Trooping the Colour or Colonel's Review with kids

Oh, Emma, I understand! I'm an Atlantan but have never been to the Coke Museum. Hope somebody will help me with this.

Sorry, I can't help. I'd have thought that the rehearsal would be less crowded than the real event, but if the Queen is still in good shape next year I'd plump for that if I were going.

I always record the live TV coverage of it and then use it as a sort of background when I get home from work.

Hi Ruth,
On my most recent trip to London, I arrived on the day of the Colonel's Review, Saturday June 10. I thought I'd be too late to see anything, but by luck my flight came in early and the queue at passport control was short, so I dropped my bag at my hotel and hurried over toward the Mall. By the time I got there, the bands were just finishing their procession back toward Buckingham Palace around 1230 pm (if I understand the events correctly). So I saw a little and didn't have to wait around :)

But better yet, I was in plenty of time to get a good spot along Constitution Hill nearby for the royal gun salute at 1 pm in Green Park in honor of the Duke of Edinburgh's birthday. I think your grandson would enjoy the pageantry, the horses, and the (very!) loud cannons of the Royal Horse Artillery. See video here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4591540/41-gun-salute-Duke-Edinburgh-s-birthday.html

From what I saw, the gun salute was a lot less crowded than the Colonel's Review, but I didn't stay for the entire 41-gun salute...I left after seeing 2 rounds of salutes from the 6 or 7 cannons positioned in the Park.

We got tickets to the Trooping of the Colour a couple of years back. I believe it is via ballot and there is a fee to pay if you are successful with your application. However, for that we got seats in the (temporary) grandstands erected for the occasion round three sides of Horseguards. We were sat with a bunch of military apparently from other countries. Dress, I recall, was requested to be 'smart casual' so I didn't wear jeans, wore a shirt with collar (tie in pocket just in case) and a linen jacket and 'proper' shoes - not trainers/sneakers. Members of the military were all in uniform.

Trooping the Colour is quite a long ceremony and I'm not sure it would hold a ten year old's attention throughout (I wasn't even sure if it would hold mine - in the event it did, although I'm not entirely sure of the niceties of the ceremony!). It is an impressive and colourful spectacle though with hundreds of uniformed soldiers on foot and on horseback. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family were present on the occasion we went although I'm not sure it can be guaranteed that Her Majesty will attend future Troopings, not least due to her age and also as the Duke of Edinburgh has 'retired' from public duties. It may have been the Diamond Jubilee Trooping we attended as afterwards we were able to walk down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, shepherded by the Police, where the Royal Family appeared on the balcony and there was a fly past. Not sure if this happens every year or if it was a special one off.

Hope this gives you some idea - we've haven't been to the Colonels Review so can't say what that's like in comparison. We are not residents of London and made a special trip down to attend the Trooping of the Colour (Plus some other stuff to fill the weekend!).

Have a great trip!

Ian

Trooping the Colour on Saturday the 16th, on the 18th June Thor Order of Garter Ceremony takes place at Windsor Castle. We went several years ago and it was great. I wrote to Windsor for tickets (they are free), The Superintendent, Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1NJ UK or [email protected] request up to four tickets. We got into the line outside of the castle, I can't remember how early we had to get there. Then when they started to let people in we got spots a few feet away from St George's Chapel on the grass so we could sit and wait for it to start. The royal family, prime minister and others walk from the castle to Sky George's Chapel. We were so close that we could of reached out and touched them. It was well worth it.

I saw the Colonel's Review this year on my first trip to England, so I can't compare it to the real thing. It takes a full three hours, so you must gauge your grandson's interest in pageantry, bands, guards of different types, and horses. It two or three of those things are of interest to him, it should hold his attention. If none of those things sound appealing to him, I wouldn't pay for seating so you could escape if you are just standing along the parade route when he becomes bored. Overall, I was so pleased that I went, as it is unlike anything I'm ever likely to see in the U.S.

Its true nobody does pageantry better than the British but as noted by people who have attended both events, they can be lengthy.

A 10year old attention span may not focus on all of it.

If there are videos of each on youtube why not share with him and ask him what he'd like to see?

Some how I suspect a day trip out to Harry Potter land would be more entertaining especially if he's never ridden a train.

If neither of you have a fear of heights the Tower Bridge Experience should be considered. He might also enjoy Mudchute Farm. The Transport Museum and the newly opened Postal Museum railways.
https://www.postalmuseum.org

Lastly, I'd check to see what local rugby matches might be taking place in the Hampstead Heath. http://www.hampsteadrugbyclub.co.uk

GREAT that you are taking him to London. Such a wonderful city to explore at any age!