London: A 22-year-old Sikh soldier Saturday created history by becoming the first to wear a turban instead of a bearskin hat during an annual parade that marks the birthday of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II.
Guardsman Charanpreet Singh Lall marched among 1,000 British soldiers who took part in the ‘Trooping the Colour ‘parade.
His turban was black, matching his comrades’ headgear and featured the Coldstream Guards’ ceremonial cap star.
“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 and hopefully for everyone else as well,” said Lall from Leicester, who came to the UK from India as a boy.
“I’m quite proud and I know that a lot of other people are proud of me as well,” he was qouted as saying by the BBC.
Lall said he expected it would encourage those from different religions and backgrounds to join the Army.
Lall, who was born in Punjab, joined the British army in January 2016.
The ceremony has commemorated the birthday of the sovereign for more than 250 years and also functions as a display of army drills, music and horsemanship.
PTI