In 2016, we celebrate the occasion of The Queen’s 90th Birthday with a set of stamps depicting Her Majesty on her official birthday. The photographs have been taken during the last five years at the Trooping the Colour ceremony, which marks Her Majesty’s official birthday in June. Our stamps also include an image taken on the day The Queen became Britain’s Longest Reigning Monarch.
In 2016, as The Queen marks the occasion of her 90th Birthday, a series of events are planned for her official birthday. On Friday 10 June, a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral will take place, followed by Trooping the Colour on Saturday 11 June and culminating in The Patron’s Lunch as the celebratory finale on Sunday 12 June.
During the Trooping the Colour ceremony, The Queen is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops. Trooping the Colour is carried out by fully trained and operational troops from the Household Division, consisting of Foot Guards and Household Cavalry, on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, which is also watched by invited guests and members of the public.
After the massed bands have performed a musical 'troop', the escorted Regimental Colour is carried down the ranks.
The Foot Guards and the Household Cavalry then march past Her Majesty; The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, rank past.
The Queen rides in a carriage back to Buckingham Palace at the head of her Guards, before taking the salute at the Palace from a dais (platform). Since the reign of Edward VII, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person at Trooping the Colour. The troops then return to barracks.
Her Majesty then joins other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force, which traditionally follows Trooping the Colour.
With the exception of 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event, The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour every year of her reign.
