The Changing of the Guards-An Important British Ceremony

Introduction:

The British royal family is followed by many people around the world who are interested in what it is like to be a real queen, king, princess or prince. However, besides the weddings and other royal events, there are many other traditions associated with the royal families. One of these is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, one of the residences of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip and some other family members. The guards work to protect the palace and are well-known for their distinctive red coats, black fuzzy, bearskin caps and unflappable facial expression, along with the ceremony they participate in.

What tradition did I learn about?:

I attended a Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace. This tradition has been taking place at Buckingham Palace since 1837, and it features the soldiers that guard the castle. During the ceremony, the Old Guards, who have been protecting the palace for almost 2 hours already, changes places with the New Guards. The ceremony is highly orchestrated and planned down to the exact minute. At 10:40 a.m., the New Guard is inspected outside of Wellington Barracks while a Regimental Band plays.  After everyone is assembled and inspected, they begin marching towards Buckingham Palace.

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