CHANGING THE GUARD AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Changing The Guard or Guard Mounting as it is sometimes called, is the act which involves an exchange of duty by a new guard with the old guard. The Queen's Guard is the name given to the two Detachments of Guards responsible for guarding Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace, The Buckingham Palace Detachment and the St. James's Palace Detachment. They are also responsible for placing a Guard at Clarence House. These two Detachments are normally provided by a battalion of soldiers from the Household Division, who are drawn from one of five regiments of Foot Guards belonging to the British Army. They are the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards and the Scots Guards, but sometimes they are drawn from other infantry battalions or Units, such as the RAF Regiment, the Gurkhas, the Royal Marines etc. When the Sovereign is in residence at Buckingham Palace, the Queen's Guard comprises of three officers and forty other ranks, four of whom are posted as sentries on the fourcourt of Buckingham Palace and four at St. James's Palace (two in Friary Court and two at the main entrance). When the Sovereign is not in residence, the contingent reduces to three officers and thirty one other ranks, with just two sentries at Buckingham Palace and two on duty guarding St. James's Palace. Both the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces have been guarded by the Household troops since the Restoration in 1660, when King Charles II was invited to take back the throne. It had been taken away from his father King Charles I who had been executed in front of the Banqueting House in 1649. As the Tower of London is still officially classified as a royal residence, this detachment of the regiment on guard duty at Buckingham Palace and St. James's Place, also have the responsibility of guarding the Tower of London. Apart from the Tower of London being the home of the crown jewels, it is still the British Army's obligation to guard all royal residences and as such, the number of guards at the Tower is six Non-Commissioned Officers and fifteen soldiers. A sentry is usually mounted outside the Queen's House, with another one being posted outside the Jewel House. The Tower of London must also be locked up during the night and so the Tower Guards, together with the Yeomen Warders, ensure it is made secure, with what has come to be known as the Ceremony of the Keys. The Changing The Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place in the fourcourt of the Palace at 11.30am each day during the months between April until July and on alternate days between August and March. The Detachment of the Queen's guard which had been assigned the duty of guarding St. James's Palace, marches from there to Buckingham Palace along the Mall. There they meet up with the Buckingham Palace guard. If the Queen is in residence they bear the Queen's Colour, if she is not, then it will be their own regimental Color that they bear and are normally led by the Corps of drums. Both of these Detachments are known as the Old Guard. While this is ongoing the Military Band at the nearby Wellington Barracks, has already been inspected and now plays music while the New Guard gets inspected. Once everything is in order and the New Guard has formed up, they are then led by the Military Band as they march across to the Buckingham Palace fourcourt, where the New Guard advances in slow time towards the New Guard where they halt. The Old Guard presents arms followed by the New Guard presenting arms and then the Captains of both the Old and New Guards march towards each other for the handing over of the keys to the Palace. The New Guard then relieves the Old Guard and new sentries are posted. The Military Band forms up in a half circle at the centre gate and plays music to entertain the crowds who have come to watch the Changing the Guard ceremony. The Old Guard and the New Guard once again form up, with the Soldiers of the Old Guard then marching out in slow time through the centre gates to their own regimental slow march played by the Military Band. The Captain of the Old Guard, at the end of the slow march, gives the command to 'Break into Quick Time' and the soldiers are led to Wellington Barracks by the Military Band. Horse Guards From 10am until 4pm, the guard is formed of two sentries on horseback, with the two sentries changing every hour. From 4pm, the guard is formed of two dismounted sentries who remain there on duty until 8pm, when the gates of Horse Guards are locked and one solitary sentry remains there until 7am the following morning when the second sentry returns to duty. FOR SIGHTSEEING TOURS OF LONDON AND THINGS TO DO IN LONDON CLICK HERE How to Link to This PageIt will appear on your page as: FOR MORE INFO. ON CHANGING THE GUARD FOLLOW THIS LINKBuckingham Palace Tours Click Here For London Bus Tours Click Here For London Walking Tours Click Here Go To Buckingham Palace Guards Return From Changing The Guard To A-London-Tourist-Guide Home Page
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