The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment ride out from Hyde Park Barracks. © SASRA
In a historic event, 7000 service personnel – including more than 300 from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) and King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery mounted on horses and twenty military bands – supported the Coronation of King Charles III. In addition to UK troops, 400 personnel from forty Commonwealth countries and overseas territories took part.
Forty-six new British Army cap badges showing the new royal cypher were worn for the first time. © SASRA
Coronation Special Prayer Meeting
On Thursday, we held a Coronation Special Virtual Prayer Meeting. SASRA Scripture Reader Josh Fortune, based at Hyde Park Barracks, started with a short devotional and gave an update on the work. We also heard of life ‘behind the scenes’ from two serving Christians from the Household Cavalry who shared about the challenges of living counter-culturally on a daily basis and, amid the physical and mental demands, trying to get a healthy home-life balance. The work is challenging and takes a toll on them, yet they also shared about the zeal to serve and the opportunities they have to share their faith. The soldier from HCMR also spoke of the huge encouragement it is to have Josh on camp.
On Saturday, both Regiments of the Household Cavalry – the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment based at Hyde Park Barracks and the Household Cavalry Regiment based at Bulford Camp – participated in the Coronation.
After many hours of exhausting rehearsals and hard work, all the horses at Hyde Park Barracks were reshod and kit for both troops and horses was immaculately polished.
While the Coronation was an extra special ceremonial event, we were also reminded that it marked the beginning of the ceremonial season for the HCMR.
Ceremonies in 2023
Here are some of the upcoming ceremonies planned for this year. Each ceremony will involve intense planning and rehearsals, impacting the military and their families.
Trooping the Colour
Every year in June, Trooping the Colour, also known as ‘The King’s Birthday Parade’, takes place on Horse Guards Parade in London. This year, the ceremonies take place on 3, 10 and 17 June.
Two Trooping the Colour Reviews will take place before the King’s Birthday Parade; the first is ‘The Major General’s Review’ and then ‘The Colonel’s Review’. Over 1400 officers and men, together with two hundred horses, over four hundred musicians from ten bands and corps of drums, march and play as one. Some 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade.
Household Division Beating Retreat
In July, the Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry and the Massed Bands of the Household Division will be performing a spectacular ceremony of military music and precision drill, known as the Beating Retreat.
National Service of Remembrance
The National Service of Remembrance will take place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall in November.
HM The King’s Birthday
The concluding ceremony for 2023 will be the Gun Salute to mark HM The King’s Birthday on 15 November.
Pray with us
- Give thanks for the military personnel who participated in His Majesty The King’s Coronation over the weekend and that all ran smoothly.
- Praise God for graciously making a way for His Word to be read during the Coronation ceremony. Pray that all who listened would ponder what they heard and consider Christ.
- The Coronation merely marks the beginning of the ceremonial season. Continue to pray for the physical and mental wellbeing of members of the Armed Forces who continue to prepare for state ceremonial events throughout the year. May SASRA Scripture Readers have much boldness to share the hope of Christ Jesus with them.
- Pray for His Majesty The King as he rules the nation and ask that Christians may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way under his reign (2 Tim. 1:2)
