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| Queen watches birthday spectacle | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Queen has celebrated her 83rd official birthday with the Trooping the Colour parade in central London. | |
| In brilliant sunshine, more than 1,100 soldiers and 300 horses took part in the display of military pomp and pageantry on Horse Guards Parade. | |
| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by crowds lining The Mall as they rode from Buckingham Palace in a vintage carriage. | The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by crowds lining The Mall as they rode from Buckingham Palace in a vintage carriage. |
| Later, she will enjoy the traditional birthday flypast by the RAF. | |
| Princes William and Harry travelled in another horse-drawn carriage to the ceremony with the Duchess of Cornwall. | |
| Prince William wore his Royal Air Force uniform, while Prince Harry wore the uniform of his regiment, the Blues and Royals. | |
| The Earl and Countess of Wessex joined the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the second carriage. | The Earl and Countess of Wessex joined the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in the second carriage. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown also attended the ceremony with his wife Sarah. | |
| 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 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. |
| Irish Guards | Irish Guards |
| Prince Harry wore the uniform of his regiment | Prince Harry wore the uniform of his regiment |
| The Queen's actual birthday was on 21 April, when she turned 83. | The Queen's actual birthday was on 21 April, when she turned 83. |
| The tradition of two birthdays dates back to the time when, if monarchs were born in winter, the weather was deemed unsuitable for outdoor events. | The tradition of two birthdays dates back to the time when, if monarchs were born in winter, the weather was deemed unsuitable for outdoor events. |
| Traditionally, before battle, Colours - or flags - were carried, or "trooped", along the rank of soldiers so they could be seen and recognised. | Traditionally, before battle, Colours - or flags - were carried, or "trooped", along the rank of soldiers so they could be seen and recognised. |
| In 1748, it was decided the trooping would also be used to honour the sovereign's birthday. | In 1748, it was decided the trooping would also be used to honour the sovereign's birthday. |
| The Colour paraded this year was that of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards. | |
| Four of the five Foot Guards regiments of the Household Division - the Irish Guards, Grenadier Guards, Scots Guards and the Coldstream Guards - marched in the parade in bearskin hats and red tunics. | |
| The Massed Bands and the Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry also took part, as did the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery. | |
| The royal family has now returned to Buckingham Palace to gather on the balcony for the traditional RAF flypast. |