The Return to Buckingham Palace

Director of Music of the mounted bands turns inwards

The mounted band's director of music, who is watching until the last division of the Sovereign's Escort has stopped, turns inwards as a signal to the Field Officer.

Royal Salute

The assembled troops present arms and The Royal Salute is again played.

Field Officer salutes to The Queen

The Field Officer now reports to The King that his Guards are ready to march off.

Garrison Sergeant Major, London District

The Garrison Sergeant Major, London District salutes indicating that the carriages transporting members of the Royal Family have passed the end of the approach road where the mounted troops are assembled.

The Queen in her carriage
(Photo courtesy of Sgt. Paul Shaw LBIPP (Army))

The Queen follows the Massed Bands and leads the Foot Guards up The Mall to Buckingham Palace

The Massed Bands return up The Mall to Buckingham Palace

The King leads his troops back down The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

The Marker Sentries leave the Patade Ground

The parade ground markers, known as the Keepers of the Ground, march from Horse Guards Parade back to their barracks.

Guards marching past outside the Palace

The Household Cavalry walk past The Queen outside the Palace

The King stops at the gates of Buckingham Palace whilst the entire parade once again marches past in salute.

The Final Salute

The Field Officer in Brigade Waiting makes the final salute to The King at the gates and His Majesty enters the Palace and proceeds to the balcony to join the members of the Royal Household to watch an RAF flypast.

Royal Household on the balcony of the Palace

Feu de Joie
For Queen Elizabeth's 80th. Birthday Parade in 2006 the flypast was followed by a 'Feu de Joie' (Fire of Joy) which consisted of a cascade of blank rounds fired by the Old Guard, the New Guard and six Half-Companies of Street-Liners situated in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The gun fire was interspersed with bars of the national Anthem. It was the first time that a 'Feu de Joie' had been fired in the presence of Her Majesty by her Guards during her reign.
After the 'Feu de Joie', the troops on the forecourt laid down their weapons and removed bearskins for 'Three cheers for Her Majesty The Queen'.

Meanwhile, opposite the Palace in Green Park, The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41-gun salute.

The Battery   41 Gun Salute

The Royal Standard flies proudly from the roof of the Palace indicating that The King is in residence.

The Royal Standard

Trooping the Colour
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