LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II is marking her official birthday with the annual Trooping the Colour parade, a traditional display of British pageantry.
About 1,400 soldiers in ceremonial scarlet coats and bearskin hats march past the queen in a ceremony on Horse Guards Parade in Westminster.
Royals taking part included Prince Charles, Prince William and his wife Kate, and Prince Harry and his wife Meghan.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth rides in a carriage to attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Trooping the Colour is the Queen’s Birthday Parade and one of the nation’s most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Thousands of spectators have lined the parade ground and gathered in nearby St. James’s park to watch the spectacle.
The ceremony originated from traditional preparations for battle. The colours — or flags — were “trooped,” or carried down the lines of soldiers, so they could be seen and recognised in battle. The regimental flag being paraded this year is from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.
Britain’s Prince Charles, right, and Prince William attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Trooping the Colour is the Queen’s Birthday Parade and one of the nation’s most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family(/PA via AP)
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth rides in a carriage to attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Trooping the Colour is the Queen’s Birthday Parade and one of the nation’s most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Soldiers march to attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Trooping the Colour is the Queen’s Birthday Parade and one of the nation’s most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain’s Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, left, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex ride in a carriage to attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Trooping the Colour is the Queen’s Birthday Parade and one of the nation’s most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Britain’s Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry ride in a carriage to attend the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London, Saturday, June 8, 2019. Trooping the Colour is the Queen’s Birthday Parade and one of the nation’s most impressive and iconic annual events attended by almost every member of the Royal Family. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
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