Photo Set #2: 2012 Queen’s Birthday Parade
Hundreds of people lined Front Street this morning [June 9] for the annual Queen’s Birthday Parade, which featured the Bermuda Regiment, the Bermuda Police Service, the Bermuda Sea Cadets and the Bermuda Cadet Corps, along the Atholl Highlanders from Scotland.
The parade, which was commanded by Major Warren Furbert, left the Cabinet grounds and marched down Front Street to the flag pole where they stopped in front of the dignitaries area.
The military music was provided by the Bermuda Regiment Band and Corps of Drums and the Atholl Highlanders Corps of Pipes and Drums. The Atholl Highlanders are under the command of the Duke of Atholl, and Europe’s only private legal army.
The Regiment and Highlanders both had their Colours on parade, the Bermuda Regiment fired a Feu De Joie and a 21 gun salute from their ceremonial 25 pound guns at the #1 Car Park. Adults and children alike could be seen covering their ears and heard gasping as the cannons fired. Some ventured closer to the cannons for a better look.
Various dignitaries attended including Governor George Fergusson, Premier Paula Cox, Opposition Leader Craig Cannonier, Mayor of Hamilton Graeme Outerbridge, Bermuda Regiment Commanding Officer Lt Col Brian Gonsalves, Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Jackman and numerous MPs.
After arriving, the Governor was invited to inspect the parade formation and was accompanied by the different group commanders. The Governor stopped from time to time to chat with different participants in the parade. Family, friends and visitors could be seen reaching through the crowds to capture the moment on camera and video.
After the formalities of the parade were over, the dignitaries departed and the parade circled past the flag pole and marched off to the Cabinet grounds saluting the cenotaph as they passed by, honoring those who have already passed.
The military in Bermuda has celebrated the Sovereign’s Official Birthday with a June parade for over 100 years. Until the 1950s, the ceremony itself was a purely military celebration, with minimal public participation and took place at the Prospect Garrison field.
From 1950 to 1955, the Queen’s Birthday Parade took place at Bernard’s Park, and in 1966 the parade shifted to Front Street. View the first set of photos here, the second set below, and videos can be viewed here.
Click to enlarge photos:
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Category: All, News, Parades, Photos
Boy, the government have really succeeded in reducing the marking of the Queen’s Birthday to almost nothing! Too bad!
Get a life Kim smith! Smh! What more you want from the parade. It’s been the same since 1966! Smh
Great pictures of the Atholl Highlanders, fantastic for us back home to see them taking part in this event.
Your Welcome from Bermuda ! An experince to remember………………