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This is an archive article published on June 10, 2018

Trooping the Colour: Sikh soldier creates history by wearing turban instead of bearskin hat; Tweeple ECSTATIC

Charanpreet Singh Lall, a 22-year-old man from Leicester was proud to make history and hope he is not the last one to do so. Born in Punjab, Lall’s family moved to the United Kingdom when he was just a baby and joined the British army in January 2016.

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trooping the colours, queen elizabeth II, queen elizabeth II birthday, sikh guardman, trooping the colours sikh guard, Charanpreet Singh Lall Charanpreet Singh Lall, second right, one of the Coldstream Guards marches, during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her official birthday. Lall is the first soldier to wear a turban during the parade. (Victoria Jones/PA via AP)

Thousands of people in London gathered to see the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony on Saturday (June 9) to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s official birthday. While most were excited about seeing the newlyweds Duke and Duchess of Sussex making their debut as a couple during the pageantry, it was another unusual event that made international headlines. For the first time ever, a Sikh Coldstream Guards soldier took part in the parade wearing a turban instead of a bearskin hat, traditionally worn by the troops.

Charanpreet Singh Lall, a 22-year-old man from Leicester was proud to make history and hoped he is not the last one to do so. “I hope that people watching, that they will just acknowledge it and that they will look at it as a new change in history,” he told Associated Press. “I hope that more people like me, not just Sikhs but from other religions and different backgrounds, that they will be encouraged to join the Army,” the report added.

ALSO READ | NYPD inducts first female turbaned Sikh officer; Tweeple celebrate

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Born in Punjab, Lall’s family moved to the United Kingdom when he was just a baby and joined the British army in January 2016. His black turban featured a ceremonial cap star to match the bearskin hats worn by the other soldiers.

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Photos of the young Guardsman went viral on social media, with many expressing their joy and feeling proud by this historic moment when a Sikh man was allowed to wear his religious headgear.

 

Trooping the Colour is a ceremony deeply rooted in the history of the United Kingdom and has been celebrated to commemorate the birthday of the sovereign – a tradition that dates back to more than 250 years. It originated from traditional preparations for battle when flags, also known as colours, were “trooped” so that soldiers in the ranks would be able to recognise them. In the 18th century, guards from the Royal palaces assembled daily on Horse Guards to ‘troop the colours’, and in 1748, it was announced the parade would also mark the Sovereign’s official birthday.

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While Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne made their way into the parade on horseback, Prince Harry made a short trip from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade in a horse-drawn carriage.

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