Queen's 90th birthday weekend

When I started the blog in Oklahoma its purpose was to keep friends and loved ones back home informed of what I was doing, with my activities and reflections on life around me in Shawnee, and assure them I was active and functioning.   Now that I am back home its focus has shifted to keeping in touch with the good friends I've made in the US, rather than just drift away from you  all.

The major event here in the UK this weekend has been the Trooping of the Colour in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday, which was actually on  the 21st April, so she is now  pushing 91.   But April was deemed to be inconvenient because the weather is thought to be better in June, ha ha ha - pardon me while I fall about laughing.  And fine weather is really needed when the Queen is in an open carriage, hundreds of troops are marching about, and spectators are lining the Mall and jamming the front of the Palace.

The weather here this morning has been very grey, wet and chilly, which I why I'm laughing, I wasn't here in April but I can't imagine it would have been much worse.   But yesterday morning when the ceremony was actually held, it wasn't bad and everyone kept dry.

The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th century when the colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle, and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment.

Different regiments have the honour each year, and this year it was the turn of the Coldstream Guards founded in 1650 and part of Cromwell's New Model Army.   It is the oldest regiment in today's modern British Army.

I hope I haven't bored you with this little history lesson, but thought I'd write about it as it was topical.