Even though they’re the masters of state ceremonial excellence, the Household Division still needs to rehearse for such a prestigious event such as His Majesty The King’s Coronation.
Across Aldershot Garrison, the dismounted elements of the Household Division which will take part in the Coronation Procession have been hard at work practising the intricate drill movements, attention to detail and precision timings they are known around the world for.
For these dismounted elements, they will take part in the largest military procession which London has seen since the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 as His Majesty travels back from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace amidst streets lined with Union flags and cheering crowds.
The Household Division will lead the Sovereign’s escort and Their Majesties themselves on the journey back to Buckingham Palace.
For almost two weeks, over seven hundred Guardsmen, Household Cavalry Troopers and Musicians have been ensuring they are the paragons of ceremonial excellence, and a standard for which the rest of the procession can look up to. All six Regiments of Foot Guards (The Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards and Welsh Guards as well as the London Guards), the Household Cavalry Regiment as well as the Massed Bands of the Household Division will all be on parade.
For many days they have been practising behind closed gates, out of the view of the public, ensuring their individual and Company or Squadron level drill is up to the high standards expected of them, but to ensure the procession goes to plan they must practice as a formed Group.
Using Queen’s Avenue in Aldershot to emulate The Mall in London, they have been practising the full procession under the public eye. Led by the Massed Bands of the Household Division and their Senior Officers, the Foot Guards marching 12 ranks wide with street liners either side were a sight to behold.
No less impressive are the dismounted elements of the Blues and Royals and Life Guards of the Household Cavalry following on just behind them. To ensure their tunics and boots are prepared for Coronation week, the troops on parade have been practising in khaki Barrack Dress topped with their signature bearskins or cavalry helmet.
For many of the units taking part in the Household Division rehearsal, this will have been their first chance to take part in ceremonial training in some time; many of them have returned days, if not hours before, from Operations and Exercises around the world. The 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards have recently returned from Operation SHADER in Iraq where they have been providing Force Protection for UK personnel in the region as well as training and mentoring to the Iraqi Army.
In the morning, prior to their processional practice, many of these Grenadier Guardsmen will have received their Operation SHADER medal awarded by Major General Chris Ghika, General Officer Commanding the Household Division and these will be worn proudly over the ceremonial events to come.
The 1st Battalion Scots Guards and the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards will have joined the training mere hours before after returning from Exercise ASKARI STORM in Kenya where they have been practising the Infantry skills and drills on the dry Kenyan Savannah.
Soldiers and Officers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards are currently engaged in training the Armed Forces in Ukraine, preparing them to defend their homeland from invasion. Finally, many of the members of the Household Cavalry Regiment will have recently flown back from UN Peacekeeping duties on Operation TOSCA and will be returning to Cyprus immediately following the Coronation.
