HIS MAJESTY THE KING, ACCOMPANIED BY HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL, WILL PRESENT A NEW SOVEREIGN’S STANDARD TO THE BLUES AND ROYALS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Thursday 15th June 2023
His Majesty The King, Head of the Armed Forces, accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Royal Colonel of The Blues and Royals, will present a new Sovereign’s Standard to The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) on Thursday 15th June.
The presentation will take place in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace, ahead of the regiment’s role providing the Sovereign’s Escort at The King’s Birthday Parade – the first of His Majesty’s reign – on Saturday 17th June 2023.
Thirty-five service personnel and 27 military working horses will be on parade in the Quadrangle for the presentation of the new standard, which normally takes place every decade. The Blues and Royals were last presented their standard by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2014.
The King’s arrival in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace will be announced by a fanfare, following which His Majesty will receive a royal salute from The Blues and Royals.
The new standard will then be consecrated by the Chaplain General before it is presented by the King to the regiment. The standard will be given to The Sovereign’s Escort, and the mounted troop will then offer a second royal salute.
The new standard of The Blues and Royals will be used on public parade for the first time on 17th June for The King’s Birthday Parade. At the parade, the regiment will provide a mounted Sovereign’s Escort for His Majesty from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade.
This year, the Welsh Guards’ colour will be trooped at The King’s Birthday Parade, which will involve all seven regiments of the Household Division.