Június 14-én, azaz ma, ünnepli hivatalosan a II. Erzsébet királynő a születésnapját!
Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday – The ceremony of Trooping the Colour
The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June, when Her Majesty is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour parade which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horse Guards Parade. Official celebrations to mark Sovereigns’ birthday have often been held on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer. In May or June there’s a better chance of good weather.
This military ceremony dates back to the early 18th century or earlier, when the colours (flags) of the battalion were carried (or ‘trooped’) down the ranks so that they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. Since 1748, this parade has also marked the Sovereign’s official birthday. From the reign of Edward VII (1901-1910) onwards, the Sovereign has taken the salute in person at Trooping the Colour. During the ceremony, The Queen is greeted by a Royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops.
Her Majesty then joins other members of the Royal Family on the palace balcony for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force. The Queen has attended Trooping the Colour every year of her reign, except in 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event. In 1981, Queen Elizabeth II was shot at during the ceremony by a seventeen-year-old, who said he had done this to become famous. The Queen was unharmed, as he used blank shots, but Marcus Sarjeant was sentenced to 5 years in prison.
The processions can be seen from the Mall. Events begin at approximately 10am, with the fly-past at 1pm. The parade is also broadcast live on the BBC in the UK.
source: www.royal.gov.uk
official birthday – hivatalos születésnap
Her Majesty – Őfelsége
spectacular – látványos
to mark a birthday – születésnapot megünnepelni
to date back to – visszanyúlni
flag – zászló
battalion – zászlóalj
reign – uralkodás
to take the salute – tisztelgést fogadni
to carry out – elvégezni
inspection – szemle, ellenőrzés
the troops – katonai csapatok
fly-past – légiszemle
to attend – részt venni eseményen
rail strike – vasúti sztrájk
to be shot at – rálőnek
to be unharmed – sértetlen
blank shot – vaktöltény
procession – felvonulás
to broadcast – közvetíteni
