Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

The ceremony of Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace, is a focal point for the many thousands of tourists who visit London each year. This intricate procedure facilitates the renewing of a guard at the end of its duty, ‘the Old Guard’. It is relieved by a refreshed detachment referred to as the ‘New Guard’. The ceremony normally takes place every other day. See the schedules below.

The procedure of the ceremony of Changing the Guard

St. James's Palace is situated off of The Mall in Marlborough Road. A detachment of the 'Old Guard' forms up there in Friary Court at 10:30am for an inspection by the Captain of The King's Guard. This contingent then makes its way down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace at approximately 10:45 am preceded by a Regimental Band or Corps of Drums.

The other half of the Old Guard is already on duty at Buckingham Palace and is inspected whilst awaiting the arrival of the St. James's Palace detachment. The St. James's detachment enters the Palace Forecourt via the South Centre Gate (left of centre facing the Palace) and takes up position beside the Buckingham Palace detachment on the left hand side of the forecourt. Now complete, the Old Guard awaits the arrival of the incoming 'New Guard' from Wellington Barracks situated at the Buckingham Palace end of Birdcage Walk.

After undergoing its own inspection at approximately 10.40am the band accompanying the New Guard at Wellington Barracks forms a circle and plays a few items whilst awaiting the arrival of the New Guard’s Regimental Colour.

The Colour is a symbol of honour and has the various campaigns associated with the regiment's history emblazoned upon it. Traditionally it served as a rallying point in battle and King's Guard Mount provides an opportunity for the soldiers to be familiarised with it as it is paraded or 'trooped' before them. After saluting the Colour, the New Guard departs from Wellington Barracks preceded by the Regimental Band. The New Guard enters the Forecourt at approximately 11:00 am via the North Centre Gate (right of centre facing the Palace), marches in-front of the band and halts to face the Old Guard.

The Regimental Band then performs the New Guard's Regimental Slow March as it advances towards the Old Guard. The Old and New Guards 'Present Arms' before the Captains of the Guard ceremoniously hand over the Palace keys. This symbolic gesture represents the transfer of responsibility for the Palace’s security from the Old to the New Guard.

His Majestry The King is deemed to be in residence when the Royal Standard is flying from the Palace. Upon such occasions, the Foot Guards on the forecourt of the Palace will await the Mounted Cavalry and will salute with their rifles at '‘Present Arms' as the cavalry pass between the Queen Victoria Memorial, affectionately known as the 'Birthday Cake', and Buckingham Palace.

After the 'Present Arms', officers of both the Old and New Guard Buckingham Palace detachments salute the Senior Captain on parade with their swords. Retiring to the guardroom, they will later report to the Senior Captain after completing handover procedures with their Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. During this period the Ensigns carrying their respective Colours patrol the area before the Palace from left to right. Officers not directly involved in the ceremony march in step along the west side of the Guards.

As each new sentry is posted, a Corporal distributes any special orders previously collected personally from the Palace by the Captains of the Guard. During these procedures the Regimental Band, originally accompanying the New Guard, moves to the centre of the forecourt, forms a semi circle and performs a programme of music. The Regimental Band or pipers accompanying the Old Guard may also provide music during this point in the ceremony.

The original sentries, having been replaced by the incoming New Guard, return to complete the Old Guard. The duty bugler informs the Director of Music that the handover is complete. The band then reforms in front of the centre gates.

At approximately 11:35 am the Guards re-form and are called to 'Attention'. The Old Guard advances to its Regimental Slow March towards the New Guard. Wheeling right, the Colours of the Old and New Guard exchange compliments as the Old Guard exits through the Centre Gate preceded by the band. Having left the Palace, the Old Guard 'breaks into quick time' and continues its march back to Wellington Barracks.

The New Guard remaining in the Palace is given the order to 'Slope Arms' and is referred to from this point as 'The King’s Guard.' The detachment then divides into two. Those responsible for guarding St. James's Palace, usually led by the remaining Regimental Band or Corps of Drums, march off down The Mall to place the Regimental Colour in the guardroom in Friary Court at St. James's Palace. The Buckingham Palace detachment of The King's Guard then retires to the Palace guardroom to assume its duties.

Captain's Inspection

On days when the King's Guard isn't changed, a short ceremony takes place at 3.00pm on the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The parade consists of the King's Guard being turned out for inspection by the Captain of the Guard accompanied usually by a Regimental Band which plays music for around 20 minutes whilst the Palace sentries are changed before the King's Guard is dismissed back to the guardroom.

Sunday Parade

On Sundays a modified parade takes place although the Guard is not changed. A contingent of the King's Guard is turned out in the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace and is joined by one of the Regimental Bands from Wellington Barracks. The King's Guard's Colour (flag) is trooped through the ranks and is then marched back to St. James's Palace accompanied by the Band. The Colour is lodged (marched off parade) in Friary Court and the Guards and band march back to Buckingham Palace and resume their duties.

PUBLIC DUTIES

THE KING'S GUARD
BUCKINGHAM PALACE

DATE	UNIT	TYPE	TIME	MUSICAL SUPPORT
Fri 13th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards Pipes of Number 12 Company irish Guards
Fri 13th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Admin Mount	14.00	No Music or Ceremony
Sat 14th June	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Guard Change	12.30	Massed Bands of the Guards Division Corps of Drums of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
Sat 14th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Admin Mount	15.00	Without Music or Ceremony
Sun 15th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
Mon 16th June	F Company Scots Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards (Full Mount) Band and Bugles of The Rifles (Full Dismount)
Tue 17th June	F Company Scots Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards
Wed 18th June	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Scots Guards Band of the Irish Guards
Thu 19th June	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Welsh Guards
Fri 20th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas (Full Mount) Band of the Irish Guards (Full Dismount)
Sat 21st June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
Sun 22nd June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
Mon 23rd June	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards (Full Mount) Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas (Full Dismount)
Tue 24th June	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Wed 25th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Guard Change	11.00	Band and Bugles of The Rifles (Full Mount) Band of the Welsh Guards (Full Dismount)
Thu 26th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Fri 27th June	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards (Full Mount) Band and Bugles of The Rifles (Full Dismount)
Sat 28th June	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Sun 29th June	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Mon 30th June	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Welsh Guards Pipes of Number 12 Company Irish Guards
Tue 1st July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	No Musical Support
Wed 2nd July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry Pipes of Number 12 Company Irish Guards
Thu 3rd July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Fri 4th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Welsh Guards Band of the Scots Guards
Sat 5th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Sun 6th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Tue 8th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	No Musical Support
Wed 9th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards Band of the Irish Guards
Thu 10th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	No Musical Support
Fri 11th July	F Company Scots Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Scots Guards Band of the Welsh Guards
Sat 12th July	F Company Scots Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Scots Guards
Sun 13th July	F Company Scots Guards	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Mon 14th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Admin Mount	08.00	No Music or Ceremony
Tue 15th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	No Musical Support
Wed 16th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards Band of the Irish Guards
Thu 17th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	No Musical Support
Fri 18th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Welsh Guards Band of the Grenadier Guards
Sat 19th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Sun 20th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Mon 21st July	F Company Scots Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards Band of the Irish Guards
Tue 22nd July	F Company Scots Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Wed 23rd July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards Pipes of Number 12 Company Irish Guards
Thu 24th July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards
Fri 25th July	F Company Scots Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards Band of the Irish Guards
Sat 26th July	F Company Scots Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Sun 27th July	F Company Scots Guards	Sunday Parade	11.00	Band of the Grenadier Guards
Mon 28th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards Band of the Irish Guards
Tue 29th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Wed 30th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards Pipes of Number 12 Company Irish Guards
Thu 31st July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection	15.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards

THE WINDSOR CASTLE GUARD

DATE	UNIT	TYPE	TIME	MUSICAL SUPPORT
Sat 14th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
Tue 17th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Guard Change (Quadrangle Mount)	11.00	Band of the Welsh Guards
Wed 18th June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Guard Change (Quadrangle Mount)	11.00	Band of the Welsh Guards
Thu 19th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Guard Change (Quadrangle Mount)	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Fri 20th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Guard Change (Quadrangle Mount)	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Sat 21st June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Guard Change (Quadrangle Mount)	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Mon 23rd June	Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
Tue 24th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
Wed 25th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Thu 26th June	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Pipes of Number 12 Company irish Guards
Fri 27th June	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Sat 28th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Mon 30th June	1st Battalion Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Tue 1st July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Pipes of Number 12 Company irish Guards
Wed 2nd July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Thu 3rd July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Pipes of Number 12 Company irish Guards
Fri 4th July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Sat 5th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Wed 9th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Thu 10th Julu	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Fri 11th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Scots Guards
Sat 12th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Scots Guards
Mon 14th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Tue 15th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Wed 16th July	Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Thu 17th July	F Company Scots Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Fri 18th July	F Company Scots Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Household Cavalry
Sat 19th July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Irish Guards
Mon 21st July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Tue 22nd July	F Company Scots Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Wed 23rd July	F Company Scots Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Thu 24th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Pipes of Number 12 Company irish Guards
Fri 25th July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Sat 26th July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Pipes of Number 12 Company irish Guards
Mon 28th July	Number 12 Company Irish Guards	Captain's Inspection (Quadrangle)	15.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Tue 29th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards
Wed 30th July	Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards	Captain's Inspection (Parade Square)	15.00	No Musical Support
Thu 31st July	Number 9 Company Irish Guards	Guard Change	11.00	Band of the Coldstream Guards

Click here for a printable version of the June 2025 schedules
Click here for a printable version of the July 2025 schedules

Every reasonable effort has been made to compile accurate information about the Changing the Guard ceremony and to keep the schedule up to date.

Schedules can, and do, change from time to time, sometimes without notice particularly due to inclement weather.
This means that you cannot guarantee that Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle will take place on the stated dates.
This website cannot therefore accept any responsibility for loss or inconvenience caused by reliance on the information provided here.

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Please note: This is not an official website. Please check official sources for up to date information about military events.
The HQ London District official webpage is at: www.householddivision.org.uk