The Royals and the Red Serge: RCMP Musical Ride escorts His Majesty King Charles III to throne speech
By Mara Shaw
Human interest
No strangers to Royal processions, the RCMP Musical Ride proudly escorts Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the Senate for the throne speech.
Image by Martine Chenier
July 18, 2025
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On May 27, as King Charles III was escorted through the streets of Ottawa to deliver the speech from the throne, the world's eyes were not only on the Monarch, but also on the 24 horses and riders of the RCMP's Musical Ride.
Outfitted in the iconic Red Serge, the riders trotted with precision down Wellington Street, escorting His Majesty through the nation's capital as crowds - waving flags and dressed in red and white - looked on.
"I think it shows a great story about unity in Canada," says Superintendent Sebastien Brillon, officer in charge of the Ride, speaking from the Supreme Court of Canada grounds, where the horses rehearsed drills moments before the procession. "Especially in this geo-political climate."
The procession, which began near the West Block and ended at the Senate, lasted only a few short minutes, but they were moments rich with tradition and national symbolism.
Leading the charge
The presence of the Musical Ride at state processions isn't just a formality, it's an expression of Canada's longstanding and ceremonial ties to the monarchy. This escort was no different, from the box-driven Landau to the regimental Guidon, each moment was deliberate and symbolic.
Two outriders, Sergeant Sarah Parent and Sergeant Derek Quilley, led the charge on their horses Idalia and Jingle. Their job, to keep the pace and cadence of the escort.
Parent, who joined the Ride in 2014 and has been riding since the age of eight, is no stranger to leading royal processions. In 2023, she led the King's coronation procession in London, United Kingdom. Before that, she took part in major events including the late Queen's 90th birthday celebration and her Platinum Jubilee.
But even with those milestones behind her the significance of the escort weighed heavy.
"When they said the limo's about to come, I got pretty nervous - more than I thought I would. I started feeling my heart beating in my chest," says Parent. "When I started hearing people cheer, I was beaming, and I got a little emotional. It hit me, 'This is a pretty cool experience' And then Idalia started spooking a little bit and I started focusing. I've got a job to do," she says frankly.
Mounties on the move
Each rider in the procession had a special role, but two Mounties who served as coachmen for the landau carriage carried out a distinct job. Sergeant Jeremy Dawson, one of the Ride's head trainers was responsible for holding the reigns to make sure His Majesty was carefully escorted.
Dawson has had his fair share of royal encounters, including a special ride with the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle . Appreciating the rich relationship between the Royals and the Ride, Dawson says, "to have the King come to our country at this time when we need it most, is historic."
For many Canadians, this moment was likely layered with pride and legacy.
Few symbols stir Canadian pride quite like the vibrant red of the national flag or the iconic Red Serge. That pride came to life when a young girl in the crowd caught her first glimpse of the Mounties and cried out, "Red! Red! Red!"
It was a small moment, but one that characterizes the pride that radiated - how tradition and identity can resonate even with the youngest Canadians. Beyond the precise drills and polished uniforms is something larger than protocol: a connection to Canada's heritage and sovereignty.
"We're not just representing the Musical Ride," says Riding Master Staff Sergeant Major Scott Williamson. "We're representing every single Mountie in Canada. I hope that Canadians see the excellence that is the RCMP as a reflection of the organization."
A King's sword
Between bugle calls and salutes, every moment, from the time Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla mounted the Landau, was rich with ceremony. Following the carriage, riders carried the regimental Guidon with their battle honours on parade--an honour reserved for royal visits and special occasions.
Williamson, who rode alongside the carriage guarding the monarchs, carried with him the Royal sword. It was the first time the 19th-century cavalry blade was paraded since King Charles became the sovereign.
"The sword has His Majesty's royal cypher engraved," says Williamson. "Dating back to 1953, all of our swords have E II R - Her Majesty's royal cypher. It was special to have that sword drawn, riding right beside His Majesty."
Beyond the escort
Once the escort delivered Their Majesties to the senate, it was Brillon that welcomed the King and Governor General Mary Simon with a salute. This is the third time in Canadian history that a Sovereign has delivered the throne speech. Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II delivered it once in the 1960s and another time in the 1970s.
"It's very significant," says Williamson. "When I became a member of the RCMP back in 2000, I swore an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors, and now the heir and successor is His Majesty, King Charles III. It's something that I took seriously."
Inside the senate building RCMP presence remained strong. Commissioner Mike Duheme was part of the special entourage that escorted the King through the heavy wooden doors - signifying the ceremonial threshold between the sovereign and the state - and into the chamber.
With their duty complete the riders made their way through New Edinburgh, greeted by neighbourly cheers back to the Beechwood stables.
For Parent the ride home was just as meaningful as she recalls a great sense of pride as people in the neighbourhood welcomed them home. "It was neat to hear people say, 'We just watched you on TV!'" says Parent. "It puts it into perspective what we were actually doing."
