I SPENT a wonderful morning watching the Trooping the Colour on Horseguards Parade in London.

It was a magnificent spectacle and the Queen at 80 looked regal. A truly lovely lady and a first-class advert for the monarchy.

I know the Royal Family have had some bad press in the last few years, but Queen Lilibet' has held her head high and, as she promised in a speech, she has done her duty to the nation, as did her mother and father in the last war.

On her Coronation in 1953 I was serving with the 1st Battalion the East Lancashire Reg in Egypt and I remember parading for about four hours on a parade ground with the Guards, the South Lancs and many more regiments and our RSM, Jack Smith, told us if you feel faint, make sure you fall at attention!

D H ASPDEN, Butts Mount, Great Harwood.