16th June is the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II (her real birthday is 21st April) and it is marked by the traditional Trooping the Colour parade on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, which takes place on the nearest Saturday (today).
The parade is carried out by the Household Division (Foot Guards and Household Cavalry) and you can find out more about it at the British Monarchy website – click here – where you will also find photos and archive footage.
I have heard this before that it only started with the Georgeons so it is not really a British tradition; it must be of Hanoverian origin. I have seen the trooping a few times and my sister in laws eldest son is a coldstream guard and took part in it a few years ago when they all trooped down to see him. But personally now I would not go and see it live as I am not comfortable in large moving crowds. I am also anti Queen and so would abolish it. I think it is just another thing from a by gone era that public money should not be spent on; especially as the Queen has no right to sit on the throne in the first place.
I am sure people will not agree with this post; but in these days of belt tightening it seems a load of nonsense that cannot be supported to have this ceremony. One historical point though going back to the day that the Queen was young and looked good doing the inspection on horseback; and now she is old she has an open carriage; it was Victoria who insisted on doing it on horseback. She was placed on a small horse; but she carried it off well and after that was placed on a slighly larger horse; not a great big one; she was a very small woman; but one that made her look much more regal. Since then for the most at least the king or queen has done it on horseback. The exception of course now is the Queen as she is so old.