The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery is stationed at St John's Wood, London. Its duties - as part of the Household Troops - include the firing of Royal Salutes in Hyde Part on Royal Anniversaries and State Occasions, and providing a gun carriage and team of black horses for State and Military funerals. It also takes its part on other ceremonial occasions such as Armistice Day, the Lord Mayor's Show and the Queen's Birthday Parade. In addition the Troop performs the duties of the Queen's Life Guard at Whitehall for a month each year.
Before World War II, a succession of Horse Artillery Batteries were stationed in London. The last was mechanised in 1939 and it was His Majesty King George VI's express wish that, after the war, a Troop of Royal Horse Artillery, mounted and dressed in the traditional manner, should once more be seen taking part in the great ceremonies of State. In 1947 His Majesty inspected the then Riding Troop and said that he wished it to be known as His Troop, and Her Majesty has graciously decided that this title shall continue in her reign in recognition of her father's special interest in the Troop.
When on parade with its guns the Troop takes precedence over all other Regiments and has the honour of parading on the right of the line.
Royal Salutes
The King's Troop RHA firing a Royal Salute is one of the most
spectactular forms of ceremonial to be seen in London. Seventy-one horses take part and the officers and soldiers wear their colourful ceremonial full dress. The six guns form up in a line abreast in Hyde Park and gallop into action. A salute of 41 guns is then fired and as the last round echoes across the park, the guns are hooked into their team of horses and they gallop away.
The Musical Drive
During the summer the Troop performs the Musical Drive at the Royal Tournament and at various agricultural shows and military tattoos up and down the country. The Drive, which has also been performed abroad in Copenhagen, Milan, Montreal, Paris, Groningen and Berlin, is an exciting and spectacular display of horsemanship, carried out at the gallop, culminating in the dangerous scissor movement when teams cross in the centre of the arena with no visible gap between them.
The Horses
The Troop has 111 horses nearly all of whom come from Ireland. The majority arrive as 5-year-olds and are hacked at Melton Mowbray, Leics, by Troop soldiers for 10 weeks and then trained at St John's Wood. Some of them have never had a bit in their mouths or a saddle on their backs when they arrive, so their training is always varied, interesting, and rewarding work. Part of the horses' military training includes their being taught to jump. Therefore, when they have satisfactorily taken their place on parade, those showing promise are further trained to take part in civilian jumping competitions.
The Guns
Each gun and limber weighs over 1 ton and each team is 54 feet long; there are no brakes. Each gun is pulled by six horses, the three near-side horses being ridden.
Competition Riding
Soldiers are encouraged to take part in shows and competitions, and every soldier who shows ability and keeness gets a chance to compete. At present over one third of The King's Troop horses take part in horse trials, hunter trials and show jumping events in this country. The Troop has had many successes and it is a rare day indeed when someone does not come away with a prize.
Night fire with a 105 mm gun.
