Overview
The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards will Troop their Colour in the presence of His Majesty The King on Saturday 17th June 2023. Taking part will be over 1350 soldiers of the Household Division and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, including over 300 musicians from the Massed Bands. Trooping the Colour reviewed by His Majesty The King also includes 250 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, the 1st Battalion Irish Guards and, for the first time, the 1st Battalion London Guards (the Foot Guards’ Reserve Unit), who will line the processional route along The Mall.
The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have been first performed during the reign of King Charles II, who was Monarch from 1660 to 1685. In 1748 it was decided that this parade would be used to mark the official birthday of the Sovereign. It became an annual event after George III became King in 1760. Guards taking part are drawn from the Regiments of the Sovereign’s Household Troops; it has become the practice for Regiments of Foot Guards to troop their Colour in turn.
His Majesty’s actual birthday is 14th November. The Sovereign’s official birthday is marked by the ceremony of Trooping the Colour, which this year falls on 17th June 2023, six weeks after The King’s Coronation. 2023 will mark the first Kings Birthday Parade for 72 years. The last King’s Birthday Parade (for King George VI) was conducted in 1951 and attended by The Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II); the last Sovereign’s Birthday Parade physically attended by a King of England (King George VI) was in 1950.
How to watch
Members of the public can watch the parade from the stands on Horse Guards Parade by applying for tickets through the online ballot.
Alternatively, a limited view can be obtained by standing on The Mall or on the edge of St James’s Park overlooking Horse Guards Parade from 9.00am, noting that the view from these positions may be obscured by troops on parade. These public vantage points are indicated with black dotted lines on the map.
The parade begins at Horse Guards Parade at 10.00am and will finish by 12.25pm. On the day of the King’s Birthday Parade (17th June), a fly-past by the Royal Air Force will take place at 1.00pm, which can be watched from The Mall.
The King’s Birthday Parade is broadcast live on the BBC in the UK on 17th June 2023.
Tickets and prices
For Trooping the Colour reviewed by His Majesty The King, seated tickets on Horse Guards Parade are allocated by ballot. This ballot will run from 1st March 2023 to 14th April 2023. Entrants can apply for between 1 and 4 seated tickets. Successful entrants will be informed via email and invited to purchase their tickets from 19th April 2023.
Please note, each wheelchair-accessible ticket includes a space for a wheelchair and a seat for one companion. You will not need to purchase a separate ticket alongside a wheelchair-accessible ticket to allow a companion to attend with the wheelchair user.
Ticket prices are as follows:
TROOPING THE COLOUR REVIEWED BY MAJOR GENERAL C J GHIKA
Seated: £10
Wheelchair (+ 1 companion): £10
TROOPING THE COLOUR REVIEWED BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES
Seated: £15
Wheelchair (+ 1 companion): £15
TROOPING THE COLOUR REVIEWED BY HIS MAJESTY THE KING
Seated: £30
Wheelchair (+1 companion): £30
There is no group purchase of tickets for multiple events. Tickets for each event must be purchased separately.
If you choose to print your tickets, please be careful with them when attending the event for which you have booked as we are not liable for lost or stolen tickets and cannot replace them.
Venue
Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX
Dates
Origins of Trooping the Colour
Regimental flags of the British Army, historically described as ‘Colours', are consecrated and display insignia worn by the soldiers of respective units along with the unit’s Honorary Distinctions, or ‘Battle Honours’. Historically, the primary role of a Regiment's Colour was to provide a rallying point on the battlefield. This was vitally important because, without modern communications, it was all too easy for soldiers to become disoriented and separated from their unit during conflict.
For soldiers to recognise their Regiment's Colour, it was necessary to display them. This was accomplished by young officers marching between the formed-up ranks of soldiers with the Colour held high; this is the origin of the term ‘trooping'. What is today a great ceremonial spectacle began life as a vital wartime parade designed to aid unit recognition before a battle commenced.
The Foot Guards are amongst the oldest Regiments of the British Army and have served as the personal bodyguards of the Sovereign since the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660 following the English Civil War. The ceremony of Trooping the Colour is believed to have been performed first during the reign of King Charles II (1660 – 1685). In 1748, it was determined that this parade should mark the official birthday of the Sovereign, becoming an annual event when George III ascended the throne in 1760.
Although His Majesty The King's actual birthday is 14th November, the spectacular ceremony of Trooping the Colour remains the single national celebration of the Sovereign's Official Birthday.
Venue
Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX
Dates
How to get there
Please note that Central London is expected to be extremely busy on Saturday 17th June 2023. We suggest you plan your route in advance and allow plenty of time to travel. For the latest information on how services are operating, use the TfL Go app or visit www.tfl.gov.uk. There are no parking facilities at this event.
Arriving by Train:
The nearest Railway Stations are Charing Cross, Waterloo and Victoria.
Arriving by Tube:
The nearest Tube Stations are Westminster, Embankment, Charing Cross, St James’s Park and Victoria.
On Arrival in Westminster area:
Depending on which stand you have been allocated, you will need to go through the correct security checkpoint as follows
- Stands A, B, C and Standing North - via The Mall, Horse Guards Road (north) and Admiralty Citadel.
- Stands D, E, F, G, Wheelchair (Stands C, E) and Special Enclosure – via Whitehall and Horse Guards Arch.
- Stands H, I & J - via Downing Street and Treasury Passage (for the Trooping the Colour reviewed by the
Major General (3rd June 2023) and Trooping the Colour reviewed by
HRH The Prince of Wales (10th June
2023) only). On the day of Trooping the Colour reviewed by His Majesty The King please use the same
directions as given for stands K, L, M, N below.
- Stands K, L, M, N and Standing South - via Birdcage Walk / Great George Street and Horse Guards Road (south) and
Churchill War Rooms.
Limited toilet facilities are available please refer to (What to expect) section between stands C & D and G & H.
Please check the map provided on your ticket to view the entrance points for each stand. You must use the entry point specified for your stand. If you try to use an incorrect entry point you will be re-directed to the correct one, which will involve more walking and take more time.
Please arrive in good time (minimum of 50 minutes in advance) to allow for security searches. Children over the age of 2 cannot be admitted without a ticket.
Venue
Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX
Dates
What to wear
This is a formal State Ceremonial Parade in the presence of His Majesty The King. Those attending are required to dress accordingly:
Morning dress; lounge suit; or jacket, tie & trousers for gentlemen / equivalent for ladies. Children must also be dressed smartly.
Hats are optional, but if worn must be doffed when paying the necessary compliments to His Majesty and the Colour / Standards / Lead Gun as each passes.
Sports / casual shoes (e.g. trainers), flip-flops / sandals, t-shirts, denim and shorts are all strictly forbidden to be worn. Umbrellas / parasols are not permitted due to their use potentially obstructing the view of other guests.
It is recommended that you do not bring a bag (rucksack, etc) to the parade as doing so will slow down the security checks.
Serving military personnel may wear Ceremonial Day uniform (with medals, without swords or sidearms) or equivalent. Headdress for those in uniform must remain worn at all times during the parade.
NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE DRESS CODE WILL RESULT IN REFUSAL OF ENTRY.
The Household Division reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who is inappropriately dressed. The final decision regarding whether an outfit adheres to the appropriate dress policy lies with the military ticket scanners / ushers. The lead name on your booking is responsible for informing all guests of the dress requirements.
Venue
Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX
Dates
