The Queen's Corona Nation

Covid-19 crisis: Troops play safe on hm birthday

- Russell Myers

Fanning out to keep a safe distance as they march, a shrunken band of the Household Division marks the Queen’s birthday at Windsor yesterday – for the first time in her reign.

In her only public engagement since lockdown began, the Queen was said to be “grateful” and “delighted” at the unique Trooping the Colour in the castle grounds. With no viewing positions for wellwishers, the ceremony could not have been more different to a year ago – when crowds lined London’s Horse Guards Parade, and Prince Harry and Meghan were among those joining her on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The “mini-Trooping” for Her Majesty’s official birthday was carried out by just 20 soldiers of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

In another historic first they included a female guardsman, Rhian Morgan, of Newport, Wales.

Other senior Royals are understood to have watched the occasion at home on the BBC.