Three military horses that bolted through central London after being spooked to feature in major royal event
Three military horses that got loose in London to feature in major royal event
Getty, PA
The three military horses that caused havoc in London are set to have a starring role in Trooping the Colour this weekend.
Five Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) horses were injured after being spooked by rubble being dropped through a plastic tunnel while on an exercise in Belgravia on April 24.
Horses Tennyson, Trojan and Vanquish will take part in the King’s Birthday Parade after making “swift and successful” recoveries and showing “such aptitude and eagerness”, the Army said on Thursday.
Two of the injured horses, Trojan and Vanquish, will be back in the public eye providing the ceremonial guard for the official entrance to the Royal Palaces.
Two horses on the loose bolt through the streets of London near AldwychPATennyson will be in the Sovereign’s Escort during the parade, which features 242 horses.
Captain Charles Carr-Smith, 1 Troop Leader in the Life Guards Squadron of HCMR, said: “Tennyson has returned to service without missing a step. His return has lifted the spirits of those in 1 Troop the Life Guards.
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The horses dashed through central London in April
PA“Knowing that this brilliant horse will once again carry its rider carefully down the Mall or canter off, leaping over log piles in Melton Mowbray, is a comfort to our less experienced riders, who will undoubtedly scramble to put their names alongside his, for daily exercise.”
The other two more seriously injured horses from April’s incident, Vida and Quaker, remain at The Horse Trust and “will do so for as long as they need”.
King Charles will be inspecting the houses ahead of the parade but it is understood that he will be in a carriage rather than horseback like previous years.
This is due to The King's health as he recovers from his cancer diagnosis.
Trooping the Colour will take place this weekend PAKing Charles seems to be very much looking forward to the event.
After he inspected the guardsmen and officers on parade on Monday afternoon he said: “It has been a remarkable 84 years since my grandfather, King George VI, presented new Colours to the Second Battalion Irish Guards in Wellington Barracks during the opening months of the Second World War.
“After that terrible war, whose anniversaries we are in the midst of commemorating, the Second Battalion was placed in suspended animation but, I am delighted to say, has been reinstated.”
The whole family have appeared in previous years PAIt is unconfirmed whether or not Charles's daughter-in-law Princess Kate will appear at the event.
The princess is thought to be "considering" an appearance on the balcony but "only if she is well enough."
Sources told the outlet that the mother of three may join other senior royals to witness the traditional RAF Flypast after the ceremony but it is unlikely that this will be confirmed until nearer the time.