Location: London; Horseguards and South Bank
Date: 15 and 17 June, 2006
Two sets of images from events which marked the 80th birthday of HM The Queen.
The first is from Beating Retreat which was held on Horseguards on 15 June. Featuring the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines it was something that I'd been intending to visit for some time. The weather was perfect for the ceremony which was attended by The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh who took the salute in honour of his own 85th birthday.
Then on to the following Saturday to see the RAF flypast which traditionally marks the end of Trooping the Colour. This year some 49 aircraft took part in 8 formations, the last of which uniquely featured the Red Arrows and a Canberra PR9 which has been specially painted to mark the end of RAF operations of the type in July 2006.
Lead element for the flypast was the Lancaster with pairs of Spitfires and Hurricanes.
Next up - a four-ship of Typhoons from 29 and 3 Squadrons.
This was followed by a single C-17, ZZ171.
Then came a Tristar flanked by pairs of Typhoons and Jaguars.
The air defence formation followed with a Sentry and four Tornado F3s.
This was followed by a Nimrod and four Tornado GR4s.
Then it was the turn of the 'old timers' with a VC10 leading four more Jaguars.
Penultimate formation was nine Tornado GR4s.
Finally, the Red Arrows in formation with a single Canberra PR9.
