Book NOW for the Coronation Jubilee Week of Pageantry in June
by Burlington Bertie
"June is bustin out all over", to quote from Oscar Hammerstein's immortal Carousel lyric and if you are intending to visit during this peak month in London's annual diary of Pageantry, it is essential you take steps to 'grab your seats' now!
Trooping the Colour
The annual Queen's Birthday Parade, otherwise known as 'Trooping the Colour', is perhaps the pageantry highlight of the year. It takes place on the second or third Saturday in June on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, watched by members of the Royal Family, invited guests and members of the public. This year it will take place on 15 June, 10.30am - 1 pm.
Trooping the Colour by the Sovereign's Foot Guards and Household Cavalry has marked this day since 1748 and from the reign of Edward VII onwards the Monarch has been present to take the salute in this colourful and stirring military pageant.
While visitors can line the Mall between Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards to watch the processions for free and the ceremony is televised live by BBC, ticketed seating is available on stands erected in Horse Guards itself. These limited and are allocated by ballot in March. While no dress code is enforced, the nature of this royal ceremony requires you to forgo casual dress if you are fortunate enough to obtain stand tickets on Horse Guards. Military uniforms, bowler hats and dark suits will be much in evidence.
Dress rehearsals take place on the two preceding Saturdays at 10.30am; the Major General's Review on 1 June, and the Colonel's Review on 8 June. , HRH The Prince of Wales, Colonel Welsh Guards will take the salute on 8 June.
Applications for these much sought tickets for Trooping the Colour and rehearsals must be made in writing to: Brigade Major, HQ Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall,
London
SW1A 2AX. SAE must be included and overseas visitors should send an international reply coupon, together with date of arrival and address in UK. Applications must arrive by 28 February to be considered.
Beating the Retreat
My favourite date in the Pageantry Year takes place on the Wednesday and Thursday before the Queen's Birthday Parade. This is Beating the Retreat, a mind-blowing floodlit musical spectacular. This stirring military pageant on Horse Guards is surely one of Royal London's best-kept secrets; the Massed Bands of the Household Division on parade with the Corps of Drums and Pipes and Drums of the Foot Guards Battalion supported by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Tickets for 12 and 13 June are on sale now.
Westminster Abbey Concert
A Coronation Jubilee highlight of a different musical nature takes place at Westminster Abbey on 13 June. The Abbey celebrates the crowning of Her Majesty there on 2 June 1953, with orchestral choral concert. No details are available at time of writing, but the Abbey will publish these online sometime during February. Tickets to be sold out within days. Check future Spotlights for further details.
I shall discuss visiting June Sporting events, (Epsom Derby, Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, Hurlingham), and the Arts, (International Fine Arts & Antiques Fair, City of London Festival, Hampton Court Palace Festival), in later Spotlights.
Useful Links Beating the Retreat Horse Guards Parade Spectacular, 12-13 June. Coronation Jubilee concert Westminster Abbey, 13 June. Trooping the Colour. Queen's Birthday Parade, 15 June.
If you have a question, contact us and we will do our best to provide answers.
