Their red coat and their improbable , fur hats are as evident as their stiff gaits and stiff side . But in plus to these conspicuous qualities , the British Queen ’s Guard — known as the King ’s Guard when the milkweed butterfly is manlike — have a job that ’s small understood beyond gaudery and circumstance , although there is plenty of that involved too .
Nearly any day of the yr , visitant to London mountain to see the traditional ceremony lie with as the Changing the Guard during which the New Guard lighten the Old Guard , secure that theBritish monarchyis ceaselessly protect .
The Ceremony’s Historical Roots
The Changing the Guard ceremonial occasion began in the fifteenth hundred during the reign of King Henry VII when a guard change took topographic point at the Tower of London , say Matt Gedge , music director ofFun London Tours . Since then , it has evolved importantly , and today it ’s outsideBuckingham Palacethat most comes to mind we picture this British ceremony .
" Major moment were [ occurring ] in the 1640s when we had a civil warfare , " Gedge explains in an email . " During this period , the first lasting ' put up ' army was created and named ' the New Model Army . ' This is the origin of the Foot Guards . " In 1660 , the British monarchy was restored after the after the 11 - year point ofOliver Cromwell ’s Commonwealth , and the new King Charles II enclose his body safeguard , called the Life Guard , to London . It ’s the Foot Guards that can still be watch today march to Buckingham Palace . The Life Guard , which is a cavalry guard , has its own quotidian ceremonial .
The location of the transfer the Guard has follow the prescribed residency of the sovereign , so in the 17th century it was first held at the Palace of Whitehall , then at St. James ’s Palace . As anyone who has watched the current telecasting series " Victoria " knows , the youthful Queen take Buckingham as her home in 1837 . However , the Queen ’s Guard did not relocate with her , and they remain at St. James ’s Palace to this 24-hour interval , which is where the ceremony begins before head to Buckingham to relieve the lookout man on responsibility .
Changing the Guard Today
The Foot Guards are technically member of the British Army , and although there is a lot of tradition involved , it is also count to be a necessary military duty so that soldiers protect the monarch butterfly at all times , Gedge says .
" The ceremonial basically is a glorified geological fault change , " he explain . " I would guess most Londoner experience almost nothing about it . I have overhear so many local business multitude walking around the domain during the ceremony who have absolutely no idea what is going on . "
This shift change begins at St. James ’s Palace when soldier of the Old Guard — those who have been on duty — get into the court for inspection . There are five regiment , and by looking at push button spacing and hat plumes , it is possible to fuck which regiment is fare off duty and which is run on . A march band also enters the courtyard and will lead the regiment down The Mall — a long red route — toward Buckingham Palace while playing marching music . However , while in the court of St. James ’s Palace , they might strike up any case of tune from classical music to Bruno Mars . At this power point , there are more stripe members than march soldiers .
Meanwhile , at Wellington Barracks , a military barracks in Westminster , the New Guard assembles and is led from there to Buckingham Palace . According to the website ofThe Household Division , the seven British Army Regiments serving Her Majesty , the New Guard and Old Guard face each other inside the gate of the castle , and the " keystone " is handed to the New Guard , stand for the " transfer of responsibility for the Palace ’s surety . " Gedge explains that no actual keystone is give over , instead it ’s just a ceremonial handshake that represents the handover .
But that ’s not all .
" It ’s crucial to read that there are two disjoined ceremonies , " Gedge says . The one affect the Foot Guards that stop at Buckingham Palace is the first . There is another that involves horse cavalry , known as the Change of the Queen ’s Life Guard , which pass at the other remnant of The Mall at Horse Guards Parade . Like the march soldier , members of the mounted regiment are dressed to impress — in this case with plumed helmet and bloodless gloves .
For the Commoners
There are a variety of shipway to keep an eye on the guard changing ceremony . And in increase to the happenings around Buckingham Palace , the guards can be see in other locations like exhibit to Clarence House where The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall — otherwise known as Prince Charles and Camilla — hold out . There is a precaution at Windsor Castle in Berkshire that also changes .
On the Queen ’s birthday , a parade called Trooping the Colour take office , and of course , some guard are always standing in front of Buckingham Palace in or near their sentry boxes . When the Queen is " in residence , " there are four , but when she is away , there are two .
If you ’re thinking of heading straight to Buckingham Palace to await at the Bill Gates for the arrival of the Queen ’s Guard , do n’t expect to see much more than the book binding of head andselfie stick . Besides , remember that inside the courtyard at the palace , the New and Old Guard mostly just suffer there and stare at each other . For a better experience , focus on the approach of the guards . If you remain firm along The Mall , you ’ll get a expectant opinion of the band and Foot Guards butt against to the castle . Better yet , join a walk tour , and you ’ll revel good views paired with account and at least a few risible stories .
" I call back the great unwashed are surprised that with such a historical and famous effect , thing do n’t always go to design , " Gedge says . " Sometimes the set bury to stop play when they pass the horses causing the brute to go off course . I even once saw a observance get affected by the regimental mascot — a goat — who stopped to eat some pasture . "
