MPCT marks Trooping the Colour

The Queen’s official birthday, the second Saturday in June, is typically celebrated with the Trooping the Colour military parade.

The ceremony has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The last time the event was called off was in 1955, when a national rail strike occurred.

On Saturday, June 13, a “small, brief military ceremony” will take place to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

Pretty much all of the Queen’s typical birthday celebrations have been thwarted this year, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. On April 21, her actual birthday, the customary gun salutes were called off, government buildings weren’t compelled to fly the Union Jack, and she spent the day in quarantine at Windsor Castle.

The royals typically gather on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to watch the fly-past at the end of Trooping the Colour.

The Queen will still receive a little military celebration on Saturday, however. Parades and Air Force fly-past of Trooping the Colour will be replaced by a scaled-down military salute at Windsor Castle, where the Queen and husband Prince Philip are isolating together.

You can mark and join the celebrations via broadcast on BBC TV. Tune in at 10.15 am

Happy Birthday Your Majesty from us all at MPCT.

Back to news articles

5 August 2026

What to Expect on GCSE Results Day – And Why MPCT Could Be Your Next Step

GCSE results day 2026 falls on Thursday 20 August, with results released from around 8am. Whatever the day brings, it’s worth knowing exactly what to expect and that a traditional sixth form or college isn’t the only route from here. For learners who want to leave school, do something different, and still walk away with...

29 July 2026

What Is a Military Preparation Academy? A Guide for School Leavers

Since 1999, MPCT Military Academies have helped more than 10,000 young people move into the Armed Forces, sport and fitness, further education, or other careers. If you’re a school leaver weighing up your options and a career in uniform has ever crossed your mind – even as a maybe – here’s what a Military Preparation...

24 June 2026

Beyond Soldier, Sailor, Pilot: The Armed Forces Careers Nobody Tells You About

Say “career in the Armed Forces” and most people picture the same three jobs: infantry soldier, sailor, or fighter pilot. The British Army alone recruits for more than 100 roles across seven career areas – combat, engineering, medical, intelligence and communications, logistics and support, music, and HR and finance. With around 182,000 people currently serving...

30 May 2026

Top 5 Exercises to Prepare You for UK Armed Forces Basic Training

Basic training doesn’t care whether you’ve trained before – it cares whether your body can keep going when it’s tired, cold, and carrying weight. Most people need 8-12 weeks of consistent training just to hit baseline entry standards, and longer if you’re aiming for a physically demanding role like the infantry or Parachute Regiment. Before...

30 April 2026

Why Your Classroom Doesn’t Need Four Walls

If school ever felt like sitting still for six hours a day, you’re not alone and you’re not the problem. Not every mind works best behind a desk. At MPCT, the classroom isn’t a room at all. It’s a field, a fitness track, a team exercise outdoors in all weather. If that sounds more like...

31 March 2026

Exploring Careers in the Armed Forces: More Than You Think.

When people think about careers in the Armed Forces, it’s often reduced to one image, life on the front line. But in reality, the Armed Forces offer a huge range of career opportunities, many of which don’t involve combat at all. From technical roles to healthcare, logistics to communications, there are hundreds of career paths...

News & Events