HUNDREDS of people lined the streets of Kensington to watch as soldiers paraded at the weekend.

The parade of Territorial Army soldiers from Princess Louise's Kensington Squadron on the 31st City of London Regiment set off from Holland Park on Saturday (July 18).

They brought traffic to a standstill as borough residents and visitors cheered and clapped as they marched towards St Mary Abbots Church, and down Kensington High Street.

The soldiers were celebrating the centenary of the presentation of their colours.

King Edward VII presented 87 sets of colours to various Territorial Force battalions in a ceremony at Windsor Castle in the summer of 1909, among them Princess Louise's Kensington Regiment.

The Kensington colours are the only set still in the hands of the military descendants of its original regiment, and were stitched by the women of Kensington under the leadership of Princess Louise.

The regiment's commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Simon Walker said: "It's with great honour that we pay tribute to the colours in this way."They have seen a centenary of service and it's right and proper that service is honoured here today."

Kensington and Chelsea mayor Cllr Timothy Coleridge added: "The Royal Borough has had a close association with the military over many decades and we're rightly proud of this link.

"I congratulate all those who took part. It's right that we remember, particularly at a time when our armed forces are facing so many daunting challenges, the centenary of the presentation of the colours."