaneously, the Royal Standard is formally released and flies from the Horse Guards flagpole.

===Inspection of the line===
[[Image:Trooping the Colour Inspection.JPG|thumb|250px|The Queen inspects the foot guards, the Royal Colonels following her. Foreground: backs of No. 6 Guard. Background: garden of 10 Downing Street and massed bands.]]  
The King then rides off from the saluting base before and behind the long line of assembled guards, with the Royal Colonels following.  [[BBC]] television commentaries every year emphasise the King's knowledge of the attributes of his guards, and single out "steadiness" as a highly prized quality for a guardsman.

The accompanying marches always carry a flavour of the regiment whose colour is being trooped on the day, lending the royal inspection a unique atmosphere. For example, if the Welsh Guards are trooping their colour, the music will include their traditional regimental march, ''[[Men of Harlech]]''. While the King passes the six companies of foot guards on his left, a slow march or [[Air (music)|air]] is played. Once the [[phaeton (carriage)|phaeton]] turns around the rear of No. 6 Guard, the music changes to a quick march. The King travels back up the line, passing the Household Cavalry and King's Troop stationed on his right, saluting the Sovereign's Standard of the Household Cavalry and the lead gun of the King's Troop in quick succession acknowledging their presence on the field. The inspection completed, the music ceases, and he is conveyed back to the saluting base.

=== Massed bands troop ===
{{See also|#Spinwheel of the massed bands}}
[[Image:Band Trooping the Colour, 16th June 2007.jpg|thumb|left|Massed bands of the foot guards, 16 June 2007]]
With the monarch once more mounted at the saluting base, the command "Troop!" is given by the Field Officer. This is not to be confused with the trooping of the colour itself, which occurs later in the ceremony. Three strikes on a [[bass drum]] give the signal for the Massed Bands to start their march in the field.

The Guards, after standing at attention, change arms. Under the command of the [[Drum major (marching band)|Senior Drum Major]], the Massed Bands march and countermarch on Horse Guards Parade in slow and quick time. The slow march music is traditionally the Waltz from ''[[Les Huguenots]]''. During the quick march segment, a lone drummer from the Corps of Drums breaks away from the massed bands, marching to two paces to the right of No. 1 Guard to take his post while the band marches on, stopping just near the colour party.

The Trooping of the Colour phase of the ceremony is initiated by the lone drummer's eight-bar "Drummer's Call", signalling the [[Captain (land)|Captain]] of No. 1 Guard to cede his command to the [[Subaltern (military)|Subaltern]] of No. 1 Guard and move to take his new position at the right of No. 2 Guard. It slopes arms, while the Field Officer directs the other companies present to change arms and stand at ease. The call having been sounded, the lone drummer returns to his position in the Massed Bands.

=== Escort for the Colour obtains the colour ===
[[Image:The Colour Hand Over.jpg|left|thumb|250px|In the centre, holding his sword and the Colour, the Regimental Sgt-Major of No. 1 Guard. Behind him, wearing a white flag belt, the Ensign waits to receive the Colour, standing in front of No. 1 Guard. To the right, the Massed Bands.]]  
As Escort for the Colour, No. 1 Guard performs the centrepiece of the parade.

An orderly takes the [[pace stick]] from the Regimental Sergeant-Major (RSM), positioned behind the Escort for the Colour, thus freeing the RSM to draw his sword – the only time a British Army infantry [[warrant officer]] ever does so on parade. The Subaltern then commands No. 1 Guard to move into close order, and then dresses it. Then, led by the Subaltern with the Ensign following, and with the Regimental Sergeant-Major marching behind the company, the Escort for the Colour quick marches onto the field to "[[The British Grenadiers]]". (This tune is always used irrespective of which regiment's colour is being trooped, because the right flank of every battalion used to be a grenadier company.) A guardsman behind the colour party marches forward towards the Colour Sergeant of the colour party at the same time during the Escort approaching then hands over the rifle to the Colour Sergeant, salutes the colour and leaves the parade ground. The Escort marks time while the Massed Bands "clear the line of march" <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/trooping/trooping.htm|title=Trooping of the Colour|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> and move to the front of the Guards and mark time. Fifteen steps away from the Colour Party, the music halts and four paces later, the 'Escort for the Colour' halts in place, and is ordered to open ranks and dressed, followed by the Massed Bands making an about turn.

The guards are then called to attention and then change and slope arms under the direction of the Field Officer, while the Household Cavalry are also called to attention by the commander of the Sovereign's Escort.

The RSM marches around to the front of the Escort and, followed by the Ensign, approaches the Colour Party. Having saluted the colour with his sword, the Sergeant-Major takes it from the Colour Sergeant, freeing him to change and then slope arms. The RSM turns, marches to the Ensign, and presents the colour to him. The Ensign salutes the colour with his sword, sheathes the sword without taking his eyes off the colour, and takes possession of it.

Having obtained their colour, No. 1 Guard (formerly known as "Escort ''for'' the Colour") is now termed "Escort ''to'' the Colour." By then, the massed bands, now with the line cleared, face front, with the Corps of Drums, pipe bands and the senior director of music leading.

=== Positioning of the Escort to troop its colour ===
To the first six bars of "God Save the King", the Escort to the Colour presents arms.  Simultaneously, turning outward at an angle of 45°, the NCOs (non-commissioned officers) at the four corners (or flanks) of the Escort port arms, described in annual television commentary and analysis as "protection" for the colour.

The Escort to the Colour and Colour Party slope arms. The Colour Sergeant marches to the right and to the rear of the Escort. Once the Colour Party, Ensign and Regimental Sergeant-Major have joined the Escort, the RSM repositions himself to the left of and behind the Escort. The Subaltern then orders the Escort to change arms and orders the slow march. The Massed Bands turn about.

==== Spinwheel of the massed bands ====
As the Escort to the Colour slow-marches down the field towards No. 6 Guard to begin their colour trooping, the massed bands perform their unique anti-clockwise "[[Spin Wheel|spinwheel]]" manoeuvre. This, a 90° turn in restricted space, is performed while playing the slow march "Escort to the Colour."

The celebrated spinwheel is largely individual and instinctive:  <blockquote>A 'wheel' is not an easy manoeuvre with even a small body of troops, and with a block of 400 men the normal wheel is impossible. The massed band therefore pivots on its own centre, so that certain outer ranks and files march long distances in a hurry while the centre and inner ranks loiter with extreme intent, or merely mark time. Yet others not only step sideways but backwards as well. This highly complex movement is called a 'spin-wheel', the details of which can be found in no drill book or manual of ceremonial. Its complexity defies description, and if the truth were known, many of the participants know not whither they go or, on arrival, how they got there. The spin-wheel is almost an art form and each performance of it, although similar in essentials, is different in detail. Most of the performers are adjusting their actions to suit the needs of the spin-wheel of the moment, having adjusted their movements quite otherwise on other occasions.<ref>Lieutenant-Colonel Rodney Bashford (former (1960–1970) Director of Music for the Grenadier Guards), quoted on {{cite web|url=http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/trooping/trooping.htm#spin/|title=The Massed Bands' Spin-Wheel manoeuvre|access-date=5 June 2010}}</ref></blockquote>
  
Once the Escort reaches the edge of No. 6 Guard, the music stops, and the [[Field Officer in Brigade Waiting]] orders the entire parade (except the Escort) to present arms as the trooping proper starts. The music changes to "The Grenadiers' Slow March."

===Trooping the colour through the ranks===
To the strains of the Grenadiers Slow March, the Escort to the Colour then troops the colour down the long line of Nos. 6-2 Guards. The colour itself is borne by the Ensign in front of the line of guards, but the ranks of the Escort interweave with their ranks. For Nos. 6-2 Guards, who maintain the 'present arms' position, the long trooping, especially on a hot day, requires stamina.{{efn|group=note|When the colour passes the spectators, members of the British and foreign armed services, and military attachés of the [[diplomatic corps]] salute the colour, as is customary in the British Army.}} As this is done the Massed Bands move back in slow time to their original places.

Eventually the Escort arrives back at its original position as No. 1 Guard – from where it first marched off in quick time. Their Captain, who had temporarily ceded his command to the Subaltern, resumes his command over No. 1 Guard by ordering them to present arms, thus bringing the Escort back in line with Nos. 2-6 Guards. The entire parade is now ordered by the Field Officer to slope arms, thus concluding the trooping phase.

The trooping phase is followed by the march-past in slow and quick time of the foot guards and then the Household Cavalry and King's Troop, also in slow and quick time.

=== Preparing for the march-past ===
[[File:Trooping the Colour form march past.JPG|thumb|right|From front to back: Guards Nos. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 in ranks of two. Background at left: massed bands.]]
The Field Officer gives the command, "Officers, take post." Nos. 1 to 5 Guard then "retire", about-turning and right-forming into review formation, following which the Adjutant commands "Guides, steady", giving signal to the company guides to resume their positions. Nos. 1 to 5 Guard then about-turn again as the [[Corps of Drums]] play. Since No. 6 Guard is already standing at right angles to the other five companies it does not need to execute this movement, but instead it moves close-order position then to the right in threes after Nos. 1 to 5 Guards turn back to advance position.{{efn|group=note|Also, as No. 6 Guard is always formed on the left of the line by the Coldstream Guards if present, by tradition they do not recognize the command to "retire".}}

Once intervals are established, the Field Officer salutes the King and informs him that the foot guards are ready to march past, then after turning about, commands, "Guards will march past in slow and quick time... Slow march!" No. 6 Guard will then left turn to be advance and then form two ranks on marching after the parade has started to execute the slow march.

=== Foot guards march past in slow and quick time ===
[[Image:March Past in Slow Time.jpg|thumb|right|Footguards march past in Slow Time at the Colonel's Review in 2008.]]
No. 1 Guard – the Escort – leads the six companies for two circuits of Horse Guards Parade, saluting the King as they pass. The corners of the field are negotiated with the complex Left Form manoeuvre. Commands of "Change direction – left!" are then followed by the Left Guide (or Right Guide) of each Guard signalling "Right Sir!" to the Captain that the company has reached the position, the Captain will immediately orders "Left...Form!"<ref>See video of "Left Form" at {{cite web| url=http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/trooping/marchpast.htm|title=The March Past of the Footguards|access-date=14 June 2010}}</ref>

At the end of both the slow and quick march-past, the Field Officer rides out to salute the King with his sword, telling him that His Majesty's Guards have ended their march-past.

====Slow march-past====
Neutral slow marches start and conclude this section as the Massed Bands march into the centre of the field to take their places. The guards are preceded past the saluting base by the [[Field Officer in Brigade Waiting|Field Officer]] and the [[Second-in-Command|Major of the Parade]], who salute the King with their swords and eyes right.

To the strains of their regimental slow marches, each of Nos. 1-6 Guards passes before the King with their eyes right, their regimental officers saluting with swords. The leading company, No. 1 Guard – the Escort to the Colour – has a particular honour. The Ensign lowers the colour – the 'flourish'. The King acknowledges it with a bow of the head, and the [[Royal Colonels]] salute the colour. Once past the saluting base, the colour is raised again – the 'recover' – and "eyes front" is ordered.

Each company's salute is acknowledged by the King and the Royal Colonels.

====Quick march-past====
For this circuit, the colour is at the rear of the Escort (No. 1 Guard), protected by the Colour Party. Their regimental quick marches are played as each guard passes before the King with eyes right.{{efn|group=note|When the Scots or Irish Guards troop their colours, the regimental pipers move to the front of the massed bands for the march past in quick time. If there are pipers present when another regiment troops, then the pipers remain at the rear of the massed band.}} However, this being a quick march, the officers do not salute with swords, but only with the eyes right instead. As with the slow march-past, neutral marches start and conclude this section, and the Colour is marched on past the saluting base as the King and Queen and Royal Colonels salute it.

The massed bands, led by the Corps of Drums and the pipes and drums, march away to allow the mounted bands on to the ground. By then, the foot guards have ended their march, and are now back in place and dressed.

===Mounted troops ride past===
[[Image:Troopingthecolour.jpg|thumb|Blues and Royals, one of the two regiments of the Household Cavalry, in their characteristic red plumes and dark blue uniforms]]

The now sole Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry in state dress, led by the two drum horses{{efn|group=note|The kettledrum players must manoeuvre the reins of the drum horses with their feet.}} representing the two constituent regiments of the Household Cavalry, and the Director of Music of the Household Cavalry, ride slowly on to the field, traditionally to the tune "Preobrajensky."

It is the turn of Household Cavalry and King's Troop to complete two circuits of Horse Guards Parade. For the horses, slow and quick time correspond to a walk-march and a sitting-trot, respectively. Since 1997, the mounted contingent is led by the commander of the King's Troop and then by the Sovereign's Escort commander.

In both turns of the ride past the Foot Guards present arms as per the Field Officer's orders. The order of march past follows the arrangement of the Sovereign's Escort for the year.

====Walk-march====
Salutes are again given to the King, and returned by him, the Queen, and the Royal Colonels to the colours as they pass by.

The Royal Horse Artillery, marching to the "Royal Artillery Slow March" and then the "March from ''Aida''", is first, taking precedence over all other units when on parade with its guns. When the King's Troop passes the saluting base, the King acknowledges the leading gun as the colour.

The Life Guards, in red jackets and white plumes, are next, followed by The Blues and Royals, in blue jackets and red plumes. Officers salute their sabres on the eyes right in this segment. The sequence of regimental marches is: "Life Guards' Slow March", followed by "Blues and Royals' Slow March", and then "The Royals."

Riding at the rear of the Household Cavalry are the [[farrier]]s, one for each regiment, carrying their glinting axes<ref>[http://www.householdcavalry.info/horses.html#farrier The Farrier] at Household Cavalry Information (non-official)</ref> and flanked by a soldier of each regiment. (The Life Guards farrier wears a black plume rather than the usual regimental white, and a blue tunic rather than red.)

The two Household Cavalry regiments take turns to parade and the job of parading the King's Cavalry Standard of either of the two regiments alternates yearly between the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. As the standard passes by, it is flourished (dipped), in the presence of the King and Queen and the Royal Colonels and after walking past them is recovered.

====Trot-past====
A state trumpeter of either of the two Household Cavalry regiments plays "The Trot" to signal the beginning of the sitting trot-past.  "[[The Keel Row]]" is traditionally played, and much dust is raised by the horses. Both the King's Troop's lead gun and the King's Cavalry Standard (not dipped) are trotted past the King and the royal colonels, who are saluted with eyes right.

As the trot-past ends the mounted band salutes the King, the drumhorse riders crossing their drumsticks above their heads. They then proceed back to the east side of Horse Guards Parade and halt in place.

===Preparing for march-off===

[[File:King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.JPG|thumb|Members of King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, returning along [[The Mall, London|the Mall]]]]

Their director of music turns inwards on his horse as a signal to the Field Officer that the Household Cavalry and the King's Troop are now in position to formally end the proceedings under the command of the Field Officer.

During the final Royal Salute, as the parade renders their birthday wishes from all 7 regiments of the Household Division to their colonel-in-chief, the colour of No. 1 Guard is lowered to the ground by the Ensign while "God Save the King" is played by the Massed Bands. Forming divisions once more, accompanied by the Corps of Drums, the guards prepare to march off, and the Household Cavalry and the King's Troop leave the field. The Field Officer, after forming the parade for the march-off, then rides towards the saluting base, informing the King that the guards are ready to march off the field while the RSM of the Escort returns his sword into his scabbard as an orderly returns to him his pace stick.

The [[King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery]], leaves Horse Guards Parade and proceeds to [[Green Park]] (adjacent to Buckingham Palace) to formally commence the royal 41-gun [[Gun salute|salute]]. At the same time in the Tower of London, the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] (HAC) takes its positions in the tower grounds for the special 62-gun salute that will be happen when the King arrives. This gun salute is only done by the HAC during royal anniversaries.

===Marching off===
Led by the massed bands, the King places himself at the head of his foot guards. The entire parade of 1,000 soldiers and 400 musicians marches up the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The Markers then march off the grounds carrying the regimental company colours on the marker flags. The King's Troop and the HAC, now in place, get ready to commence firing their respective gun salutes during the Royal Family's arrival at the palace. At the same time, the old and new King's Guards, now performing the Changing of the Guard in the palace forecourt at the same time as the ceremony being done, also prepare for the royal carriages' arrival and to salute the King on horseback when he arrives.