Our trip to London, June 11 - 23, 2013, was planned around the idea that we would bring our 11-year-old granddaughter to see Trouping the Colour, marking the 87th (official) birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. What a grand experience this turned out to be, not only for her but for the two of us too!
The postal ballot for tickets to attend The Queen's Birthday Parade opened in January and closed at the end of February. We applied in January to The Brigade Major, stating how many tickets we required (max 3 per application) and included a stamped, self-addressed envelope for acknowledgement. Being from the U.S. we had to provide an International Reply Coupon. Our local post office didn't carry these, so we ordered the Reply Coupon online.
SUCCESS! At the end of April, we received a letter stating our application was drawn in the ballot and we were awarded 3 of the 8,000 tickets allotted, out of more than 17,000 applicants.
We had to send payment to them by the end of May and that's a very short turn-around, when you live in the USA. Our 3 tickets for the seated stands cost £30 each (US 146.93 total) and they required a check in sterling drawn on a British bank. We had our bank handle that and it took a few days to get the sterling check in. Our bank fee for the foreign draft was an additional $30.
NOW, we check the mail every day and wonder if we will get the tickets before we depart for our trip. We got them about a week before we left. Phew!
The postal ballot for tickets to attend The Queen's Birthday Parade opened in January and closed at the end of February. We applied in January to The Brigade Major, stating how many tickets we required (max 3 per application) and included a stamped, self-addressed envelope for acknowledgement. Being from the U.S. we had to provide an International Reply Coupon. Our local post office didn't carry these, so we ordered the Reply Coupon online.
SUCCESS! At the end of April, we received a letter stating our application was drawn in the ballot and we were awarded 3 of the 8,000 tickets allotted, out of more than 17,000 applicants.
We had to send payment to them by the end of May and that's a very short turn-around, when you live in the USA. Our 3 tickets for the seated stands cost £30 each (US 146.93 total) and they required a check in sterling drawn on a British bank. We had our bank handle that and it took a few days to get the sterling check in. Our bank fee for the foreign draft was an additional $30.
NOW, we check the mail every day and wonder if we will get the tickets before we depart for our trip. We got them about a week before we left. Phew!
If you're not sure what to write in your letter, here is what we did:
[Your address]
Dear Sirs,
I would like to apply for [insert number] tickets for the seated stands at the Queen's Birthday Parade/Trooping The Colour in London in June [insert year]. I have enclosed a stamped addressed envelope and look forward to hearing to you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Print your name]
[Your address]
Dear Sirs,
I would like to apply for [insert number] tickets for the seated stands at the Queen's Birthday Parade/Trooping The Colour in London in June [insert year]. I have enclosed a stamped addressed envelope and look forward to hearing to you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Print your name]
Yes, there is a dress code.
The back of the ticket has an "Important Instructions" section. It reads:
1) You must enter according to which stand you are in; The Mall, Horse Guard Rd, Admiralty Citadel, Downing St., Birdcage Walk.... you get the idea!
2) Men are required to wear morning dress, a lounge suit or jacket and trousers.
Military personnel may wear service dress/no 2 dress or service equivalent.
There is no specific dress code for ladies; however most wear a smart day dress, skirt and top, or a trouser suit. A hat or gloves are not required. (but soooooo many women wore hats and what a beautiful sight it was [see pics below])
3) Portaloo toilets are available between stands C & D and G & H. They close at 10:30am and open on completion of parade. [follow our advise: Go Before You Go]
4) Your ticket defrays the cost of .....
5) Children cannot be admitted without a ticket
6) Allow for Security delays.
The back of the ticket has an "Important Instructions" section. It reads:
1) You must enter according to which stand you are in; The Mall, Horse Guard Rd, Admiralty Citadel, Downing St., Birdcage Walk.... you get the idea!
2) Men are required to wear morning dress, a lounge suit or jacket and trousers.
Military personnel may wear service dress/no 2 dress or service equivalent.
There is no specific dress code for ladies; however most wear a smart day dress, skirt and top, or a trouser suit. A hat or gloves are not required. (but soooooo many women wore hats and what a beautiful sight it was [see pics below])
3) Portaloo toilets are available between stands C & D and G & H. They close at 10:30am and open on completion of parade. [follow our advise: Go Before You Go]
4) Your ticket defrays the cost of .....
5) Children cannot be admitted without a ticket
6) Allow for Security delays.
 | This is how we dressed for the 2013 Queens Birthday Parade. Follow the dress code to insure you are not refused entrance. |
Now .. on to the good stuff .. Pomp and Pageantry! (our personal photos)
View of the Queen from Section "M" To see the Queen in person was the most awesome thing, even from a distance. The carriage drivers, riders and soldiers in their regiments ... spectacular display!!
I love those beret-looking hats with the huge plume. And I can't help thinking they were all wearing the ballroom drapes complete with drapery tassels.
I love those beret-looking hats with the huge plume. And I can't help thinking they were all wearing the ballroom drapes complete with drapery tassels.
Was it worth the hassle of applying for seated tickets? You bet it was!
It's fun, colorful and impeccably performed.
Being awarded tickets to the seated stands had to be 100 times more enjoyable than joining the crowds of spectators along The Mall to watch the Parade. For the two of us, this was a once in a life time experience as I'm sure we will not seek the opportunity to do it again. Life is too short for repeat travel experiences! On the other hand, who knows what future travel plans will transpire for our granddaughter.
It's fun, colorful and impeccably performed.
Being awarded tickets to the seated stands had to be 100 times more enjoyable than joining the crowds of spectators along The Mall to watch the Parade. For the two of us, this was a once in a life time experience as I'm sure we will not seek the opportunity to do it again. Life is too short for repeat travel experiences! On the other hand, who knows what future travel plans will transpire for our granddaughter.
