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A Brief History of the Royal Tournament - Part 1

On 11th June 1880, The Times published the following notice:

“A Military Tournament and Assault-at-Arms is to be held from 21st to 26th inst. At the Agricultural Hall, Islington. The Competitions, which are 53 in number, are to be open to all the regiments within range, and the profits are to be given in aid of the Funds of the Royal Cambridge Asylum for Soldiers’ Widows. They include tilting at the ring, sword v. bayonet, lemon cutting etc. This is the first time that a general tournament of this kind has been organized. Among the Patrons are the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Connaught, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar. Major-General E. S. Burnaby, M.P. is the hon. Sec.”

The precise origins of the Tournament are not exactly clear however tradition suggests that the idea originated at the National Rifle Association meetings on Wimbledon Common in the 1870’s. The meets attracted volunteers from across the Victorian Army. Although stories of a Military Tournament held to entertain the competitors at Wimbledon had been mooted for years, contemporary newspapers do not record such an event. However, it is known that sports meetings were held at Wimbledon to amuse the troops during the period between the end of the shooting and the prize giving. The events included tug-o-war, tent pegging, tilting at the ring, slicing the lemon and bayonet exercise. All of which appeared in the first Tournament of 1880.

The initial Tournament was not financially successful, however a donation was made to the charity and subsequent Tournaments began to draw the public in large numbers. In addition to the competitions, bands played during the performance to entertain the crowds. In 1882, the first Musical Ride was performed at the Tournament – the video below shows the Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry at the 1988 Royal Tournament.

The first Musical Drive by the Royal Artillery was performed at the 1896 Tournament at the Agricultural Hall, Islington. The Musical Drive was a popular part of the Tournament until 1999. The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery was formed in 1947 on the instruction of King George VI, the troop performed at each Royal Tournament until 1999. This video shows the King’s Troop at the 1985 Royal Tournament.

A Brief History of the Royal Tournament - Part 1

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