Changing of the Guard - Insider Info!
Jun 10th, 2004, 03:16 PM
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Changing of the Guard - Insider Info!
We just returned from 10 days in London and met a British pensioner who has a passion for British Traditional Ceremonies. We wish to share with everyone his in depth info regarding the Changing of the Guard at Buck Palace and tips for viewing:
Daily now only 1st April to 30th June
Rest of year, every other day (Suggest check with hotel which days)
10:40/10:50 am. New Guard and Band assemble on parade ground of Wellington Barracks at north end of Birdcage Walk (end nearest Buckingham Palace)
Birdcage Walk is road on west side of St.James's Park (opposite side to The Mall).
Guard consists of 40 men plus 3 officers.
Guard divided into 2 detachments. First eventually for St.James's Palace whilst second stays at Buckingham Palace.
Both are still Royal palaces.
Short drilling by guard lead by drummer.
Inspection by one of the officers :
First the NCOs (corporals and sergeants).
Then the band.
Then the guardsmen. Band plays during this (upto 3 tunes depending upon time available).
Short drilling by Guard.
Colour (think you may call it ensign or standard) brought on by sergeant and two corporals.
The other 2 officers arrive: Ensign (junior officer) and Captain of Guard (Major or Captain)
Colour presented to Ensign whilst Guard "Present Arms"
More short drilling by Guard
11.27 a.m. Guard, lead by band, march off to Buckingham Palace, arrive 11.30am
Meanwhile at 11.15am - Old Guard, St.James's detachment, lead by either band or corps of drums, march down The Mall to Buckingham Palace arriving 11.25 and join Buckingham Palace detachment in forecourt to await New Guard
11.30 to approx 12.05 Old and New Guards stand and face each other in forecourt whilst sentries are changed at both palaces. Band plays. (Nothing much else happens)
12.05 approx. Old Guard exit forecourt, lead by band, slow march and then quick march back to Wellington Barracks.
Then first detachment with Captain of the Guard and Ensign with Colour, lead by other band or corps of drums march up The Mall to St.James's Palace. Very short ceremony in Friary Court.(Suggest you march with them).
Note : Occasionally, other regiments mount guard at the palaces instead of the Foot Guards.
Suggest you watch inspection etc at Wellington Barracks then march with New Guard at 11.27 to stand at corner of The Mall by Queen Victoria Memorial. At approx 11.35 (except Sundays) the Household Cavalry, Old Guard will come riding down The Mall and circle past Buckingham Palace.
Sundays the Cavalry change guard at 10.00am (other days at 11.00 am) on Horse Guards Parade, every day throughout the year., except August when the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery take their place. (The horses are taken to seaside for a vacation). King's Troop do not ride down The Mall.
The Cavalry Guard Change is a low key affair, lasts only 20 mins. On Sundays it is possible to see both this (10.00 to 10.20 am) and the Foot Guards from 10.40 by walking through St.James's Park to Birdcage Walk, Wellington Barracks.
Folks you do not need to get their early or stand along the fence. Follow the above advice and march with the Guard especially from the Barracks and to St James.
Remember this tradition has been conducted for 100s of years. The Brits do Ceremony and Tradition in a grand manner. We were lucky to observe a rehearsal for the 6/12 Trooping of the Colour which included 500 Foot Guards and five bands. Quite a sight! 80 of the foot Guards with a band marched up the Mall to Buck Palace and we walked alongside. They then performed the Changing Ceremony.
Hope you enjoy the pagentry as much as we did.
Daily now only 1st April to 30th June
Rest of year, every other day (Suggest check with hotel which days)
10:40/10:50 am. New Guard and Band assemble on parade ground of Wellington Barracks at north end of Birdcage Walk (end nearest Buckingham Palace)
Birdcage Walk is road on west side of St.James's Park (opposite side to The Mall).
Guard consists of 40 men plus 3 officers.
Guard divided into 2 detachments. First eventually for St.James's Palace whilst second stays at Buckingham Palace.
Both are still Royal palaces.
Short drilling by guard lead by drummer.
Inspection by one of the officers :
First the NCOs (corporals and sergeants).
Then the band.
Then the guardsmen. Band plays during this (upto 3 tunes depending upon time available).
Short drilling by Guard.
Colour (think you may call it ensign or standard) brought on by sergeant and two corporals.
The other 2 officers arrive: Ensign (junior officer) and Captain of Guard (Major or Captain)
Colour presented to Ensign whilst Guard "Present Arms"
More short drilling by Guard
11.27 a.m. Guard, lead by band, march off to Buckingham Palace, arrive 11.30am
Meanwhile at 11.15am - Old Guard, St.James's detachment, lead by either band or corps of drums, march down The Mall to Buckingham Palace arriving 11.25 and join Buckingham Palace detachment in forecourt to await New Guard
11.30 to approx 12.05 Old and New Guards stand and face each other in forecourt whilst sentries are changed at both palaces. Band plays. (Nothing much else happens)
12.05 approx. Old Guard exit forecourt, lead by band, slow march and then quick march back to Wellington Barracks.
Then first detachment with Captain of the Guard and Ensign with Colour, lead by other band or corps of drums march up The Mall to St.James's Palace. Very short ceremony in Friary Court.(Suggest you march with them).
Note : Occasionally, other regiments mount guard at the palaces instead of the Foot Guards.
Suggest you watch inspection etc at Wellington Barracks then march with New Guard at 11.27 to stand at corner of The Mall by Queen Victoria Memorial. At approx 11.35 (except Sundays) the Household Cavalry, Old Guard will come riding down The Mall and circle past Buckingham Palace.
Sundays the Cavalry change guard at 10.00am (other days at 11.00 am) on Horse Guards Parade, every day throughout the year., except August when the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery take their place. (The horses are taken to seaside for a vacation). King's Troop do not ride down The Mall.
The Cavalry Guard Change is a low key affair, lasts only 20 mins. On Sundays it is possible to see both this (10.00 to 10.20 am) and the Foot Guards from 10.40 by walking through St.James's Park to Birdcage Walk, Wellington Barracks.
Folks you do not need to get their early or stand along the fence. Follow the above advice and march with the Guard especially from the Barracks and to St James.
Remember this tradition has been conducted for 100s of years. The Brits do Ceremony and Tradition in a grand manner. We were lucky to observe a rehearsal for the 6/12 Trooping of the Colour which included 500 Foot Guards and five bands. Quite a sight! 80 of the foot Guards with a band marched up the Mall to Buck Palace and we walked alongside. They then performed the Changing Ceremony.
Hope you enjoy the pagentry as much as we did.
Jun 11th, 2004, 05:02 AM
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When we were in London in March 2001, we did a one day tour (rest of the time on our own). Our tour bus driver took us to St. James Palace and we watched what Captb described, we "marched" along side as they went to Buckingham, and got some great up close photos,and a real sense of the pageantry. When we got to Buckingham we felt sorry for the folks who had been standing there for so long, as we felt we had a better experience!
Jun 11th, 2004, 10:29 AM
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...When we got to Buckingham we felt sorry for the folks who had been standing there for so long, as we felt we had a better experience!........
mlw, Thank you - we felt the same. To stand in the crowds and see little of the pageantry is very disappointing. Thus you see many critical comments about the Ceremony not being worth the time. However, if you follow the above suggestions you will experience a centuries old pageantry and get great closeups.
mlw, Thank you - we felt the same. To stand in the crowds and see little of the pageantry is very disappointing. Thus you see many critical comments about the Ceremony not being worth the time. However, if you follow the above suggestions you will experience a centuries old pageantry and get great closeups.
Jul 19th, 2005, 05:42 AM
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As an aside - apparently the army is finally thinking about giving up the traditional bearskin hats for synthetic. Great for the bears - not sure which is hotter for the poor soldiers standing inthe sun.
And I'm surprised that the pensioner didn;t give you an overview of the different types of guards - Irish, Scots, Welsh and Coldstream - identifiable by the little "flags" in their hats.
And I'm surprised that the pensioner didn;t give you an overview of the different types of guards - Irish, Scots, Welsh and Coldstream - identifiable by the little "flags" in their hats.
