Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards march down The Mall
Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards march down The Mall during the parade. Image courtesy of The British Army
THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
Her Majesty The Queen welcomes the Commonwealth Heads of Government to Buckingham Palace for the formal opening of the summit.
To mark this special occasion, a large Guard of Honour with Band and Corps of Drums will turn out on the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace alongside Flag Bearers displaying each of the 53 Commonwealth flags; a Gun Salute of 53 rounds will be fired in Green Park; and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment supported by their Mounted Band will also provide a Mounted Detachment.
Timings and details:
0820 - The large Guard of Honour, comprised of 104 Officers and soldiers of the Coldstream Guards, accompanied by 55 Flag Bearers of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards and the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards will depart Wellington Barracks dressed in their immaculate uniforms and iconic bearskins. They will proceed to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace where they will form up in preparation to greet the Heads of Government.
After the conclusion of the formal opening, Heads of Government will be escorted by a Mounted Detachment of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as they make their way down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to St Jamesâs Palace. Here they will be met by the UK Prime Minister and Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Approximately 0930 - The soldiers, horses and guns of the Kingâs Troop Royal Horse Artillery will ride out from their forward mounting base in Wellington Barracks and make their way up Birdcage Walk, past the Queen Victoria Memorial, up Constitution Hill and into The Green Park.
The guns are the Regimentâs colours and so are afforded due respect throughout the route. Before their arrival in Green Park, the Band of the Royal Artillery will play a selection of celebratory music close to the firing position. 71 horses pulling six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns will then dramatically come into action from the North of the Park to place the guns into position for the Salute. On the word of command, which will be given as the first Head of Government alights at Friary Court and shakes hand with the UK Prime Minister, each of the six guns will fire blank artillery rounds at ten-second intervals until 53 shots have been fired. The horses and riders will then collect the guns and escort them back to Wellington Barracks in Birdcage Walk.
ENDS
MEDIA ATTENDANCE:
THE GREEN PARK
Media are welcome to attend the Gun Salute and film and photograph the artillery charge and the guns firing in Green Park. Media should be in position no later than 1030. The Royal Artillery Band will begin to play just before the Troop arrive. At 10.56 the Troop will come into action and set the Guns up for the salute.
A Royal Parks Media Pass is required for all photography and filming. Please contact the Royal Parks direct if you require a pass for this event: press@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk
Media are free to roam anywhere behind the rope cordon. Standing half way down Constitution Hill parallel to the six ammunition boxes that the soldiers will set out to mark the positions of the Guns will allow optimum coverage of the spectacle. Attendees are recommended to wear ear defenders as the gun fire is extremely loud.
WELLINGTON BARRACKS
There is a limited behind the scenes opportunity in Wellington Barracks from 0715am to see final preparation of the large Guard of Honour and Kingâs Troopâs horses and guns.
Media wishing to cover this event MUST inform Media Operations HQ London District on giles.anderson114@mod.gov.uk with names, roles, contact email and mobile telephone numbers of those attending. Requests must be received no later than 1700 on 17 April 2018 (TODAY).
Media attending Wellington Barracks must be in possession of photo ID in order to gain access. There is strictly NO PARKING at the barracks.
Editorsâ Notes:
THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MOUNTED REGIMENT
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) is based in Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge, London, and provides mounted ceremonial troops for all state occasions including State Visits, the Queenâs Birthday Parade, the State Opening of Parliament and the Garter Ceremony. It has three squadrons: The Life Guards Mounted Squadron in red tunics and white plumes, the Blues and Royals Mounted Squadron in blue tunics and red plumes and a Headquarters Squadron which commands all the specialists such as farriers and saddlers. The regiment performs the daily Queenâs Life Guard at Horse Guards. The regiment is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and has about 375 officers and men. Nearly all new Household Cavalry recruits go first to the mounted regiment, where they learn to ride and spend just over a year on ceremonial duties before going to the operational regiment in Windsor. Many, if not most, have never ridden a horse before.
THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest Regiment in the British Army, having been in unbroken service to the nation since 1650. In 1660 General George Monck was instrumental in the restoration of the Monarchy and the parade in June is an extension of that tradition of loyalty to the Crown. The Coldstream Guards has served with distinction in campaigns throughout the nationâs history, particularly in the Napoleonic, Crimean, Boer, First and Second World Wars, winning a total of 13 Victoria Crosses. The Colours for the Coldstream Guards carry 44 out of their 117 Battle Honours, the last being Gulf 1991 for the Liberation of Kuwait. Since then the Coldstream Guards has served operationally in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan when the battalion was awarded an unprecedented 4 Military Crosses.
THE KINGâS TROOP ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a British Army mounted ceremonial unit that fires Royal Salutes on Royal Anniversaries and State Occasions, such as State Visits and Royal birthdays, and they provide a gun carriage and a team of black horses for State and Military Funerals. Permanently based in Woolwich, Kingâs Troop soldiers also have a vital operational role. Trained as fighting soldiers first and foremost, when the Army mobilises, Kingâs Troop Royal Horse Artillery provides HGV drivers who deliver ammunition to artillery units around the battlefield. They received their title in 1947 when King George VI decided that, following the mechanisation of the last batteries of horse drawn artillery, a troop of horse artillery should be kept to take part in the great ceremonies of state. He declared that the Riding Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery would be known as 'The King's Troop', and enacted this by striking out the word âRidingâ in their Visitors Book and inserting âKing's. On her accession, Queen Elizabeth II declared that the name 'The King's Troop' would remain in his honour. The King's Troop forms part of the Household Troops and, when on parade with its guns, take precedence over all other Regiments in the Regular forces of the British Army. They also mount the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards each summer when the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is on military training outside London. The unit is also famous for their spectacular Musical Drive which thrills the crowds at shows up and down the UK every year, when they tow their guns at the gallop around the arena in exciting and immaculately choreographed manoeuvres.
ROYAL SALUTES
Whilst a Royal Salute normally comprises 21 guns, this is increased to 41 if fired from a Royal Park or Residence. To mark the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 53 guns will be fired, one for each of the nations that make up the Commonwealth.
Gun salutes are customarily fired, both on shore and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome. Just as a salute with the open hand was used historically to show that no weapon was concealed in the palm, so the firing of cannon as a salute indicated the friendly intent of an empty chamber.
In early times, it was customary for a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its cannon to demonstrate that they were unloaded. In early times ships carried seven cannon, (seven was held by the earliest civilizations to have mystical powers) so the earliest salutes were made up of seven rounds. Forts ashore, which could store gunpowder more readily and in greater quantity than on board ship, would fire three shots for each shot fired afloat making 21. Today gun salutes mark special occasions on certain days of the year, many of them with Royal associations. On these days, Royal salutes are fired from locations in London, Portsmouth, Colchester, Dover, Plymouth and York in England, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Cardiff in Wales, Hillsborough Castle in County Down, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. The number of rounds fired in a Royal salute today depends on the place and occasion. The basic Royal salute is the traditional 21 rounds. In Green Park an extra 20 rounds are added because it is a Royal Park. At the Tower of London 62 rounds are fired on Royal anniversaries (the basic 21, plus 20 because the Tower is a Royal Palace and Fortress, plus another 21 'for the City of London') and 41 on other occasions. Gun salutes occur on the following Royal anniversaries: Accession Day, HM The Queen's birthday, Coronation Day, The Duke of Edinburgh's birthday, The Queen's official birthday, The Prince of Wales's birthday, The State Opening of Parliament, when Parliament is prorogued by the Sovereign, on Royal births, and when a visiting Head of State meets the Sovereign in London, Windsor or Edinburgh.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS
The Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted in 1949 with the London Declaration. The symbol of this free association is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who is the Head of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth covers around 20% of the worldâs land area; it spans all six inhabited continents and has an estimated population of around 2.4 billion people.
About the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The UK is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where leaders from across the Commonwealth will gather in London and Windsor. With the theme of 'Towards a Common Future' they will work to create a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for the Commonwealth's 2.4 billion citizens, particularly its young people.
For further information visit www.chogm2018.org.uk or follow on Twitter @commonwealth18.
Sgt Paul Randall RLC
Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards march down The Mall
Soldiers from the Coldstream Guards march down The Mall during the parade. Image courtesy of The British Army
THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
Her Majesty The Queen welcomes the Commonwealth Heads of Government to Buckingham Palace for the formal opening of the summit.
To mark this special occasion, a large Guard of Honour with Band and Corps of Drums will turn out on the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace alongside Flag Bearers displaying each of the 53 Commonwealth flags; a Gun Salute of 53 rounds will be fired in Green Park; and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment supported by their Mounted Band will also provide a Mounted Detachment.
Timings and details:
0820 - The large Guard of Honour, comprised of 104 Officers and soldiers of the Coldstream Guards, accompanied by 55 Flag Bearers of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards and the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards will depart Wellington Barracks dressed in their immaculate uniforms and iconic bearskins. They will proceed to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace where they will form up in preparation to greet the Heads of Government.
After the conclusion of the formal opening, Heads of Government will be escorted by a Mounted Detachment of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment as they make their way down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to St Jamesâs Palace. Here they will be met by the UK Prime Minister and Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Approximately 0930 - The soldiers, horses and guns of the Kingâs Troop Royal Horse Artillery will ride out from their forward mounting base in Wellington Barracks and make their way up Birdcage Walk, past the Queen Victoria Memorial, up Constitution Hill and into The Green Park.
The guns are the Regimentâs colours and so are afforded due respect throughout the route. Before their arrival in Green Park, the Band of the Royal Artillery will play a selection of celebratory music close to the firing position. 71 horses pulling six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns will then dramatically come into action from the North of the Park to place the guns into position for the Salute. On the word of command, which will be given as the first Head of Government alights at Friary Court and shakes hand with the UK Prime Minister, each of the six guns will fire blank artillery rounds at ten-second intervals until 53 shots have been fired. The horses and riders will then collect the guns and escort them back to Wellington Barracks in Birdcage Walk.
ENDS
MEDIA ATTENDANCE:
THE GREEN PARK
Media are welcome to attend the Gun Salute and film and photograph the artillery charge and the guns firing in Green Park. Media should be in position no later than 1030. The Royal Artillery Band will begin to play just before the Troop arrive. At 10.56 the Troop will come into action and set the Guns up for the salute.
A Royal Parks Media Pass is required for all photography and filming. Please contact the Royal Parks direct if you require a pass for this event: press@royalparks.gsi.gov.uk
Media are free to roam anywhere behind the rope cordon. Standing half way down Constitution Hill parallel to the six ammunition boxes that the soldiers will set out to mark the positions of the Guns will allow optimum coverage of the spectacle. Attendees are recommended to wear ear defenders as the gun fire is extremely loud.
WELLINGTON BARRACKS
There is a limited behind the scenes opportunity in Wellington Barracks from 0715am to see final preparation of the large Guard of Honour and Kingâs Troopâs horses and guns.
Media wishing to cover this event MUST inform Media Operations HQ London District on giles.anderson114@mod.gov.uk with names, roles, contact email and mobile telephone numbers of those attending. Requests must be received no later than 1700 on 17 April 2018 (TODAY).
Media attending Wellington Barracks must be in possession of photo ID in order to gain access. There is strictly NO PARKING at the barracks.
Editorsâ Notes:
THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MOUNTED REGIMENT
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) is based in Hyde Park Barracks in Knightsbridge, London, and provides mounted ceremonial troops for all state occasions including State Visits, the Queenâs Birthday Parade, the State Opening of Parliament and the Garter Ceremony. It has three squadrons: The Life Guards Mounted Squadron in red tunics and white plumes, the Blues and Royals Mounted Squadron in blue tunics and red plumes and a Headquarters Squadron which commands all the specialists such as farriers and saddlers. The regiment performs the daily Queenâs Life Guard at Horse Guards. The regiment is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel and has about 375 officers and men. Nearly all new Household Cavalry recruits go first to the mounted regiment, where they learn to ride and spend just over a year on ceremonial duties before going to the operational regiment in Windsor. Many, if not most, have never ridden a horse before.
THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS
The Coldstream Guards is the oldest Regiment in the British Army, having been in unbroken service to the nation since 1650. In 1660 General George Monck was instrumental in the restoration of the Monarchy and the parade in June is an extension of that tradition of loyalty to the Crown. The Coldstream Guards has served with distinction in campaigns throughout the nationâs history, particularly in the Napoleonic, Crimean, Boer, First and Second World Wars, winning a total of 13 Victoria Crosses. The Colours for the Coldstream Guards carry 44 out of their 117 Battle Honours, the last being Gulf 1991 for the Liberation of Kuwait. Since then the Coldstream Guards has served operationally in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan when the battalion was awarded an unprecedented 4 Military Crosses.
THE KINGâS TROOP ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a British Army mounted ceremonial unit that fires Royal Salutes on Royal Anniversaries and State Occasions, such as State Visits and Royal birthdays, and they provide a gun carriage and a team of black horses for State and Military Funerals. Permanently based in Woolwich, Kingâs Troop soldiers also have a vital operational role. Trained as fighting soldiers first and foremost, when the Army mobilises, Kingâs Troop Royal Horse Artillery provides HGV drivers who deliver ammunition to artillery units around the battlefield. They received their title in 1947 when King George VI decided that, following the mechanisation of the last batteries of horse drawn artillery, a troop of horse artillery should be kept to take part in the great ceremonies of state. He declared that the Riding Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery would be known as 'The King's Troop', and enacted this by striking out the word âRidingâ in their Visitors Book and inserting âKing's. On her accession, Queen Elizabeth II declared that the name 'The King's Troop' would remain in his honour. The King's Troop forms part of the Household Troops and, when on parade with its guns, take precedence over all other Regiments in the Regular forces of the British Army. They also mount the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards each summer when the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is on military training outside London. The unit is also famous for their spectacular Musical Drive which thrills the crowds at shows up and down the UK every year, when they tow their guns at the gallop around the arena in exciting and immaculately choreographed manoeuvres.
ROYAL SALUTES
Whilst a Royal Salute normally comprises 21 guns, this is increased to 41 if fired from a Royal Park or Residence. To mark the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 53 guns will be fired, one for each of the nations that make up the Commonwealth.
Gun salutes are customarily fired, both on shore and at sea, as a sign of respect or welcome. Just as a salute with the open hand was used historically to show that no weapon was concealed in the palm, so the firing of cannon as a salute indicated the friendly intent of an empty chamber.
In early times, it was customary for a ship entering a friendly port to discharge its cannon to demonstrate that they were unloaded. In early times ships carried seven cannon, (seven was held by the earliest civilizations to have mystical powers) so the earliest salutes were made up of seven rounds. Forts ashore, which could store gunpowder more readily and in greater quantity than on board ship, would fire three shots for each shot fired afloat making 21. Today gun salutes mark special occasions on certain days of the year, many of them with Royal associations. On these days, Royal salutes are fired from locations in London, Portsmouth, Colchester, Dover, Plymouth and York in England, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, Cardiff in Wales, Hillsborough Castle in County Down, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar. The number of rounds fired in a Royal salute today depends on the place and occasion. The basic Royal salute is the traditional 21 rounds. In Green Park an extra 20 rounds are added because it is a Royal Park. At the Tower of London 62 rounds are fired on Royal anniversaries (the basic 21, plus 20 because the Tower is a Royal Palace and Fortress, plus another 21 'for the City of London') and 41 on other occasions. Gun salutes occur on the following Royal anniversaries: Accession Day, HM The Queen's birthday, Coronation Day, The Duke of Edinburgh's birthday, The Queen's official birthday, The Prince of Wales's birthday, The State Opening of Parliament, when Parliament is prorogued by the Sovereign, on Royal births, and when a visiting Head of State meets the Sovereign in London, Windsor or Edinburgh.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS
The Commonwealth of Nations was formally constituted in 1949 with the London Declaration. The symbol of this free association is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who is the Head of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth covers around 20% of the worldâs land area; it spans all six inhabited continents and has an estimated population of around 2.4 billion people.
About the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The UK is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where leaders from across the Commonwealth will gather in London and Windsor. With the theme of 'Towards a Common Future' they will work to create a more prosperous, secure, sustainable and fair future for the Commonwealth's 2.4 billion citizens, particularly its young people.
For further information visit www.chogm2018.org.uk or follow on Twitter @commonwealth18.
Sgt Paul Randall RLC