The Queen celebrated her 83rd official birthday with the Trooping the Colour parade in London on Horse Guards Parade on Saturday, 13 June 2009 where Her Majesty took the royal salute. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by crowds lining The Mall as they rode from Buckingham Palace in a vintage carriage. Embedded below is a video report of the ceremony.
Prince William and Prince Harry travelled in another horse-drawn carriage to the ceremony with the Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Charles, as Colonel of the Welsh Guards, arrived on horseback with the Princess Royal, who is Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and the Duke of Kent, Colonel of the Scots Guards. The Earl and Countess of Wessex joined the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the second carriage.
This year's Trooping the Colour is the 57th birthday parade of the Queen's reign. The procession was accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.
The Colour paraded this year was that of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. After The Queen led the troops back along the Mall to the Palace, the Red Arrows, as is tradition, rounded off a flypast by the RAF. The Royal Family watched from the balcony.
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