How The Military Were Involved In The Commonwealth Heads Of State Meeting

A 53-gun salute in London's Green Park has officially opened a meeting of Commonwealth leaders, along with a guard of honour made up of more than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards.

To mark the special occasion more than 400 Armed Forces personnel performed ceremonial duties including a unique Gun Salute performed by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Forty-six government leaders from the 53 nations attended the opening ceremony, along with foreign ministers. 

The Commonwealth leaders are in London for the biennial heads-of-government summit, known as CHOGM.

Prime Minister Theresa May told the leaders the summit would "take on some of the 21st Century's biggest questions".

Speaking in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace, which was decorated with flags of the 53 nations, Mrs May said: "There have been difficulties, successes, controversies, but I believe wholeheartedly in the good that the Commonwealth can do."

Earlier the Queen expressed her desire for Prince Charles to succeed her as the leader of the Commonwealth, a position that is not hereditary. 

As the dignitaries arrived, they were greeted by the Band of the Coldstream Guards, Corps of Drums and Flag Bearers from Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards.

Each of the 53 Flag Bearers bore the flag of a Commonwealth Nation creating a spectacular visual representation of the event.

For the last few days, the horses featured in the ceremony, 71 in total, have been at Wellington Barracks making their final preparations.

Lance Bombardier Hannah Brasher, of the Royal Horse Artillery, explained how they prepared horses for events like these. 

She said: "Before every salute we'll do what we call a salute groom. So we'll start off by rubber curry combing the horses - bringing all the grease up on their coat. Then you give them a really thorough groom, taking all that off. 

"[Their whiskers are trimmed] mainly for appearance purposes to make them look more smart.

"But we take the manes off for the harness, because when they're in the harness, if they were to have a mane it would snag in the leather."

The Household Cavalry

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment provides mounted ceremonial troops for all state occasions including State Visits, the Queen’s Birthday Parade, the State Opening of Parliament and the Garter Ceremony. 

Nearly all new Household Cavalry recruits go first to the mounted regiment, where they learn to ride and spend just over a year on ceremonial duties before going to the operational regiment in Windsor.

Many, if not most, have never ridden a horse before.

The Coldstream Guards

The Coldstream Guards is the oldest Regiment in the British Army, having been in unbroken service to the nation since 1650.

In 1660 General George Monck was instrumental in the restoration of the Monarchy and the parade in June is an extension of that tradition of loyalty to the Crown. 

The Coldstream Guards has served with distinction in campaigns throughout the nation’s history, particularly in the Napoleonic, Crimean, Boer, First and Second World Wars, winning a total of 13 Victoria Crosses.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery

The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a British Army mounted ceremonial unit that fires Royal Salutes on Royal Anniversaries and State Occasions, such as State Visits and Royal birthdays.

King’s Troop soldiers have a vital operational role and are trained as fighting soldiers who primarily deliver ammunition to artillery units around the battlefield.

The King's Troop forms part of the Household Troops and when on parade with its guns, take precedence over all other Regiments in the Regular forces of the British Army.

They also mount the Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards each summer when the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is on military training outside London.