Page 13 - QDG 2023

The Golden Orb marching party
The CoR with the QDG representation in the soverigns body guard
Incorrectly dressed, and wearing a bear skin
Standard Party Final rehearsals
The parade began, remarkably in sync!
borough station at 1730 and returning 0700. Marching with full band across Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square and the Mall in the middle of the night was a surreal experience. Following the navigating of chalk lines, locked palace gates, and full bladders, the rehearsal was over. The evening was topped off by Sgt Humphries receiving his Mention in Dispatches in the underground car park of Wellington Barracks from Brigadier Alan Richmond, Col QDG. On the return journey to RMAS the train was filled with some very smartly dressed zombies.
Following some final tweaking on drill movements and dress, the troops had some time to relax before the main event. Coronation Day started bright and early. With excitement, the troops lined up on Farnborough station to catch the train up to Waterloo. We were serenaded by
the band over the tannoy
detailing the distance left,
and the apprehension grew.
Upon arrival, the streets
were lined ten deep, and
we marched to the beat of
the drum from Waterloo to
Wellington Barracks, and
then on to our chalk mark on
Whitehall. The loudspeakers
dotted around the ground provided a live stream from Westminster Abbey, and the atmosphere continued to build. Marching to the beat of the drum under Admiralty Arch to the first sung lines of Zadok the Priest will never be forgotten!
The King is Crowned. God Save the King, Long Live the King, God Save the King.
The parade began, remarkably in sync! We were off, through Trafalgar Square and down the Mall lined with commonwealth
flags and a blur of bearskins. The worlds media had stra- tegically placed themselves on the exact point that each contingent moved from 12 to 6s, capturing every miscount and wrong step! As we squeezed into Buckingham Palace past the Standard Bearers glistening in their
helmets and plumes, we stood fast on our position and came to rest facing the balcony, with aching feet and tired arms!
Three cheers for His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen! Hoorah, Hoorah, Hoorah.
Waterloo Station was beckoning, and we marched back fighting fatigue and
bloody feet. We were done! Nipped!
ZS