The Ceremony in detail - Changing the Guard - Ceremonial Events - The Household Division (2024)

FAQs

What is the Changing of the Guard ceremony? ›

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.

Changing of The King's Guard takes place in front of Buckingham Palace at 10:45am and lasts for about 45 minutes. You should arrive early to get the best view. Soldiers gather at St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks from 10:00am and march to Buckingham Palace accompanied by music.

The Household Division is made up of the Household Cavalry, which includes The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals, as well as five regiments of foot guards – the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards and Welsh Guards.

Standing on the steps of the Victoria Memorial is a good spot as the elevated position lets you see the Guards and Bands arriving and gives a reasonable view of the ceremony on the forecourt.

A Symbolic Tradition:

The Changing of the Guard is steeped in symbolism, representing the seamless transition of authority and the unwavering dedication of the British Armed Forces to protect the monarch and the royal residence.

Changing the Guard, also known as Guard Mounting, takes place outside Buckingham Palace every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Buckingham Palace Old Guard forms in the palace's forecourt from 10.30am and is joined by the St James's Palace Old Guard at about 10.45am.

Yes, certainly. The guards are all on-duty serving soldiers, and British women have been among them since women began fighting in the front line in 2007.

A royal guard is a group of military bodyguards, soldiers or armed retainers responsible for the protection of a royal family member, such as a king or queen, or prince or princess. They often are an elite unit of the regular armed forces, or are designated as such, and may maintain special rights or privileges.

Changing the Guard, or Guard Mounting as it is officially called, takes place outside Buckingham Palace every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10.45am and lasts around 45 minutes, with the actual 'handover' takes place at 11am. Want to see the Guards with less people around?

Khaki- The Khaki Beret is worn by the Scots Guards, Irish Guards, Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Welsh Guards, Honourable Artillery Company, 4/73 Special OP Battery (RA), Royal Gibralter Regiment, Yorkshire Regiment, Duke of Lancasters Regiment, Royal Welsh, Royal Anglian Regiment and Princess of Wales Royal ...

How much do the household cavalry get paid? ›

Pay & benefits

You'll earn £31,305 during your year of training at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, before commissioning and becoming a Second Lieutenant, on £37,425 a year.

RCM Regimental Corporal Major (known as the Regimental Sergeant Major in other Regiments) as the Household Cavalry do not have sergeants because Queen Victoria thought Sergeant sounded too like servant.

When the Guard retires, they march there so you can see them again but from much closer. Another classic experience for a visitor to London. We have been before but it is always worth seeing. There are multiple places to see parts of the ceremony but it is impossible for one person to see everything.

Changing the Guard can sometimes be cancelled, especially in wet weather. The decision to call a "Wet Mount" is made, by the Captain of the Guard , sometimes as late as 10:45 on the day. This means we cannot update our website or answer email enquiries in time to help people en-route or already at the Palace.

The Changing of the Guard is free to watch, you do not require a ticket or have to make a booking!

Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace does not take place every day. The current schedules are: August - May: The Queen's Guard change on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. June - July: The Queen's Guard change daily.

The Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace is well worth seeing but you may need to a bit of research first. We went in September and the Changing of the Guards was done every second day. Also it's probably best to do it as a tour as they know the ins and ours.

(The number 21 symbolizes the highest military honor that can be bestowed, the 21-gun salute.) Next, the Sentinel executes a sharp "shoulder-arms" movement to place the weapon on the shoulder closest to the visitors, signifying that he or she stands between the Tomb and any possible threat.

Since April 6, 1948, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with zero exception. Every hour during winter and every half hour during the summer and daylight hours, one guard relieves another from their post in a ceremony with the precision of a Swiss watch.