London and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace: a thousand-year tradition
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace reflects how strongly the United Kingdom is tied to history and its own thousand-year-old traditions. To observe this ancient ritual is to step back in time, when technology was far away and the king’s defense was vital.
Multicultural, young, vibrant, avant-garde but also very old: these are just some of the definitions that can be attributed to London. The English capital captivates tourists from around the world every year, drawn by the extraordinary blend of modernity and historicity that this metropolis has to offer. There is the London of the London Eye and that of the Tower of London, The Shard skyscraper and Westminster Abbey, the iconic 30 St Mary Axe building and Buckingham Palace. The Royal Palace, the residence of the British royals, is the scene of one of the most beautiful ceremonies one can witness in London, namely the Changing of the Guard: it is an event rich in ritual and symbolism that has only increased the British people’s love for the monarchy.
Origins of the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace
The Guard’s Ceremony at Buckingham Palace is one of those things you can’t help but witness before you leave the English capital: it is a ritual that, like the royal ceremonies or the carriage rides of the most important members of the Windsor family, evokes those fairy tales you only see in cartoons or read about in books. In London, on the other hand, it is all real and also quite serious, as there has been strict protocol for more than 4 centuries.
The Changing of the Guard is a ritual that originated around 1600, with England’s victorious colonial expeditions bringing an exponential increase in love and favor for the crown. It was then decided to initiate this ceremony to further aggravate the people, who had always been attracted to the pomposity of royal rites. The Changing of the Guard was well-organized and has remained so over time, becoming a must-see tourist attraction.
Initially the ceremony was held in Whitehall Palace, the former residence of the British ruler, and only later under Queen Victoria in 1837 did it find its final location in Buckingham Palace.
The guards featured in the ceremony
The stars of Buckingham Palace’s Changing of the Guard ceremony are, of course. The King’s Guard i.e., the King’s (or Queen’s depending on who is sitting on the throne of England) Personal Guard: its institution is really very old and it was Henry VII who wanted it, about 520 years ago. These are absolutely chosen and qualified soldiers so much so that, those higher in rank, also hold other positions in the British government at the same time. On the other hand, as for the simple soldiers, the tradition followed since the 17th century is that they fought in the army, so as to be ready and prepared to defend the king.
Their uniform makes the British guards truly iconic, with the red jacket (covered by a gray coat only during the cold of winter) and especially the 50 cm high hats made from real bear fur: these headgear are worn by the guards even in the middle of summer, so much so that fainting scenes are not uncommon in regiments when temperatures are very high. These hats are called Bearskin and are actually French: not everyone knows that it was the troops led by Napoleon who first wore them at the Battle of Waterloo, during which these soldiers displayed unprecedented ferocity and unique heroism, despite later defeat at the hands of the British. The latter, with the purpose of honoring the victory, adopted the Bearskin, which was seen almost as intimidating during frontal confrontations.
The King’s Guard can sometimes be replaced by other regiments during the ceremony, namely the Coldstream Guards, Grenadier Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Gu ards, and Scots Guards (the oldest regiment founded in 1662).
How the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place.
The Changing of the Guard takes place in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace but it all starts in two different places, namely at Wellington Barracks and St. James’s Palace: at the former the New Guard is located while at the latter the Old Guard is stationed. Both of these regiments move at 11:00 a.m. to the beat of drums and a marching band playing not only patriotic songs or military marches, but also modern and pop songs: how not to remember Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen song played in tribute to the band and its frontman Freddy Mercury, or Dancing Quuen Of the Swedish group ABBA.
In the meantime, soldiers already on duty undergo the ritual checks and put on alert ahead of the upcoming Changing of the Guard.
It is only when all three of these components meet in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace that the ceremony can begin, at about 11:30 a.m.: the symbolic gesture of handing over the keys i.e., responsibilities, takes place. The soldiers present their weapons and salute each other by nodding their swords, while the military band continues to play. At 12:05 p.m. the New Guard is in place after receiving the Slope Arms order, while the Old Guardtorna at St James’s Palace.
When and where to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
The Changing of the Guard, a ceremony that has enlivened English days for centuries now, takes place, or rather begins, every day at 11:00 a.m. in June and July. From August to May, on the other hand, the days when it takes place are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Despite the rigidity of the British organization in everything related to the Crown, delays or even cancellations of the ceremony, for example due to rain, cannot be ruled out: the notice in such cases is very short, about 15 minutes. For this reason, it is never a bad idea to consult the Changing of the Guard Calendar often.
All those who wish to attend this folkloric ceremony must go to Buckingham Palace well in advance because so many tourists crowd the main gate of the royal residence. It must be taken into account that the sidewalk is not that wide, and behind it, traffic is raging. It is also important to be as close as possible to the rich gate because the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place in the center of the courtyard, which is really immense, however, so the view is somewhat reduced in any case.
Alternatively, one can watch the parade of guards on The Mall, the grand and iconic avenue that connects Buckingham Palace to Admiralty Arch, a stone’s throw from Trafalgar Square.
