Civil War Society Remembers the 'Horrid Murder' of King Charles I

Around 500 members of the King's Army of the English Civil War Society will again march in the footsteps of King Charles I in commemoration of 'His Majestie's Horrid Murder' at the hands of the Parliament in 1649.

The soldiers of this modern re-creation of a Royalist Army of the Civil Wars are all volunteers and will be clothed and equipped in the same manner as their forebears were 360 years ago. Should the weather turn to snow, as it did then, no doubt some of them will also be following His Majestie's sartorial style and be wearing two shirts!

This commemoration has been held by the Society for over thirty years.

The March will commence from a point on The Mall close to St.James' Palace at 11.30am, proceeding down The Mall, and form up in Horse Guards Parade for a short Service of Remembrance and a ceremony in which officers will be commissioned and medals awarded to worthy members, many of whom will have taken part in this parade in each of the King's Army's thirty-two years of existence.

At 12.00 noon a wreath will be laid near the place of the King's execution outside the Banqueting House.

Another wreath will already have been laid at 10.00am at the base of the contemporary statue in Trafalgar Square, past which the King's Army will march on their return journey to St.James' Palace, past the statue of King Charles I through Admiralty Arch and down The Mall.

The King's Army, part of the English Civil War Society, spends the summer months re-creating history with the Roundhead Association at venues throughout the country.