Horse Guards Parade is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London. It is the site of the annual ceremonies of Trooping the Colour, which commemorates the monarch’s official birthday, and Beating Retreat. Horse Guards Parade is the ceremonial parade ground in St James’s Park and is the scene of Trooping the Colour on the Queen’s official birthday in June. Horse Guards is the building with a clock tower over an archway, and remains the official entrance to St James’s and Buckingham Palace.