I doubt you could have failed to notice that the Trooping of
the Colour took place last Saturday, 14th June, 2014. It marked the
Queen’s official birthday; her actual 88th birthday was on 21st
April.
The colour saluted was that of the Nijmegen Company
Grenadier Guards; the Queen presented the colour to the Guards at Buckingham
Palace, last June.
The King’s Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery fired a 41
gun-salute in Green Park, and the Headquarter Squadron of the Honourable
Artillery Company fired a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.
Pageantry of that quality and splendour would be hard to
find elsewhere in the world; indeed, I doubt it could be found. Opinion as to
whether all the pomp and concomitant expense can be justified in this day and
age is divided. Much depends on how people view the monarchy; whether they
support or disapprove of the institution and associated traditions.
In truth, the Queen is the Head of State, a nominal sovereign
with little real power over her subjects who are governed by a democratically
elected Parliament and members of the House of Lords. She is the spokesperson
for her government of the day. At the opening of Parliament she sits in splendour
at the House of Lords and reads ‘her’ speech which outlines the government’s agenda
for proposed legislation relating to specific bills, such as in this session:
the facilitation of fracking, limiting redundancy payments to public sector
workers, free school meals for infants, and £2,000 childcare vouchers for
working parents.
Links
Trooping the Colour
Time-lapse Video: Trooping the Colour 2014-06-16
Trooping the Colour Celebrates Queen’s Official Birthday
Trooping the Colour Salutes the Queen and all Those who Died
Serving their Nation
Gun Salutes to Mark the Queen’s 88th Birthday
Royal Fashion Round-up Chloe: Trooping the Colour 2014
The British Monarchy - Trooping the Colour
Project Britain, British Life and Culture, Trooping the
Colour
The British Monarchy – the Queen’s Birthdays
Why does the British Army have more Horses than Tanks?
The British Monarchy – Royal Finances
HM Treasury – Sovereign Grant Act
HM Treasury – Sovereign Grant Act: frequently asked
questions relating to the Act, and on general issues
Role and Work of the House of Lords
Mystery lifted on Queen’s Powers
What are the true powers of Queen Elizabeth and what can she
really do?
Queen’s Speech: Government’s Agenda set out
What is the Queen’s
Speech? What does the Ceremony mean?
The Queen Presides
over the State Opening of Parliament
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