A Tribute to the Queen
Figure 1: Map of the United Kingdom. CIA - The World Factbook. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html.
Abstract
Trooping the Colour is displaying the British flag in front of crowds at the Queen's Birthday Parade. Trooping the Colour, the British celebration originating from a flag designated as a rallying point, unifies the people of the United Kingdom through patriotic display. The British flag represents all individuals that live in the country. The common interest of country unites people. Diversity and disagreement are overlooked when all can agree is a day for the British. Love and devotion to the United Kingdom are widespread throughout the country therefore bringing together all diversities under one national holiday. Trooping the Colour is a unifying, patriotic celebration. This celebration brings all the British Isles together as one to come and honor their country and queen.
Figure
2: The Queen's Birthday Parade. ARMY. http://www.army.mod.uk/ceremonialandheritage/household/trooping.htm.
Figure 3: The Introduction of the Queen. Shortie's Family. http://www.shortiesfamily.com/Trooping%20the%20Colour.htm.
Introduction
Trooping the Colour in the United Kingdom honors country and queen every year through elaborate celebration. This ritual unifies the people of the United Kingdom by patriotic display. Trooping the Colour was originally related to a procedure in battle, but today this celebration of the British flag comes to express the patriotic spirit of the fighting regiments of the past. This celebration is a symbolic representation of the flag that was trooped in front of the soldiers and is thus commemorated by an event to memorialize the official birthday of the sovereign. It is also commonly referred to as the Queen's Birthday Parade.
Context of the United Kingdom
The
United Kingdom is located in Western Europe and is considered the islands
including the one-sixth of Ireland between the North Atlantic ocean and
the North Sea (e.g. Figure 1). It is northwest of France . In geographic
coordinates, the U.K. is located at approximately 54 00 N, 2 00 W (CIA).
The climate is relatively temperate, controlled by prevailing southwestern
winds over the North Atlantic . More than half of the days here are overcast.
Trooping the Colour is held on Horse Guards Parade in the center of London
, on the Queen's official birthday (e.g. Figure 2 and Figure 3).
In 1994, the Channel Tunnel was opened and the British Isles were exposed
to Mainland Europe . This separation had protected the Britons against
invasion since the 1066 Norman Conquest (National Geographic 1999). Ancestors
of the Britons include the Celtics, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and the Norse
invaders. Independence was granted in 1215 by the Magna Carta. In 1536,
England and Wales were united. Scotland was added in 1707, which created
Great Britian. The region was later named the United Kingdom when Ireland
was added in 1801.
Origins of Trooping the Colour
“Trooping the Colour” literally means displaying the British colors, or the flag. As a celebration it means the honoring or preserving of the aged military tradition of waving the country's flag before its troops in battle. By “trooping,” or parading, the flag, British troops were acquainted with their country's colors thus knowing where to meet their comrades on the battlefield when their flag was flown. It has its roots in the practice of medieval military commanders, who paraded banners in front of their armies before battle so that soldiers would be familiar with the colors that would be their rallying point, and was first held as a formal event in 1755 (Panton 2001:434). Since the first celebratory Trooping of the Colour, the celebration has been a regular occurrence after 1805.
Performance
Observable elements of Trooping the Colour are seen during London 's annual event celebrating the monarch's official birthday. A single regiment from the five of the Foot Guards in the Household Division is chosen every year to display its flag before the Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen rides on horseback while examining her uniformed troops. The troops proceed into a spacious open area in Whitehall , referred to as London 's Horseguards Parade. This location makes for ideal conditions at perhaps one of the best-known British royal annual events, both here and abroad – the ceremony of the Trooping of the Colours (Goodridge 1999:259-268). The Household Cavalry and the other four regiments who are not the focus of the parading of the troops still participating still march alongside with bands. More than 1,400 infantrymen and 200 mounted horsemen participate, demonstrating intricate and precise marching maneuvers (Panton 2001:434-435). Elizabeth II, sporting the trooping Guards regiment colors, then salutes these troops while horseback. She rides side-saddle which, since she normally rides astride, requires previous practice (Weinreb 1983:893). Upon the conclusion of the ceremony, her majesty is escorted via carriage back to her home of Buckingham Palace .
Artifact
Figure
4: Flag of the United Kingdom: CIA- The World Factbook.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/flags/uk-flag.html
Interpretation
Prognosis for Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour is increasing in popularity over time. Increased popularity in the celebration is occurring because it is an official national celebration that originated from a battle tradition. The official birthday of the Sovereign is marked each year by a colourful and historic military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour. It takes place each June on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, in front of crowds of onlookers and, thanks to television, is enjoyed by millions world-wide (ARMY 2004). Solidifying a tradition into a nationally celebrated day indicates that there is increasing popularity for this event from the small number of historic participating soldiers to the larger number of people involved in a nationally celebrated holiday. A celebration, in our sense, should fall at a fixed period and should involve, or at one time should have involved, sacred and symbolic elements (Dorson 1982:33). Civilians of the United Kingdom enjoy feeling the patriotism of this historically remnant event along side soldiers and expand the influence of Trooping the Colour to include all citizens. One of the most popular of London's annual ceremonies, the Trooping of the Colour takes place at Horse Guards Parade to honor the monarch on his or her official birthday in early June (Panton 2001:434).
Conclusion
Patriotism, love or loyalty to his or her own country, is expressed by the flag of a country and Trooping the Colour is about honoring the Queen and her colors. Nationalism,differing slightly from patriotism, is devotion to the culture or interests of one's nation, a feeling of exalting one's nation of residence above others and placing importance on the promotion of its culture and interests. These colors expressing the spirit of the fighting regiments are used to unite the British people under a widespread perspective about their country. The 'colours' or flags of the battalion were carried or 'trooped' down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognized by the soldiers. Since 1748 the parade has also marked the sovereign's official birthday (BBC 2003). Trooping the Colour brings together the many types of people living in the United Kingdom . It is a fusing of the many to express devotion and loyalty to one's country through a nationality celebration.
Internet References Cited
-
ARMY- Ceremonial and Heritage
2004 The Trooping of the Colours. Electronic document,
http://www.army.mod.uk/ceremonialandheritage/household/trooping.htm,
accessed November 16, 2004 .
This website is the British Army website, providing a British military database for the public. -
BBC News- UK Edition
2003 Thousands Watch War Heroes Flypast. Electronic document,
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Trooping+the+Colour&sm=Yahoo%
21+Search &fr=FP-tab-web-t&toggle=1, accessed November 16, 2004.This website is the British Broadcasting News website.
-
CIA- The World Factbook
United Kingdom . Electronic document,
http://www.cia.gov/publications/factbook/geos/uk.html, accessed
September 21, 2004.This website was created by the Central Intelligence Agency for the purpose of providing the public with general facts about every country.
-
National Geographic
1999 United Kingdom (Country Profiles from National Geographic
MapMachine). Electronic document,
http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/profiles/uk.html,
accessed September 21, 2004 .This website was created by the National Geographic Society for the purpose of providing geographic country profile.
Peer-Reviewed References Cited
- Dorson, Richard M.
1982 Material Components in Celebration. In Celebration: Studies in Festivity and
Ritual. Victor Turner, ed, pp. 33-57. Smithsonian Institution Press,
Washington.
- Goodridge, Janet
1999 Rhythmn and Timing of Movement in Performance: Drama, Dance and
Ceremony. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Henderson, Helene, and Sue Ellen Thompson, ed.
1997 Queen Elizabeth II Birthday: Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations' of the
World Dictionary. United States of America: Omnigraphics, Inc.
- Hibbert, Christopher, and Ben Weinreb, ed.
1983 Trooping of the Colour: The London Encyclopedia. Hong Kong: Macmillian
London Limited.
- Panton, Kenneth J.
2001 Historical Dictionary of London. London: The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
- Turner, Victor, and Edith Turner
1982 Religious Celebrations. In Celebration: Studies in Festivity and Ritual.
Victor Turner, ed, pp. 201-219. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.