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Former royal butler shares Trooping the Colour secrets and why there are 2 rehearsals
Paul Burrell gave an in depth insight into the planning that goes into the Trooping the Colour event.
The Royal Family will lead the pomp and ceremony of Trooping the Colour this weekend, which will see 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together at Horse Guard's Parade to mark King Charles' official birthday.
Former royal butler Paul Burrell has given some insight into the precision that goes into organising the day itself, and why there's a 'three-line whip' for Prince William, Kate Middleton and the rest of 'the Firm' to attend.
Speaking in a new interview with Prime Casino, Paul explains it's important for the monarchy to be 'very visible' at Trooping the Colour, and says the event is not just important for the family, but for the nation as a whole.
Paul shares the details of the extensive rehearsals that take place in the lead up to the celebration, and reveals members of the public can actually buy tickets to go along. He also explains that the second rehearsal in the days leading up to the real thing takes place at 4am 'to cause the least disruption to London possible'.
He said: "It's the second most important day in the royal calendar after Remembrance Sunday. It's the day when we as a nation really celebrate our monarchy, because it's the King's official birthday, as it was the Queen's official birthday. Everyone who is able to attend, will attend. There's a three line whip for Remembrance Sunday and for Trooping the Colour.
"Trooping the Colour and the appearance on the balcony is very important, not only for the Royal Family, it's important for the nation. It's the day we see our Royal Family on show and they have to perform, and that's what they do. As do the armed forces, led by the mounted division of the household cavalry, we get to see them, close up and on show, and very visible."
The former butler then added that two dress rehearsals take place come rain or shine, and a lot of planning goes into it.
He said: "There's a dress rehearsal the week before when people stand in for the royals and they do it as if it's for real. People can actually get tickets for the rehearsal, to sit in the stands at the Horseguard's Parade and watch the whole thing. But the Royal Family is not there. During the week they have a 4am rehearsal where the army doesn't wear their dress uniforms.
"The carriages are all closed shut, so they're just pulled by the horses with closed carriages. Come rain or shine, a rehearsal happens in very small hours to cause the least disruption to London as possible. There's a lot of planning that goes into it. It's a well rehearsed plan, which is a similar plan for every year. The Royal Mews know exactly where they're going and what they're doing, it's just that the regiments change every year.
"They're the ones that need the rehearsal because every year it's a different regimen Trooping their Colour, so they are front and centre and they troop their colour in front of the monarch. It takes a lot of planning and it's probably the biggest day, biggest public procession in London, even more so than a state visit because of all the troops involved in the planning of it."
Finally, Paul discusses the late Princess Diana's involvement in Trooping the Colour, an event she was allowed to attend before marrying into the Royal Family, and says this tells us 'how accepted she was' by the family.
He said: "Diana was accepted before she was married, she'd already passed the test to be part of the family and was invited to join the public procession before she was married. She continued to do that every year that she could afterwards because she realised this was her public role."
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