HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant 2022
By Staff Sergeant Zaryn Kristel
To commemorate HM Queen Elizabeth II 70-year reign to the throne, and for the service to the people of Great Britain, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, a four-day Bank Holiday of colourful celebration & pageantry followed, on 2-5 June.
the AGC (Military Provost Guard Service, Military Provost Staff, Staff and Personnel Support Branch, Royal Military Police, Educational and Training Services and Army Legal Services).
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The Rehearsal Phase After the initial brief from the AGC Corps SM, WO1 Heathcote, and the issue of Ceremonial Dress (which we had been fitted up for the previous month) rifles and bayonets, the Contingent departed to our Concentration Area at Army Training Centre Pirbright, on 29th May, where we would spend the next week conducting rehearsals under the watchful guise of Sandhurst Drill Instructors, alongside fellow Army personnel in their respective contingents.
The rehearsal phase was intense but enjoyable, and covered various drill movements, all conducted in a mock set up of the route we would be marching on in Central London on the day of the Pageant.
Full Rehearsal – Wellington Barracks After rehearsing all morning on 30th May, we were stood down to carry out some personal admin before departing that evening for Wellington Barracks, where all marching contingents and accompanying Military Bands would carry out a full rehearsal of the parade in Ceremonial Dress. This would give contingents a true feel of what to expect on the day, as well as correct any errors.
Once we arrived by coach at Wellington Barracks, Central London, the Marshalls ushered each contingent to an underground car park beneath the barracks, where we would remain until it was time for the Pageant to form up for the rehearsal. It was here, in allocated waiting bays that had seating/clothes rails, Military Personnel patiently waited for several hours. In order to pass the time, Personnel chatted amongst themselves, played chess, attempted light sleep on plastic chairs/concrete floor while making trips to the tea and coffee stand for much needed brews!
Full Rehearsal – Marching Contingents When the time came, during the early hours for the AGC to form up on “the ramp” – the exit point at Wellington Barracks, daylight was beginning to break, and troops had changed into their full Ceremonial Dress for the parade.
44 AGC JOURNAL 2022
s part of the memorable occasion, the Adjutant General’s Corps formed a Marching Contingent for the Pageant, which consisted of 26 Soldiers from across
Once outside the barracks, there was another wait, while each Marching Contingent due to set off, formed up in their respective Cap Badge, then when our time came, and with rifles and bayonets affixed, we set out on the full rehearsal route around Central London. At this time, there was minimal members of the public around, which enabled us to carry out the rehearsal with relative ease.
With the rehearsal phase completed, before London had fully awakened, the troops, heavily fatigued from having not slept for well over 24 hours, were loaded onto waiting coaches to return to ATC Pirbright, where we would continue with the remainder of the rehearsal phase until the big event on June 5th.
The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant,
Sunday 5th June 2022 The big day has arrived, and after an early breakfast, the Contingents depart ATC Pirbright for Wellington Barracks to put into action all that we had been practising hard to achieve the previous week – to deliver skilled and drilled Marching Contingents with accompanying Bands that will make up the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant to culminate 4 days of celebrations to mark this important event.
Upon arrival at the barracks, we followed the same sequence of events that we carried out during the full rehearsal just days earlier, only this time, the Pageant would be held mid- afternoon - and it was for real!
And to the beat of drums, with the eyes of the world upon us, the AGC Marching Contingent stepped out of Wellington Barracks and into Central London, to take up our place alongside 1500 fellow Military Personnel.
During the time we were on parade, an emotion of nervous excitement was felt by all as we passed through the arch onto The Mall in the direction of Buckingham Palace where we were applauded and thanked for our services by scores of Union Flag waving spectators lining the route.
What we all felt, was a sense of immense pride, of playing a part of such a large, historic event to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign as Britain’s longest serving Monarch. And it was an absolute honour as Soldiers to represent the Adjutant General Corps in this capacity. This will be etched on the memories for many years to come.
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