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The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery is a ceremonial unit of the British Army, quartered at Woolwich. It is a mounted unit and all of its soldiers are trained to care for and drive teams of six horses pulling each of six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns used today to fire salutes on state occasions. Its duties include the firing of royal salutes on royal anniversaries and state occasions, and providing a gun carriage and team of black horses for state and military funerals. The unit is most often seen providing gun salutes on state occasions in Hyde Park, and Green Park. ==History== The Riding Troop was reformed on 17 April 19146 at Shoeburyness as a six-gun Royal Horse Artillery battery for the Household Troops. The King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery was prior to the visit of King George VI on 24 October 1947 named The Riding Troop, Royal Horse Artillery. King George VI decided a troop of horse artillery should take part in the great ceremonies of state. At the suggestion of Brigadier John Anquetil Norman, the King declared that the Troop would be known as 'The King's Troop'.〔Obituary of Brigadier J. A. Norman, ''The Times'', March 1994〕 The King enacted his proclamation by amending the page on the visitors' book by striking out the word "Riding" and inserting "King's".〔(Trooping The Colour For The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery ) Paramount Magazine, 20 September 2011〕 On her accession, Queen Elizabeth II declared that the name 'The King's Troop' would remain in honour of her father.〔 On 6 September 1997, the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales was carried on a gun carriage by members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.〔(Palace Announces Further Changes to Funeral Route ) BBC News, September 1997〕 The King’s Troop was for 65 years stationed at St John's Wood Barracks before it was relocated to Napier Lines at the traditional Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in February 2012.〔(King's Troop RHA moves into state-of-the-art facilities in Woolwich ) Defence News, 8 February 2012〕〔(King's Troop moves to its 'spiritual home' in Woolwich ) at BBC News, 7 February 2012. Accessed 8 February 2012〕 Because of the greater distance from central London, the troop can no longer ride to many ceremonial events but horses will be transported by vehicle to nearer stables for appearances at Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace and elsewhere.〔Moore-Bridger, Benedict (King's Troop hoof it 15 miles to new barracks ) Evening Standard, London 8 October 2008. Accessed 3 February 2012〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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