Editing Trooping the Colour (section)

=== 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.