More than 200 Orange Order members from Northern Ireland joined their London colleagues yesterday in a march to commemorate the 200th birthday of the Grand Lodge of England.
The event involved more than 3,000 marchers bearing large banners and wearing bowler hats, orange sashes and dark suits, who walked from Hyde Park Corner to the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
Lodges from across Northern Ireland and throughout Britain travelled to take part in the 200th anniversary celebrations. "Yes it was a great afternoon," an Orange Order spokesman said. "Many people don't realise that the Grand Lodge of England features in 43 cities across England."
The march comes just days after the launch of a review of parading in Northern Ireland under the chairmanship of former Liberal Democrat leader Lord (Paddy) Ashdown.
Parading remains a contentious issue in Northern Ireland and the review has been set up to examine the work of the Parades Commission which adjudicates on controversial marches.