Changing the Guard

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The Queen's Life Guard are the mounted troopers of the Household Cavalry who guard the official entrance to St James's Palace and Buckingham Palace outside Horse Guards in Whitehall.

The Queen's Guard in London comprises two detachments, one each for Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace, under the command of the Captain of The Queen's Guard.

The new guards arrive at the forecourt of the Palace at 11:30 from Wellington Barracks. The journey takes about 5 minutes and the soldiers are accompanied by a band. The ceremony is conducted on the Palace forecourt and takes approximately forty minutes to complete.

Buckingham Palce

Changing the Guard takes place at 11:30 daily from May until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.

Windsor Castle

Changing the Guard takes place at 11:00 daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.

Trooping the Colour

The official birthday of the Sovereign is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour.

It takes place each June on Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, in front of crowds of onlookers and is enjoyed by millions world-wide. The troops participating in the parade are drawn of fully trained, operational troops from the Household Division.