Changing of the Guard

Changing the Guard in London is a ceremony that originated in the 1790s. The Procedure of the ceremony is as follows:

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is the formal handing-over of responsibility from the ‘old guard’ who have been standing guard at St. James’s and Buckingham Palace, to the ‘new guard’.

11:00 a.m the ceremony begins when Foot Guards of the old guard form up in Friary Court at the side of St. James’s Palace. A Corps of Drums, a Pipe Band or a full Military Band then plays the guard down The Mall to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

11.30 a.m. when the new guard forms up inside Wellington Barracks while a Regimental Band plays. When the old guard is ready, the new guard marches across into the forecourt. Once the old and new guards are drawn up facing each other, the Captain of the old guard hands the keys of the Palaces to the Captain of the new guard. New sentries are then marched to their positions while the Band plays and the Colours (regimental flags) of the old and new guards are paraded.

12.10 a.m the sentries have been set. The band and old guard then leave for Wellington Barracks, slow marching out of the forecourt and saluting the new guard as they pass. The new guard for St. James’s marches behind its music up The Mall to Friary Court.

This is where the Changing of the Guard ceremony ends, and a tradition that goes back through the centuries is over for another day.