With the eyes of the world on Westminster, the professionalism and pageantry of the Armed Forces were on show for all to see today as they escorted Her Majesty The Queen from BuckinghamPalace to the House of Lords.
In all, 1384 members of the Armed Forces and 229 horses were on public show in a variety of ceremonial roles. The State Opening of Parliament is one of the highlights of the London Ceremonial calendar when all elements of the Army’s Household Division, and other elements of the Armed Forces, line the streets.
On 22 May, while London slept, the Armed Forces practiced for the event. The Royal Horse Artillery and Cavalrymen were up just after one o’clock in the morning preparing their horses but the effort is worth it because it meant that the Household Division was able to put the finishing touches to their precision procession on empty roads and with the minimum disruption to the capital’s normal routine.
The State Opening marks the formal start of the next parliamentary session. The primary purpose of this colourful tradition is to set out the government's legislative agenda to both Houses of Parliament in the Queen's Speech.
For Defence, a commitment was made to a full Strategic Defence & Security Review and to ensure that the Armed Forces can keep Britain safe.
Precisely as the Queen reached the Sovereign's Entrance of The House of Lords and proceeded to the Robing Room, a 41-gun salute was fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, supported by the Band of the Royal Artillery, in Green Park. As Her Majesty left the House of Lords at noon, afurther 41-gun salute was fired at the Tower of London by the Army’s oldest regiment, The Honourable Artillery Company, which is part of the Army Reserve.
Military units taking part this year were the Royal Navy, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards, Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, F Company Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, the Honourable Artillery Company, the Royal Air Force, The Royal Artillery Band, Band of the Grenadier Guards, Band of the Coldstream Guards, Band of the Scots Guards, Band of the Irish Guards, Band of the Welsh Guards, with 10 Signal Regiment in support.
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