Travelsleuth's Diary: February Highlights. Page 3.
The parade-ground ceremony, which is watched each year by millions on TV across the globe, has changed little since 1805 when it became an annual event in honour of the Sovereign's birthday. At 10.40AM The Queen processes down the Mall from Buckingham Palace escorted by Her Household Cavalry, (the 'Life Guards' and the 'Blues & Royals'). She reaches Horse Guards Parade, which faces onto St. James's Park, at 11AM. There, with her Consort, The Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal in attendance, she inspects Her Household Regiments, the Grenadiers, Coldstream Guards, Irish and Welsh Guards and takes the salute. Her Majesty then processes back up the Mall to Buckingham Palace where She watches a Royal Air Force Fly Past at 1PM.
Horse Guards Parade
The Horse Guards building, which is such a splendid backdrop to the parade, was designed by architect William Kent just before he died in 1748. It was his Palladian 'swan song' and was to prove to be his most famous extant contribution to London's architectural heritage. Other notable buildings by Kent have been demolished by later planners and architects in London's continuous architectural metamorphosis and expansion.
Thanks to the vast open space of the parade ground the view of Kent's visually elegant design for his building, (completed by his disciple John Vardy in 1759), can be fully appreciated. The central room in the building has a fine Venetian window overlooking the parade ground. I have not had the pleasure of seeing the interior but I understand that it reflects the elegance of the architect's exterior facing onto the parade. It is from here that other members of the Royal Family watch Trooping the Colour. This was once the office of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army and is named after Arthur, Duke of Wellington, Napoleon's victor at Waterloo, who used it for 10 years.
The south side of Horse Guards Parade is faced by another of Kent's buildings; the old Treasury, (now converted into apartments of distinction for fortunate government ministers). Unfortunately the building was never completed. It was designed to be flanked by bays at each side ending in pavilions to complement his central Horse Guards building with its pavilions. But only the central building was completed, (1736), leaving it standing as if shorn of its 'wings'.
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