Rtn Angela Dickman: Trooping the Colour

Today our member Angela Dickman spoke to us about her and Geoff Dickman’s attendance at the Trooping the Colour celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

She explained that the roots of the ceremony lay in the time when barons would have their own private militias. Each militia would use a highly-coloured flag or Colour as a rallying-point for its troops during battles. They would gather round the Colour to regroup and decide on tactics.

The custom of parading the Colour in front of the sovereign began in the reign of Charles II. Originally each army battalion would parade its own Colour. That was replaced by the current system of each battalion of the Guards taking it in turns to parade their Colour with the other battalions in attendance.

Early this year the Royal British Legion invited Geoff to apply for two tickets for the Trooping of the Colour. He had to give both their email addresses. At the end of April they both received emails telling them they had been granted tickets. The tickets, and instructions for the day, were also emailed to them.

They were told that their tickets would be for seats in one of the stands in the circle in front of the Buckingham Palace gates and that they should be at Green Park Station by 8 am. The dress code was “smart”. They could bring a small bag but not an umbrella. If it rained they would all be issued with plastic ponchos.

They duly got to Green Park Station at 8 am. They had to produce photographic ID before being allowed to follow a snaking route to the seating area. By the time they got there it was 9:15. Everyone was given a small breakfast picnic box and had the opportunity to buy a souvenir programme and a Platinum Jubilee bag.

Angela commented on how polite and friendly everyone was, with no jostling for seats. They were tip-up seats which automatically returned to the upright position when one stood up, as they were asked to do from time to time. On one occasion Geoff forgot the seats tipped up and when he sat back down found himself sitting on the floor. Those nearby immediately rallied round to help him up.

They saw the troops parading in front of Buckingham Palace on their way along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade. Some of the horses left behind the deposits horses are wont to. She wondered whether the returning foot guards would have to march through them but a cheer went up when dustcarts appeared and started scooping up the mess.

Although they were not on Horse Guards Parade they had a good view of the proceedings thanks to large screens that had been erected. They did see the troops and the Royal party returning. The crowd cheered loudly when the Queen and the Duke of Kent appeared on the Palace balcony.

Angela was obviously impressed by the flypast, starting with the unmistakable sound of a Merlin engine as the WWII aircraft flew over. She said the crowd gave an audible gasp as modern fighters appeared in a formation showing the number 70.

When everything was over the spectators had to make their way back to Green Park Station. They did so in an orderly manner and when they got to the station all the ticket barriers were open, so people got away quickly.