The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th. Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment. In London, the Foot Guards used to do this from 1755 onwards as part of their daily Guard Mounting on Horse Guards and the ceremonial of the present parade is along similar lines. In 1805 the parade was for the first time carried out to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday.
This impressive display of pageantry is now held on the occasion of the
Queen's Official Birthday. It takes place in June each year to celebrate
the official Birthday of the Sovereign and is carried out by her personal
troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with the Queen
herself attending and taking the salute.
With thanks to Trooping
the Colour website.
2nd class Ensign of the Scots Guards 2002 | 1st class The Queen taking the salute as Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards 1983 | 42p Trumpeter of the Household Cavalry 2004 | |
60p Welsh Guardsman, 1990s | 68p The Queen on horseback, 1972 | £1.12 The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh in an open carriage, 2004 | Miniature Sheet of 6 stamps. Although apparently imperforate, this is an early illustration of the design. The stamps in the sheet will be perforated. |
Technical details:
The stamps are 35mm square and the miniature sheet is 115x105mm. All are
printed in litho by Walsall Security Printers, perf 14.5, with PVA gum.
Design is by Why Not Associates.
All images except FDCs are from Royal Mail's
Philatelic Bulletin and Postmark Bulletin, and are
Copyright 2005 by Royal Mail.
All enquiries - please email us.
Our exclusive FDC for this issue shows a Guardsman with his drill
rifle, backed up by a marching display of similar guards.
For the Miniature Sheet, we have just the lone guardsman.
The covers are priced at £8.95 each. Both covers will be
produced with postmarks L9590 and L9590 - covers with any others must be
requested by 5 June.
Also available, mint and used stamps and miniature sheet, PO FDCs,
etc.
Mint set of 6 OR miniature sheet - £4.25
PO FDCs with any postmark - £5.00
Special Postmarks
Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown below - these may
not be to scale
Ref FD513 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark |
Ref FD514 London SW1 Official Postmark |
Ref L9589 Horse Guards Avenue London |
Ref M9602 Royal Salute, Queens Rd, Birmingham |
Ref L9588 The Parade, London SW11 |
|
Ref L9593 Birdcage Walk, London SW1 |
Ref L9594 Tower Hill, London EC3 |
Ref L9595 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1 |
Ref L9596 St James St, London SW1 |
Ref L9597 Whitehall, London SW1 |
|
Ref L9590 Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, London |
Ref L9591 The Mall, London SW1 |
Ref L9592 Horse Guards Parade, London SW1 |
Ref L9581 Coldstream Gdns, London SW18 |
Ref L9598 Horse Guards Avenue, London SW1 |
|
Ref L9584 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1 |
Ref L9586 Whitehall, London SW1 |
Ref L9587 Whitehall, London SW1 |
Ref N9605 The Royal & The Parade Hotel, Bridlington |
Ref L9599 Bletchley Park Post Office, Milton Keynes |
|
<<<<< Ref F9608 British Forces PS 2857 Irish Guards In use 11 June only |
<<<<< Ref L9704 Trooping the Colour Bicentenary London This postmark was announced on 5 August - please order by 17 August if FDC or single-stamp covers are wanted |
The stamps will be issued on the Tuesday before the actual ceremony which takes places on Saturday 11th. |
This page updated 9 August 2005
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January 11 Farm Animals |
February 8 British Journey - South West England 24 Jane Eyre & Brontes prestige book |
March 15 Magic Circle Centenary 22 Wilding Castles Miniature Sheet |
April 5 New definitives 8 Royal Wedding 21 World Heritage Sites 26 Definitive reprints provisional date |
May 10 Definitive reprints provisional date |
June 7 Trooping the Colour 21 Smilers sheet - Flag stamp, White Ensign 21 Definitive reprints provisional date |
July 5 End of World War II 19 British Motorcycles |
August 5 London 2012 Olympics 23 Europa - Gastronomy |
September 22 Independent Television 50th Anniversary |
October 4 Small greetings definitives & Smilers 18 Battle of Trafalgar |
November 1 Christmas Christmas Robins Smilers Sheet |
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