An Indian-born British Sikh from the Coldstream Guards has become the first soldier to wear a turban in the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony to mark Queen Elizabeth II's birthday.
The army said Guardsman Charanpreet Singh Lall, 22, was "upholding Sikh warrior traditions [of] keeping their identity while wearing the queen's uniform."
Charanpreet Singh Lall, of the Coldstream Guards (centre) during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade Source: AAP
Lall, from the city of Leicester in the East Midlands, told the BBC he hoped his appearance on Saturday in a specially made protective turban would be seen as a "new change in history" and encourage people from different religious and cultural backgrounds to join the army.
"I'm quite proud and I know that a lot of other people are proud of me as well," he told the broadcaster.
"For myself, being the first turban-wearing Sikh to troop the colour and to be part of the escort, it is a really high honour for myself, and hopefully for everyone else as well," he said.
Lall, who joined the army in 2016, was born in India's Punjab state and moved to Britain as an infant, the BBC said.
Similar protective turbans are already worn by some soldiers, police officers and other service personnel in Britain.
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