Changing the Guard: Great Military Band Music
The correct name of the ceremony known as 'Changing of the Guard' is actually 'Mounting the Guard', a cavalry term. In this - one of the oldest and most familiar of all royal formalities - a new Guard exchanges duty with the old Guard, drawn from one of the regiments of Foot Guards. The handover is accompanied by a Guards' band and the music played ranges from traditional military marches to familiar popular music.Since 1660, Household Troops have guarded the Sovereign and the Royal Palaces. Until 1689, the Sovereign lived mostly at the Palace of Whitehall and was guarded there by the Household Cavalry. They still mount guard at Horse Guards Arch today, although occasionally units such as the King's Troop and the Royal Horse Artillery take over to enable the Household Cavalry to pursue their operational duties. In 1689, the court relocated to St. James's Palace, which was guarded by the Foot Guards. When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, The Queen's Guard remained at St. James's Palace, with a detachment guarding Buckingham Palace, a procedure that remains until today. When the Queen is in residence, there are four sentries at the front of the building. When she is away, there are two.Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Sovereign and was first opened to the public in 1993. Its history began in 1702 when the Duke of Buckingham had it built as his London home. The Duke sold the house in 1761 to George III and it was renamed "Queen's House" in 1774 as Queen Charlotte resided there. Today it is used not only as the home of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, but also for the administrative work of the monarchy.They're changing the guard at Buckingham Palace…' and this is what they might play: a superb mix of marching tunes and popular songs, played here by a mighty tour de force of virtuoso bandsmen chosen from amongst the best bands from Her Majesty's Armed Forces.The recent 50th Jubilee of Her Majesty, The Queen has shown what an enormous treasure house of history and tradition London has. There is no other city in the world that can so readily rise to such important occasions, and it has done so for a thousand years. One of London's most colourful ceremonies has now taken place for almost three hundred and fifty years.Guard mounting takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11.30 am, and lasts about 45 minutes. It occurs daily from April until the end of June and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.