Also known as Trooping the Colour, the Thai Royal Guards parade occurs every December 2 since 1953, in celebration of the birthday of the King of Thailand, during which the King's Guard of the Royal Thai Armed Forces perform a military parade and pledge loyalty to the monarch. The venue is the Royal Plaza at Bangkok, in front of the Dusit Palace and its Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The ceremony is inspired by the Trooping the Colour performed by regiments of the British and Commonwealth armies.
All three branches of the armed forces take part in the parade, as seen in the composition of the Massed Military Bands, Bugle Squads and the Colour Parties of the 13 military units participating. The parade is notable for the colourful uniforms on display; pith helmets with heavy plumes resembling bearskins are worn, except for the lone cavalry unit in attendance - with British-style cavalry helmets and Thai lances on horsebacks - and the Naval Cadets.
These uniforms are a nod to the British military traditions in the Royal Thai Armed Forces since the time of King Rama V Chulangkorn in the final years of the 19th century, with a combination of the British and German military drill and ceremonial. Of the 13 participating battalions most are from the Royal Thai Army with two battalions, one each from the Royal Thai Navy and Royal Thai Marine Corps and another two battalions coming from the Royal Thai Air Force; all in full dress uniforms.
The tradition started in 1953 by King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), as a simple colours ceremony for the new colours of the 1st Infantry Regiment, King's Own Bodyguard and has now grown into a national military tradition through the years. Since 2009, however, Trooping the Colours is not held, however the oath taking part of the ceremony is retained, plus the ceremonial march-in and march-out of the troops and the Massed Bands, the Royal Salutes and the Royal 21-Gun Salute. The parade itself came back in 2014.
About the stamps
The first stamp, depicting Rama IX, is part of a definitive set, about which I wrote here.
The last stamp was issued on March 14, 2016 to mark the Centenary of Ananta Samagom Throne Hall.
References
Thai Royal Guards parade - Wikipedia
Sender: Pumipat
Sent from Bangkok (Bangkok / Thailand), on 01.08.2016
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