What Is Trooping The Colour? The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Parade Explained | A Gentleman’s Day Out

I served in the Danish Royal Life Guards, where we also wear the bearskin cap. An unknown function the bearskin cap facilitates, besides the sabre cheek guard, and taller silhouette was to scare away horses(the cavalry). The horses would act out of instinct and stop before charging into a wall of bearskin since fluffy fur instinctively tells the horse's brain there's a predator and it's in danger of being attacked. - A very primitive but effective piece of equipment for the day on how to deal with the biggest threat on the battlefield, the cavalry.

Good video. One mistake. the Grenadier Guards are not the eldest foot guard regiment. Both the Coldstream and Scots are 6 years older. The Grenadiers are however the longest serving Royal Regiment of foot in the Household Division and this is why they take seniority as the first regiment of foot guards. I am ex Welsh Guards and immensely proud of being so.

This is how tourists ought to appreciate Britain, well done Kirby!

Tom is correct about the origin of the red uniform. In fact it goes further than that: Oliver Cromwell realised that Parliament would not defeat the King’s armies unless he made a trained, professional army out of his own forces. As part of that, there was a push to provide uniforms for the parliamentarian forces and the cheapest, as well as the most convenient large batch of material was dyed red, held by merchants in City of London warehouses (the merchants were amongst those who most resented paying the King’s taxes, so naturally gravitated towards supporting parliament).

So informative. The American is genuinely interested and so polite. Listening intently with the Englishman. I was totally impressed with both of them.

Very informative content. I'm a 70 yr old Brit and learned a lot from this. I was fascinated by the umbrella! Shades of John Steed from the Avengers. You need to be old to get the reference. But seriously, I truly enjoyed this.

The oldest regiment in the British army is the Honourable Artillery Company, founded in 1537 and based at Moorgate in the City of London. It is the senior regiment in the territorial army reserve and is second oldest fighting unit in the world (the Vatican Swiss Guard is slightly older). HM the Queen is the Captain General of the unit. The HAC has a dual role as a reconnaissance unit in wartime and for ceremonials such as gun salutes at the Tower of London. It also provides the honour guard for the Lord Mayor of London; the members of that section wear authentic English civil war uniforms.

I was at the Trooping the Colour last weekend for Major General C. Gikah’s rehearsal. I served in the Irish Guards and thoroughly enjoyed myself! I also took part in the troop in 2004.

My HS marching band uniforms were based on these unis. They looked STUNNING on the green grass under the lights. And we were very popular for the Holiday parades. Funny, we never did an Independence Day parade...

The British do have the finest traditions and most elegant military (and other) ceremonies in the world. All the Kingdoms in Western-Europe have their traditions and splendid royal moments, but the British surpass us all. The British classy behaviour, the beautifully spoken English, as seen in this video, the pure style, the remarkable sense of humour, are also beyond comparison. Maybe difficult to grasp or reach for an American, but recognisable for (Northern-) Europeans (not all of them, us, though.....)

I’m a London Black Cab driver.. Good to see you back in the Capital Kirby.

The opening scene is fantabulous

Very interesting. As an American military buff, I agree no one does it better than the Brits. They have more experience. I like the red socks.

Enjoyed this very much. Thanks to Kirby and to Tom for such an interesting explanation and description. Being in Australia, I will be watching the event on television tomorrow night (Australia time).

I was in the Grenadier Guards for 8 years. Whilst in Berlin ,we were on exersize with the American Troops. and one of them was taking the mickey out of our Cap Badge.. the Grenade fired Proper.. he said it looked like a chamber pot on fire... It was pointed out to him the the Cap Badge was infact older than his Country...ha ha..

Thank you for the clear explanation of their duties as guardsmen , (twice the men) green job and red job. Everyday soldiers duties and ceremonial duties. From the Fiji islands , God bless Her Majesty the Queen and the United Kingdom.

Both my parents from UK.. this is a good one man

Thanks for inviting us Kirby, it was a pleasure, as always :)

Ceremony has a very distinct way of inspiring appreciation for ones country. Loved this!

Great production! I have received my platinum jubilee medal and whilst not one of the most prestigious to the collection, a very special one all the same.