King Presents Colours To Irish Guards (1949)

Buckingham Palace, London.
LS. Grounds of Buckingham Palace. Various shots of the parade of 1st Battalion Irish Guards marching across the grounds of Buckingham Palace with band leading the parade. Royal family with guests and dignitaries watching. Two officers standing in front of the troops presenting arms. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Queen Juliana of Holland and Prince Bernhard of Holland seated in royal box watching the ceremony. Two officers marching with standards. Troops lined up on grounds. King George VI inspecting ranks of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards before presenting them with new Colours. MV. Pan, two officers carrying standards to King who is standing before ensigns. The ensigns are kneeling. King presents colours to ensigns. MV. King standing at microphone addressing the guardsmen - natural sound: 'Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Watson, officers, non-commissioned officers and guardsmen of the First Battalion Irish Guards. I am very glad to see you here today and I notice that though you have only recently returned to London from service in North Africa, neither your drill, nor your bearing have lost that smartness for which your regiment is famous. It is also most welcome to me, as I am sure it is for you, to see your Colonel standing at the head of his regiment for the first time. In order to be on parade Field Marshall Lord Alexander has flown here from Canada, which will remind you of the great changes which have come about since 1927 when my father presented you with your old colours in this garden. On that occasion such a flight would have been unthinkable. In the 22 years which have passed since that day, your battalion has fought in Norway, in Africa and in Italy, and in two separate tours of duty have helped the cause of peace and humanity in Palestine. As your Colonel in Chief, I am proud to be able to pay a tribute to the exploits and sacrifices, not only of the first battalion but of the whole regiment during those dark years (we have lived at war and in the shadow of war) for much of this time. But I'm glad to see plainly today that the scars of battle of which you have borne your full share have left no mark upon your spirit. In a world of change your courage and discipline has remained unchanged, and it is in full confidence that you will uphold the great traditions of your regiment, now nearly half a century old that I give these new colours into your keeping.' King switches off the mike as he finishes. LS. General view of the line up of guardsmen presenting arms. LS. Guards take off their hats and give three cheers for the King - lens change in middle to medium shot. The guardsmen replace hats. Several shots of the guardsmen parading past the King. MS. The King on the palace steps during march past.
(Comb. Lav.)
Date found in the old record - 28/07/1949.
MS. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Prince Bernhard and Queen Juliana of Holland looking on.
MS. Guards band marching towards. GV. Guards band marching towards LS. R.S.M. takes old colours from guardsman and hands them to ensigns. GV. Old colour and escort being marched to Palace. MV. Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Prince Bernhard and Queen Juliana looking on. X looking on. MS. Pan, old colours
FILM ID:2511.2
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