Note: From Friday, June 5 until Sunday, June 14, I will be traveling and will be away from my computer. For notes about how this will affect the blog, especially commenting, visit here!
When the Queen arrives to survey the Welsh Guards at the annual Trooping the Colour festivities on June 13, the brooch she wears won't be a surprise to anyone. For the past 26 years, she's been wearing the same one: the Guards Brooch, which features the badges of the five Household regiments (the Coldstream Guards, the Grenadier Guards, the Irish Guards, the Scots Guards, and the Welsh Guards). The diamond brooch, which is surmounted by a crown, was likely made from a pendant given to the Queen's aunt, Princess Mary, in 1922.
The Queen stopped riding in her birthday parade in 1987. (Before that, she wore a military uniform to participate in the parade on horseback.) Since then, she's worn the Guards Brooch every single year -- with one particular exception. Here's a look at the Queen at Trooping the Colour over the past 28 Junes.
Trooping the Colour 2014
Trooping the Colour 2013
Trooping the Colour 2012
Trooping the Colour 2011
Trooping the Colour 2010
Trooping the Colour 2009
Trooping the Colour 2008
Trooping the Colour 2007
Trooping the Colour 2006
Trooping the Colour 2005
Trooping the Colour 2004
Trooping the Colour 2003
Trooping the Colour 2002
Trooping the Colour 2001
Trooping the Colour 2000
Trooping the Colour 1999
Trooping the Colour 1998
Trooping the Colour 1997
Trooping the Colour 1996
Trooping the Colour 1995
Trooping the Colour 1994
Trooping the Colour 1993
Trooping the Colour 1992
Trooping the Colour 1991
Trooping the Colour 1990
Trooping the Colour 1989
Trooping the Colour 1988
(Here's the exception! The Queen wore Queen Mary's Dorset Bow Brooch at Trooping in 1988.
Trooping the Colour 1987