The Queen's Birthday Parade
The Queen's Birthday Parade will be held on Saturday, June 15,2002, on Horse Guards Parade when The Queen's Colour of 1st Battalion Scots Guards will be Trooped in the presence of Her Majesty.The Reviews prior to the parade will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2002, and Saturday, June 8, 2002. Major-General C.R.Watt, General Officer Commanding London District and Major General Commanding the Household Division, will take the salute at the Major-General's Review on Saturday, June 1,2002. The Duke of Kent, Colonel Scots Guards, will take the salute at the Colonel's Review on Saturday, June 8, 2002.
Those wishing to attend The Queen's Birthday Parade on Saturday, June 15, 2002, the Colonel's Review on Saturday, June 8, an the Major-General's Review on Saturday, June 1, should apply for tickets before the end of February and include a stamped, self-addressed envelope for acknowledgement. As the demand for tickets is great, a ballot is held in mid-March. Successful applicants are restricted for up to three tickets for the actual parade. This restriction does not apply to the Reviews. Children must be in possession of a ticket. A limited number of wheelchair spaces are available for the parade and the Major-General's Review. Separate applications are required for this facility. All applications should be sent to Headquarters, Household Division, Horse Guards, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2AX.
5 February, 2002.
The Reviews are in fact full dress rehearsals for the Trooping the Colour event in 15 June. The few tickets for the 15 June ceremony are subject to a lottery and this Golden Jubilee year in particular the number applying for tickets will far exceed the limited number of grandstand seats available in the Draw. It will however be easier to obtain Rewiew tickets. The Reviews provide a great opportunity to see this spectacular pageant in live rehearsal and if you can be in London on either 1st ot 8th June it is well worth applying for tickets. On 15 June you can either join the crowds outside Buckingham Palace, line The Queen's route down the Mall or watch the event on TV, as I do every year.
The Ceremony
Trooping the Colour ceremony by the massed bands and Troops of Her Majesty's Household Division is without doubt the most spectacularly colourful and moving annual Royal event of military pageantry in the Royal Year and a highlight in London's summer attractions. It is rivalled in spectacular impact only by the August Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle, but that is a 'commercial' rather than a 'royal'ceremonial event.
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