This Sikh guardsman made history at the queen’s Trooping the Colour parade

This weekend, Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday was celebrated with the annual Trooping the Colour parade. On June 9th, around 1,000 soldiers took part in the display of impressive pageantry, including one Sikh guardsman who made history at this year’s event.

Charanpreet Singh Lall, a 22-year-old member of the Coldstream Guards, is the first-ever guard to wear a turban during the Trooping of the Colour parade rather than the traditional Bearskin hat.

Lall told BBC.com that he hopes that by marching in a turban, he will inspire others of different faiths to join the British Army.

"I hope that people watching, that they will just acknowledge it and that they will look at it as a new change in history," he told BBC.com. "I hope that more people like me, not just Sikhs but from other religions and different backgrounds, that they will be encouraged to join the Army."

Born in Punjab, India, Lall moved with his family to the United Kingdom when he was a baby. His parents attended this weekend’s Trooping of the Colour, and Lall told BBC.com they’re extremely proud of him — especially his mother, who cried when she saw her son proudly wearing his turban.

Guardsman Charanpreet Singh Lall became the first soldier to wear a turban during the Trooping of the Colour #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/pWKA3If4YW

— British Army 🇬🇧 (@BritishArmy) June 11, 2018

“I’m quite proud and I know that a lot of other people are proud of me as well,” Lall said before Saturday’s ceremony. “For myself, being the first turban-wearing Sikh to troop the color and to be part of the escort it is a really high honor for myself, and hopefully for everyone else as well.”

"Someone has to be the first," Lall said, "and I'm glad it's me."

'My mum had tears coming out of her eyes' – this Sikh soldier became the first person to wear a turban for the Trooping the Colour ceremony https://t.co/CK3e0vUnua pic.twitter.com/5dV71JuvcM

— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) June 11, 2018

We’re proud of Lall, too, and we know his visibility will make many people feel seen.