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When?: 3rd & 4th, 9th, 10th and 11th June 2009
Where?: Horseguards Parade, Central London
The Beating Retreat pageant which showcases the music, drill and spectacular colours of the Massed bands of the Royal Marines or Household Division has its origins in early forms of warfare, when the drum was used to bring soldiers to arms and as a method of relaying signals on the battlefield. Beating Retreat, as the name implies, was the signal used by military officials to tell their soldiers to disengage from combat and to withdraw to their camp for the evening. Nowadays the event is entirely ceremonial and takes place in the evenings of June each year. 2009 sees the Massed bands of the household division performing on the 3rd and 4th of June, while the Massed bands of the Royal Marines will perform on the 9th, 10th and 11th of June and the Queen or another member of the Royal family will be present to accept the salute from the regiments.
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