A popular tourist attraction that is full of British pageantry is the ceremony known as Changing of the Guard - properly called Guard Mounting - which takes place most days at Buckingham Palace.
Dressed in their distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats the Queen's Guard stands on sentry duty outside of the Royal residence in London. When the Queen is in residence four members of the Queen's Guard are on duty and can be seen in their sentry box's at the front of the Palace. When the Queen is absent, which is most of the time, only two guards are on duty.
The ceremony, which usually takes place at 11:30am, marks the moment when one member of the Queen's Guard ends his sentry duty and exchanges duty with his replacement. The ceremony, which lasts for about 30 minutes, includes a Guard band playing a range of music from traditional military marches to songs from the shows and even familiar pop songs.
The event is extremely popular, and in the summer one can expect to see large crowds stood around the gates of Buckingham Palace trying to catch the black and red uniforms of the soldiers as they go through their drills. In order to get a clear view of the event one needs to arrive early.
Guard Mounting also takes place at Horse Guard Parade. Here you can witness a similar ceremony by the Queen's Horse Guards Parade, famous for their helmets with their long red flowing plumes.
Changing of the Guard - Buckingham Palace: Times
11.30 am daily from May to July
Alternate dates throughout the rest of the year.
In heavy rain the ceremony is cancelled.
It is advised to check the Royal Website to confirm details for the day you intend to visit.
Address:
Buckingham Palace:
Buckingham Palace Road
London
SW1A 1AA
Nearest Tube Station:
Victoria, Green Park, St James’s Park or Hyde Park Corner
Changing of the Guard - Horse Guard Parade: Times
Mon- Sat 11am. Sun 10am.
In the summer the ceremony takes place at Horse Guards Parade
In the winter the ceremony is held in the courtyard
Address:
Horse Guard Parade:
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AX
Nearest Tube Station:
Charing Cross, Embankment or Westminster
External Links
Official Website of the British Monarchy
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