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Everything you need to know about the King’s first Trooping the Colour…
On Saturday 17th June 2023, the UK will witness King Charles III’s FIRST Trooping the Colour ceremony as our monarch.
Whether you’re tuning in on the television or travelling to see the spectacle in person, we can all expect to see a stunning display of military precision and horsemanship as the procession makes it way from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade.
But what exactly is Trooping the Colour, and why do we celebrate it? Continue reading to find out more…
The origins of the ceremony
Trooping the Colour is an annual ceremony held in June to celebrate the official birthday of the British Sovereign, originating as far back as 260 years ago.
The service was first believed to have been performed during King Charles II’s reign, however it wasn’t until 1760 that it became an annual event to commemorate the British Monarch’s official birthday under the reign of King George III.
This historical parade was named in tribute to the British Army’s regiment flags, which are referred to as ‘Colours’ due to the different coloured insignia displayed on each one. Young officers would then march the Colours between the line of troops, giving us the ‘Trooping the Colour’ title, and the colourful celebration we still see to this day.
Credit: The British Army
The British Sovereign’s Official Birthday
But why does the British Sovereign have an official birthday?
The answer to having two birthdays is simply down to British weather being better for the parade in the month of June.
Unless the Monarch already has a summer birthday, their second ‘official’ one will always be in June to line up with when Trooping the Colour takes place and to maximise the chances of good weather conditions.
So, although King Charles III’s actual day of birth is 14th November, he will be celebrating his very first King’s Birthday Parade on 17th June this year.
What to expect on the day
Credit: People.com
On the day, you can expect to see an impressive display of pageantry as His Majesty’s personal troops march down The Mall from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade, where the ceremony will begin.
There will be over 1400 parading soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses, alongside members of the Royal Family on horseback or in carriages – and of course, with King Charles III himself taking the salute.
As the procession takes place, mass crowds with waving flags are expected to line the streets, with many more around the world viewing the spectacle on television.
And with this year’s Trooping the Colour ceremony being King Charles III’s FIRST as Sovereign, it will certainly be a historical event to remember.
The Trooping the Colour 2023 Silver Coin Cover
To commemorate this special occasion, we have released the Trooping the Colour 2023 Silver Coin Cover in ode to Charles III’s King’s Birthday Parade.
Featuring His Majesty’s first Silver Britannia coin alongside his first Royal Mail definitive stamps, this Cover will have a one-day-only postmark of 17th June 2023 – a fitting tribute to the first Trooping the Colour of King Charles’ reign.
But with only 200 available worldwide, make sure to secure yours now by clicking here >>
The first Sovereign of its kind: The UK 2023 Gold Proof Sovereign revealed!
Big news has come out of The Royal Mint today, as they have just issued the brand-new 2023 Gold Proof Sovereign!
Released to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III, this new Sovereign is certainly worth adding to your collection for several reasons…
Special Crowned Portrait
What makes this release so unique, is the fact that it features a special crowned portrait of King Charles III – the FIRST time we have ever seen a crowned King on a modern UK Sovereign!
That makes this issue entirely different to King Charles’ first Sovereign released in late 2022, which featured the standard portrait.
You may recognise this special crowned portrait from elsewhere, as it’s the same as the one seen on his Coronation range of coins that came out earlier this year.
To say that these were popular when they were issued back in April would be an understatement. In fact, all premium specifications of the Coronation range sold out in a matter of hours, as collectors made sure they were the first to snap them up.
And the portrait’s not the only thing that’s different about this new issue…
Surprise Release
This release is something of a surprise, because we already had a King Charles III Sovereign issued in late 2022 – this featured his new portrait on the obverse and a tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse.
You therefore might have expected the next UK Sovereign to be issued later this year, but tradition has been bucked and a UK Proof Sovereign has been released in the month of June especially to commemorate King Charles III’s Coronation.
One thing that will surely remain the same though, is that this is a coin that will sell out.
High Demand
The Sovereign has been the sell-out coin for years now. In fact, the last 9 years have seen consecutive sell-outs, sometimes in a matter of days and even hours.
Struck to a proof finish from 22 Carat Gold, this Sovereign features the iconic Pistrucci design of St George slaying the dragon on the reverse – another first, as this will be the first time a King Charles III Sovereign has carried the 200+ year-old design.
It’s the one Sovereign that collectors simply must own, and there’s no doubt that it will sell out very quickly – especially as just 15,000 have been authorised.
The Coronation has been the most significant numismatic event in recent memory, even surpassing Her Late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
And one-year-only obverse designs are also very rare for the Sovereign, so when they have been released in the past, they have sold out quickly and become particularly hard to find.
However, we have managed to secure a small quantity of the brand-new Gold Proof Coronation Sovereigns for Westminster Collection customers – but you’ll have to be quick to make one yours!
Click here to view the brand-new 2023 Gold Proof Coronation Sovereign >>
Or, check out the full UK 2023 Coronation Sovereign range here >>
Celebrate 75 years of our NHS with The Royal Mint’s BRAND-NEW 50p coin range!
2023 marks the 75th anniversary of Britain’s National Health Service. And today, we celebrate the pivotal role that the NHS has played in our lives for decades with a brand-new coin range.
But first, let’s take a look back at the service which touches the lives of millions every day…
Britain, 1948
The National Health Service was founded in 1948 and was the first universal health system to be available to all, completely free of charge.
The Minister of Health at the time, Aneurin Bevan, introduced the service to the British people who had previously been unable to afford medical bills and had only ever known insurance-based schemes to cover the cost of healthcare.
But, the NHS offered healthcare to all for not a single penny, and revolutionised medial treatment as the people of Britain knew it…
Establishing the NHS
Since 1948, the NHS has grown into an incredible service, from Britain’s first heart transplant in 1958 to Europe’s first liver transplant in 1968.
Renowned for their large-scale vaccination programmes, the NHS protected children from whooping cough, measles and tuberculosis – and in 1999, the meningitis C vaccine was offered nationally as a global first.
The NHS has delivered huge advances in health care – not only have they carried out revolutionary liver, heart and lung transplants, but they were also the first health service in the world to begin Covid-19 vaccinations. They continue to strive to pioneer new treatments and technologies, such as bionic eyes and the world’s first rapid whole-genome sequencing service.
And following the shocking impact that Covid-19 had on our National Health Service, now is the perfect time to offer gratitude for decades of selfless, tireless and relentless work.
A Sentimental 50p
Therefore, to not only pay tribute to the 75th anniversary of the NHS, but to also offer appreciation for their care, compassion and devotion throughout the years, The Royal Mint have issued a new coin range.
Available in Brilliant Uncirculated Quality, Silver Proof and Gold Proof, your 50p coin features a design that showcases words of appreciation for our NHS workers, both past and present.