Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

There are a few things that are naturally associated with Britain and Britishness. Afternoon tea, grey skies and the stiff upper lip... and the Changing of the Guard of course! There are few more distinctive sights than the Queen's Guards, whose red uniform and tall bearskin hats are so well known that they've become a symbol of Britain itself.

The Changing of the Guard is the moment, filled with pomp and ceremony, when one shift guarding Buckingham Palace relieves the other. The change includes tightly choreographed marching, with the band of the Grenadier Guards in step, adding a sense of occasion to the ceremony with their bombastic mix of horns and drumming.

And while masses of tourists make the mistake of gathering at the gates of Buckingham Palace, only catching the very end of the ceremony, you'll be accompanied by an expert guide. You'll be taken around the very best viewpoints to see the changing of the guard from start to finish, and will enjoy your guide's commentary: digging into the history and significance of everything from the uniforms to the choreography.

Important Information

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is subject to change and cancellation by the British authorities - often due to large public events in London's city centre. If the change is affected by wet weather, cancellation is not announced until 11 am. However even when it is cancelled due to bad weather, there will still be a 'wet change' without the band and with less ceremony.

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