A celebration is being held to commemorate Trafalgar Day today (October 21) on HMS Victory, the Royal Navy's most famous warship.
Each October since the early 19th century, Officers in the Royal Navy have joined together to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
October 21 marks the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, a battle that defined the Age of Sail and which secured British dominion over the seas for 100 years.
But what is Trafalgar Day and its significance? Here is everything you need to know about the day.
What is Trafalgar Day and how is it celebrated?
Trafalgar Day is an annual celebration of the Royal Navy victory over the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar, on October 21, 1805.
The Royal Navy has a private dinner each year, featuring members of the navy and other esteemed members of the constabulary.
The navy also encourages people at home to celebrate, but also urges the public to also treat the day as an “act of remembrance rather than just a celebration of victory”.
The aim of the day is to remember “the loss of the country’s greatest ever naval leader and the lives of men on both sides who perished in the fierce battle, or subsequently, from their injuries”.
Trafalgar Day starts with the daily naval ceremony of Colours, where the White Ensign of the Royal Navy and the Union Jack are raised. After this, there is a flag sequence indicating Nelson’s famous message to the Fleet: “England expects that every man will do his duty.”
The Trafalgar Night dinner is also a grand affair with a number of long-standing traditions including parading a baron of beef, Ships of the Line (chocolate replicas of the Victory) speeches, toasts and more.
The annual ceremony is held on board HMS Victory to mark the anniversary of the victory, while also remembering the loss of Lord Nelson and those who lost their lives or were injured in battle.
More dinners also take place in various locations, including the Royal Naval Museum in Portsmouth, as well as further celebrations across the UK, with the Sea Cadet Corps holding the National Trafalgar Day Parade on Trafalgar Square, as well as a traditional ceremony in Birmingham, where a wreath in the shape of an anchor is laid on the statue of Lord Nelson.
Who was Nelson and what is the history of Trafalgar Day?
The Royal Navy victory was commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, who is thought of as the greatest officer in the history of the Royal Navy.
Nelson famously split the line of enemy ships, setting the pre-conditions for victory. Only an hour into the battle, Nelson was then hit by a French sharpshooters’ musket ball as he paced HMS Victory’s quarterdeck.
Nelson fell after being fatally wounded, on a spot marked by a lovingly polished brass plaque. Today, this forms the centrepiece of the Trafalgar Day Ceremony.
What is HMS Victory?
HMS Victory is a ship best known as Horatio Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar. Today, Victory is docked at Portsmouth and is the oldest commissioned warship in the world.
What is new for 2024?
The National Museum of the Royal Navy has launched a new digital series for Trafalgar Day - covering the life of Vice-Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.
In the Nelson Gallery based in Portsmouth, history enthusiasts can discover all aspects of Lord Nelson’s life from his birth in Norfolk, his private life, the battles he was in and his death at the Battle of Trafalgar.
The Battle of Trafalgar Panorama was painted in-situ and is available to view in the Victory Gallery in Portsmouth. New interactive elements for 2024 also allow people to learn the history of the painting, and the different ships and events depicted in it.
For more information on the series click here.
