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| | Trooping The Colour |
 | | The origin of the ceremony goes back to the early eighteenth century, and possibly even earlier, when the guards and sentries for the Royal Palaces and other important buildings in the capital were mounted daily on the parade ground by the Horse Guards building. |
 | | A feature of guard mounting was for the colours (or flags) of the battalion, which were - and still are - symbols of honour, but also in the past served as rallying points in battle, to be carried (or 'trooped') slowly down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. |
 | | Because the Guards, both Horse and Foot, are Household Troops who traditionally have the honour of guarding the monarch, their link with the Sovereign has been especially close. |
| www.army.mod.uk /ceremonialandheritage/household/trooping.htm (1435 words) |
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