Changing of the Guard
Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard, which, with all the ceremony monarchists and children adore, remains one of London's best free shows, culminates in front of the palace. Marching to live music, the Queen's Guard proceeds up the Mall from St. James's Palace to Buckingham Palace. Shortly afterward, the new guard approaches from Wellington Barracks via Birdcage Walk. Once the old and new guards are in the forecourt, the old guard symbolically hands over the keys to the palace.
The ceremony takes places daily at 11.30am April-July and on alternating days August-March, but the guards sometimes cancel due to bad weather. Arrive by 10.30am for a decent view.
There are those who may scoff at this clockwork ceremony, but for many, both Britons and foreign visitors who treasure the continuity of history, pageantry means permanence.
