If you’re planning a trip to London, you probably already know that your visit won’t be complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace. And if you’re going to visit Buckingham Palace, you’ll want to make sure that you plan some time to watch the changing of the guards and the horse guards parade. These ceremonies have roots that go deep into London’s history. There have been guards watching over the Royal Palaces in London since at least the 1600s. The practice began with Household Troops that guarded the Palace of Whitehall, then the Foot Guards who stood watch over St. James’s Palace. Since 1837, the Queen’s Guard has been at St James’s Palace and a detachment guard has been stationed at Buckingham Palace.
It’s easy to get confused about the days and times that these ceremonies can be viewed. During most of the year, the changing of the guard ceremony takes place once every other day. However, during the summer months, the ceremony takes place twice a day. Either way, the ceremony starts at 11:30 in the morning. You’ll want to get there early, though, because this ceremony always draws a crowd. The other ceremony you’ll want to see is the changing of the mounted guard at the Horse Guards Building. This ceremony takes place at 11am every day except for Sundays, when it takes place at 10am. Or, you can go to the Horse Guards Building any day of the week at 4pm for the Horse Guards Parade. All of these ceremonies are free to the public; no tickets or reservations are required. Bear in mind, though that these are immensely popular ceremonies, so you should plan for large crowds and arrive early.
You’re allowed to take photographs of the ceremony, of course, but while the ceremonies are going on, it’s best not to try to approach the guards for pictures. However, before and after the ceremonies, you are allowed to photograph the guards or even get a picture of yourself standing next to one of them. If you find yourself fascinated with the guard ceremonies and you want to know more about them, then you should also check out one or both of the guards museums in London. The Guards Museum is located in Wellington Barracks and the Household Calvary Museum is located in Whitehall. Both museums will give you an in-depth look at the history and meaning of the guard ceremonies, as well as provide interesting information about the Guards themselves. And at the Guards Museum, you’ll have the opportunity to try on one of the tall hats that the palace guards wear. If you enjoy the ceremonies, these two museums are definitely worth a look.
