Trooping the Colour aka why I'm not suited to royal life

[MrsLeonFarrell]

I wee. A lot. Particularly if I think i can't get to a toilet because, say, I'm stuck on a parade ground.

I get hot. Very hot. Even in a thin linen dress can't imagine how I'd cope with a coat dress and hat in full sun.

I get travel sick. Those carriages look like they sway a lot.

I have an inappropriate sense of humour. Lip readers would have a field day.

What about you? Would you sail through a major royal event or would you be like me, an unfortunate tabloid headline in the making?

Wow @BemusedAmerican thank you. Those demonstrations are impressive and very moving.

Yes, the silence from Montecito is deafening. I suppose Harry holding up a "no Kings" placard would have detracted from the message, but they could have said or done something.

Poor Meghan (and Harry)! They've gone from 'working royals' to twerking royals, bless them. Whatever next for our entertainment?

And have you got any more stereotypes up your sleeve? My bingo card is only half full.

My Dgrandparents (WW1 generation, grandfather served) used "bags of swank" but had kids who served in WW2 so may have picked it up from them I suppose.

How phrases enter general language is fascinating.

I don't find TtC boring - it's like a carousel, or horse ballet as well as having amazing choreographed marching and wonderful music played by incredibly clever people doing at least 3 difficult things at once - respect, I say.

But I have always got the giggles in very formal events - precisely because you're not supposed to laugh. I used to get the giggles in church with my mum and sister as a child (not a modern happy-clappy church - real traditional C of E Book of Common Prayer stuff - and the vicar would sing or intone the Psalm too). I nearly burst a blood vessel sometimes trying not to explode! I would be sniggering at TtC particularly when the individual soldiers march out and do that funny stamping thing, as if they're toddlers having a tantrum.

I love everything about TtC, and long may it continue!

I had a friend who died a little while ago at a very advanced age. She was old enough to be my mother and I'm fairly ancient now. She, like me, had been brought up on the BCP and older translations of the bible. Once, when they were quite young, she and her best friend were in church when the vicar leaned over the pulpit and quoted something like "I have piped unto ye all day and ye have not danced". They got the giggles and it makes me laugh even now, just typing it.
I was thinking yesterday about the practice that is needed, in just the same way as for a stage act or ballet.
At one point I was watching a group of men all holding something (gun!) in their left arms and swinging their right arms while the man in the lead was holding something in his right and swinging his left arm. Oh, no, now I want to go to I Player and watch it again.

I love Trooping. I like the little piece with the Ensign who will actually troop the Colour through the ranks and the other interviews. I loved the fact that Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes who joined up at 16 and stands 9 foot tall in his bearskin had a special march composed in his honour that includes his initials in Morse code this year.

It is all a lot more meaningful for many than endless missiles and tanks rolling through wherever in a show of force.

I love all those details, it really is fascinating. The history is amazing.
I can't stand people sneering because they don't understand it, or think it's some sort of "royal" event.

This. For some members of the military, coordination and therefore, drill come easily. For others they almost literally have two left feet. They have to work damn hard to become proficient at drill but when you see them on parade you cannot tell those who struggled from this who found it a breeze. It takes weeks of practice. That is the amount of dedication and hard work that is put in by members of the armed forces to put on this show.

Also, I remember going to watch a production of Macbeth when I was studying A levels. I was sitting near to our English teacher. The actor who was playing Lady Macbeth delivered the line “but screw your courage to the sticking post” with far too much emphasis on the word “screw”. Someone behind us said “oooh” in a disapproving sort of way and we all dissolved in to hysterical laughter which we were desperately trying to suppress because of the proximity of our teacher. I still giggle about this too 😆

“A dog's obeyed in office.”
King Lear Act 4, Scene 6

I'm honestly unsure of the relevance of this gnomic quote to smilesy's post TBH.

Well I can hazard a guess, the evil Royals. Somehow.

I loved the fact that Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes who joined up at 16 and stands 9 foot tall in his bearskin had a special march composed in his honour that includes his initials in Morse code this year.

I read Robert Hardman's book about the King's first year. There's quite a lot about GSM Vern Stokes in the planning for the Queen's funeral and the Coronation.

(Not sure of the title of the book, I think it might have different titles in the UK and the US.)

It's a shame when people feel compelled to spoil an interesting discussion.

Trooping is so far from my every day experience that I enjoy hearing from people who do have knowledge about it - I like learning things.

Edit: that was in response to @Uricon2

It is genuinely interesting to learn about all this stuff, and some of the battles on the flag!

Well Shakespeare does seem to have a quote that can be used to illustrate whatever point one chooses but as @Uricon2 says, this is a bit tenuous. My post was alluding to a humorous incident that just happened to involve a performance of a work of Shakespeare. The actual quote was not really relevant. Just the way it was delivered 🤷‍♀️

"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!"

(King Lear, Act 1, Scene 4)

Might also be apposite 😂don't you think?

I somehow accidentally stumbled on a programme on Amazon Prime a few weeks back in which Vern Stokes featured prominently. I didn't realise he was so high profile but he came across as a committed, competent and well respected man.

I think he hosted a lunch or something at the end of the programme, and said something about how, for a lad brought up in a poor area of the midlands, he had a lot to be grateful to the army for. Nice to hear about his special march :).

Bring back the laughing emoji Nuncle !

The twerking and wizened todger finger framing was undoubtedly classless but it's equally classless to skim charities, tenants and the nation as a whole to line your own pockets.

None of 'em take the high ground.

I do know that's your opinion.
Thank you for sharing it again.

I aim to please 🙂

Can’t walk in heels, make up slides off my face in the heat. Would need a coffee and water. And my phone. Love a hat though.

I aim to please 🙂

That's not what I said...😛

A good opinion is worth sharing more than once. Like New York , New York. Even though the original York is good enough. But not obviously the Duke of York - he's a nonce - but strangley still gets to keep the title.

That's not what I said...😛

Well if repetition is now a thread crime the RF board is surely doomed.

Doomed 😱

I wish I had more opportunities to wear hats.