Painting the town red

As summer blooms in London, a centuries-old ceremony unfurls with pomp and pageantry—Trooping the Colour. The event marks the official birthday of the British sovereign in a tradition dating back to the 18th century. Trooping the Colour is deeply rooted in the practicalities of yore, where battlefield standards served as vital rallying symbols for soldiers.
© Malcolm Park editorial/Alamy Live News