The Brits know how to do stuff like this. It isn't easy. Thanks for posting.

so refreshing to hear an American say that... thank you from England

Greeting From the former colony, Hong Kong. We were British, and we are all proud of it

No matter how many times I see these parades I still impress with the magnitude of presentation to the Queen.Thank you

probably one of my favorite parts of this whole thing is at 4:10 shes tapping her feet along with the beat of the music, you can tell she really enjoys this and doesnt do it just bc it is tradition

Its good to see that they kept their horses for military ceremonies.

Beautiful! Gives me goosebumps. So proud of my English heritage.

A very good arrangement of short interviews with the individuals in key roles. Amazing discipline that the troops can stand in formation for the length of time required ie; the liners along the mall, on horseback, and the band. What a show.

Bless you Your Majesty

Just listen to that West Country accent! Magic! The same accents could have followed Marlborough.

Thanks for posting!

This is NOT about the Queen! This is about everybody who cares about THIS CIVIL SOCIETY! I'm 6000 miles away, my DADDY used to get involved in these parades, and I think they're just MARVELOUS!

This is a ceremonial parade and not a competition. Many bands in the UK forces do tattoos, demonstrations, march pasts and other non ceremonial parades and you will find they often don't have music sheets. Its just for major Ceremonials they use sheet music. Neither is better just tradition and different.

There are 5 foot regiments in the household guards each with their own band. During ceremonies such as trooping the colors the 5 bands are combined into one mass band. There is always a senior drum major who marches in-front of the massed bands with the other 4 drum majors. However only the senior drum major who is always in the middle gives commands verbally and non verbally.

I WISH I were British. Greetings from the USA ( a former colony and proud of it)

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN !!!!!!

I love the foot work requried in there marching with the little foot hover

Slow march,Quick march, Eyes right, Eyes front, Forward, Left wheel,Halt.

Ha Ha Drum Major 10.20 Albert Turner Brilliant !!!!

@jwslider1 To try and answer your questions. 1) There are 5 directors of music within the band 1 for each band. The senior Director of music to whom you refer is Lt Col Graham Jones.Coldsream Guards. 2) The swords you refer to are worn by the senior NCOs within each band. I can’t see the insignia on their arms, so can’t be more specific.

They give you rather bad headaches too

All band directors march at the front of the band formation. This is done so they can be seen by the musicians , giving directions by way of hand movement and using the mace. Yes in the British and Commonwealth Armies all Warrant Officers carry swords as part of their #1 Dress

its always awesome to see and hear this---british grenadiers is my favorite-God save the queen---btw--im french descent and a napoleon follower BUT also a british and american too

I have never seen this whole ceremony before, and I am amazed! It's so much better than war, doncha think?

this is BEAUTIFUL :)

They look that way because they march in a brace position so they are slightly leaning backwards. It gives the look as if they are about to fall

Great!

I just love this series; whenever I'm down in the mouth, I put it on, and keep time tapping my toe. :)

I'm Comanche,those horses are mine!LOL They act like they know me...

Pretty Awsome ,GOD save The Queen !

8:24 everytime i see that line i cant help but think of the grenadier guards from 200 years ago marching into a fog of canon and musket fire . I wonder if they actually played quick march tunes as they were going into battle or was it only drums and bugles

As Callum wrote - it was drums, bugles and fifes (and the pipes for the highlanders). The bands played until casualties within their battalion mounted since they double acted by helping the wounded out of the line. So for as long the band still was playing, everone would knwo that the fight was going well.

LOL - I was also born well after 1920, too, but I am from East Malaysia! :)

I freakin LOVE being British !

Her official birthday as Queen.

Second in precision only to China (but in China, that is all their troops do...) but It is a really great show, I enjoy watch all the troopings....

Yes, The soldiers with swords are Officers, The swords are made by Wilkinson Sword (They also make razors), And the Band Director has always marched in rank, Its easier for everyone to keep instep and turnings are easier with no word of command, Just the stick (Cant remember what Its called) Hope that helps. Anymore questions, Just PM Me, I am in the ACF And am hoping to join the grenadiers or the Royal Engineers When Im 16, Every-Single male in my family has been in the army, Rich army heritage

sounds a little like "Lord of the dance" a little in the beginning somehow.

"I Belong To Glasgow" by Will Fyffe (1920), I believe.

I think I can answer all of the questions posed. (1) the Band Director, to preserve the symmetry of the formation, marches within the band as opposed to the outside of the group. (2) Band Members who wear swords are Warrant Officers. These men fill what would be Senior NCO positions in the US Armed Forces. in grades E-7 to E-9. Their uniform includes wearing an Officer's pattern sword. I'll try to answer the other questions appearing in Part 3.

From this comes the term 'True Colours' because the enemy would raise a similar 'Colour(Flag)' to confuse the troops in battle.

I think that was a reference to the type of gun and not a dig at the British Secret Service.

These aren't toy soldiers or parade ground pefrormers, they're like any other part of the Army. They spend part of their time on operational tour in Afghanistan etc. part of it training and part of it on 'ceremonial duties' like this. Although a lot of it is for tradition and tourism there is a real element of guarding the queen in it. Hence the modern rifles - they have real modern weapons because despite the old tunics they are real modern soldiers.

@shechaiyah It is ALL ABOUT THE QUEEN as it celebrates her Birthday.

I think you may be correct. In my defence I am from the east coast of Scotland and was born quite some time after 1920!

Thanks for the posting. I always enjoy the traditions. Help me understand some of the minutae...particularly with the musicians. (1) I notice that the Band Director (officer) marches in the ranks. In the US military the Dand Director marches to the right of the front rank. (2) I notice one or two musicians with swords. Are these officers? In the US military musicians are only enlisted with the exception of the Band Director. continued....

The colors belong to the individual regiments.The colors bear the battle history of the regiment, it displays every war and conflict the regiment has fought in. For example the Coldstream Guards fought in the American War of Independence. The American Army has colors for each individual Battalion with one difference, in the US Army they have battle streamers which are attached to the top of guidon and stream down the flag or colors.

Swords are carried also by Warrant Officers. Bandmasters and Band Sergeant Majors hold these ranks. And yes, Directors march in the ranks. I don't see a reason why it should be same as in the US.

@jwslider1 The musicians who are carrying swords most likely hold the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 or Class 1

@jwslider1 I am not military trained so am unable to answer your question. Perhaps someone else with knowledge of such things will kindly offer advice.

If you mean the first piece in this segment, did the announcer not say "Les Huegonauts", arranged by Dan Godfrey??

Actually us Commonwealth members are much closer as we still have full voting rights in the UK, which we had as British subjects prior to 1949 and retained after 1949 as Commonwealth members. That was the TIL (thing I learned) today.

I always walk a few inches taller after watching this.

I'm not an expert but I think the band is open for anyone to join if they want to.

if you're talking about the weapon that is not an M16

Probably drums, bugles and fifes. Of course there's always the Bagpipes for the Highland Regiments.

First of all these are Scots Guards (at 8:24 at least) not Grenadier Guards. Secondly the Grenadier Guards weren't called that 200 years ago. They took the name, and the bearskins, after defeating Napoleon's Imperial Guard at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Thirdly, as a line infantry regiment their orders would have been relayed by drums not bugles. Only rifle regiments used bugles. Last but not least, when the fighting and dying started the bandsmen became strecher bearers, so no music.

I swear this is not a troll question! *What does the Queen or Duke do if they have to go use the "Other Throne" during one of these Trooping of the Colours?* ( I won't get into the use of the letter U in colours btw)

I think you will also find that every mounted soldier carries swords.. i know this because im ex Blues

@t110d93 Each regiment has its own flag called its 'colour.' These are battle flags and like Roman legion eagles, to be protected at all costs.

Can anyone with British Army experience say what exactly the drill commands are in the march past?

no one does it like the good old british army

I'm not familiar with this ceremony or tradition. Who do these colors belong to. The British Army in general, or to a specific unit?

What's the name of the march song played at 19:50 min.

why are they not using classical weapons? (muskets)

@MyDigitalRealm i dont mean to be rude, but this is NOT the US millitary, its HM Armed Forces

Sorry I can't help you.

What M16 ?

So does the rest of the world.

too much talking from the commentator ruins this

Garb of Auld Gaul

????

@TheFirstConcorde You must be confusing me with someone else, I never said a word about the US military!

Seeing Grenadier/Scott Guards in uniform with Machine guns is just hilarious. The moment I saw that, I just started laughing hysterically and imagined them using those weapons in the Napoleonic Wars.

Nope. It was because of taxes. Money,money,money. Same old formular. America is a happy country without the cash.

@Elesparto - I don't know anyone who believes in the Royal Blood. Nothing wrong with this English woman's self esteem - neither does she believe in an "elite" group. But I know an exemplary Head of State when I see one. Envy of the world! That doesn't mean I approve of all her sons, nor other "hangers on". As a life time Left Winger I can still recognise integrity, stoicism and tremendous sense of duty when I see it. So you shuffle off to Ancient Rome and do your Kirk Douglas impression.

Rule Britannia!

@moony001-French descent!So you know Napoleon said if he'd had the British Infantry & his officers he could have conquered the world-possibly right.Soult said the British Infantry "didn't know they were beaten & didn't know how to run".We repaid the compliments by teaching the French how to grill steaks on the cuirasses "stolen" from the brave French cavalry at Waterloo & "borrowed" the Old Guard headdress.Great uniforms.Shame that ungrateful, vicious b.... de Gaulle was so anti British.

Those hats must be HOT and keep falling over their eyes makes them look foolish.

Get some drugs off your doctor.

m16 not good...

Clean your ears out. "The Glaswegian" !