Sikh Guardsman Becomes First To March In Turban At Trooping The Colour

A Sikh guardsman will become the first to wear a turban, rather than a traditional bearskin, during today's Trooping the Colour.

Twenty-two-year-old guardsman Charanpreet Singh Lall will be one of 1,000 soldiers marching in the ceremony to celebrate the Queen's birthday.

He will wear a black turban, to match the black headgear worn by the other soldiers.

Guardsman Lall, who will be watched by his proud family at the ceremony, said: "Being the first turban-wearing Sikh to troop the colour and be part of the escort is a high honour.

"I hope people will look on this as a change in history."

Lall, who moved to the UK from India while he was a child, joined up in 2016, he's now hoping his new-found notoriety will encourage others to sign up, saying: "I hope more people like me, not just Sikhs but from other religions and different backgrounds, will be encouraged to join the army."

The Trooping the Colour marks the Queen's birthday and sees over 1000 soldiers take part, with around 400 musicians and 200 horses. The colour being paraded this year is the flag of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

Lall added: "For myself, being the first turban-wearing sikh to troop the colour and to be part of the escort it is a really high honour for myself, and hopefully for everyone else as well."

More to follow...