What is the Beating Retreat and how did it originate?
Every year, against a backdrop of fireworks, military personnel perform drill and play music to both the public and members of the Royal Family.
It is the Beating Retreat, traditionally performed twice in June, annually – but what is it for and how did it originate?
Taking place on London's Horse Guards Parade, the Beating Retreat performance originated towards the start of organised warfare.
This saw personnel beating the drums and the parading of Post Guards to mark the closing of camp gates and the lowering of flags at the end of the day.
James II of England also had his drums beating an order, signalling for his troops to retreat.
Lieutenant Colonel David Barringer, Commanding Officer, Household Divisions Bands, told Forces News Beating Retreat "goes right back to the time when all orders were given by a drum".
"Therefore, the Beating Retreat would literally be the troops are out of battle and the drummer would beat the retreat to tell people to disengage with their combat and to come back to barracks for the evening," he said.
Later, in 1664, an order from William III stated: "The Drum Major and Drummers of the regiment which gives a Captain of the Main Guard are to beat the Retreat through the large street, or as may be ordered.
"They are to be answered by all the Drummers of the guards, and by four Drummers of each regiment in their respective Quarters."
This has transformed over the years into the spectacle the public can watch today on Horse Guards Parade - now purely an entertainment-based occasion.
The Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry and the Massed Bands of the Household Division take part in the military music and drill pageant – with a salute also taken by a member of the Royal Family.
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