BRITAIN'S QUEEN ELIZABETH II STANDS WITH THE QUEEN MOTHER PRINCE PHILIP AND PRINCE CHARLES ON THE BALCONY OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN LONDON.


Britain's Queen Elizabeth II stands on the balcony with the Queen Mother (L) Prince Philip (2R) and Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace for the Trooping the Colour ceremony June 16, 2001. Trooping the colour has honoured the sovereign's official birthday since the 17th century and dates back to the earliest times of armed conflict, when each leader needed his own flag or colours to stand out clearly amid the smoke and dust of battle which led to regular trooping allowing soldiers to recognise the colours around which they should rally.