The Changing of The Guard in London is a ceremony that seems confusing unless you know what happens, and when.
Originating in the 1790s, the guard changing ceremony is the formal handing-over of responsibility for guarding Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace from the ‘old guard’ to the ‘new guard’.The ceremony begins at 11 o’clock when Foot Guards of the old guard form up in Friary Court at the side of St. James’s Palace. A Corps of Drums, a Pipe Band or a full Military Band then plays this guard down The Mall to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
Just before 11.30 the new guard forms up inside Wellington Barracks while a Regimental Band plays. When the old guard is ready, the new guard marches across into the Palace forecourt.
Once the old and new guards are drawn up facing each other, the Captain of the old guard hands the keys of the Palaces to the Captain of the new guard. New sentries are then marched to their positions while the Band plays and the Colours (the regimental flags) of the old and new guards are paraded.
By about 12.10 the sentries have been set. The band and old guard then leave for Wellington Barracks, slow marching out of the forecourt and saluting the new guard as they pass.
The new guard for St. James’s marches behind its music up The Mall to Friary Court. Here the Changing of the Guard ceremony ends, and a tradition that goes back to the 1790s is over for another day.
