Dating back to 1660, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London is a spectacular moment held in two parts of the city: in front of Buckingham Palace and at the Horse Guards Parade, opposite St. James Palace, the headquarters of the Royal Guard.
The most famous Changing of the Guard takes place daily in front of Buckingham Palace and the ceremony starts at 11 am; the soldiers composing The Queen’s Guard leave Wellington Barracks and, after a 5-minute walk accompanied by a marching band, arrive at the square in front of the Queen’s residence.
Here begins the actual ceremony that lasts 40 minutes and enchants tourists and Londoners who gather around the area already a couple of hours earlier to observe not only the march but also the actual changing. The event can be canceled and this can especially happen on days of heavy rain.
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place every day from April to July (except Sundays), while on alternate days for the rest of the year.
The ceremony at the Horse Guards, on the other hand, can be admired even on Sundays and, only on this day, at 10 am instead of the usual 11 am.
