Guard Mounting

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is steeped in history. The Household Troops had guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces since 1660 when Charles II moved his Court to Whitehall in London.

The Queen's Guard is responsible for ceremonial duties, including guarding royal residences against enemies and tending to her Majesty's garden at Buckingham Palace.

When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding Buckingham Palace, as it still does today.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony marks the moment when the soldiers currently on duty, the Old Guard, exchange places with the New Guard.

Today's Changing Of The Guard

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place every day at 11 am and lasts for 20 minutes, when the Old Guard, in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats, march off duty, and a new contingent – dressed in blue tunics, white helmets, black bearskins and red epaulettes – relieves them. The guards are also changed at St James Palace

More than 200 Guardsmen wearing bearskin hats and scarlet tunics drill outside Buckingham Palace in the Changing of the Guard ceremony. The Old Guard will march up to the forecourt, then turn around and march back down, with a new row of guardsmen replacing them at the palace gates.

The Most Recognisable Soldiers On The Planet

The guardsmen wear tall bearskin hats with red plumes when on duty at Buckingham Palace, known as 'the most famous military headgear in the world'.

The distinctive uniforms date from 1768, when King George III ordered that guards wear scarlet tunics, white linen waistcoats and breeches with gaiters.

There have been only three occasions when this tradition was broken- during World Wars 1 & 2, when austerity measures meant there was no money to replace their expensive outfits.

Troop Movements

The Old Guard march from Wellington Barracks to take their positions at Horse Guards Parade.

The New Guard march from Hyde Park to take their positions at Horse Guards Parade.

The Old Guard march out to Wellington Barracks.

The New Guard march out to Hyde Park.

Sentry Duty

A soldier must stand at a fixed post and be alert, vigilant, and on the lookout—for anything unusual or suspicious. They must be ready to defend themselves and their comrades from harm.

Working Hours and Days Off

Working hours could range from a typical 8-hour day to 24 hours shift, depending on what needs to be completed.

Working hours usually are 0800 to 1700hrs, including a 30-minute break in the morning and a 1-hour break for lunch. When on operations, hours of work vary from day to day.

St James Palace

The Household Troops, including cavalry and marching bands, will be followed by approximately 300-foot guards dressed in red uniforms.

The soldiers currently on duty at St James's Palace come from a detachment of the Household Cavalry and have been patrolling the parade ground at Horse Guards since 1971

One anticipates military precision at every stage, and that's what happens. Everything is very orderly.

The Old Guard march smartly to St James's Palace and then along Queen Victoria Street to Horse Guards Parade, where they meet their counterparts from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. They then begin their march back down The Mall, with drums beating and flags flying, to Buckingham Palace.

How Do You Get The Best Views?

Best vantage points to see Changing Of The Guard - anywhere along with the route map below.

For more information click on the link https://changing-guard.com/index.html

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