The Foot Guards have a role as the primary garrison for the capital, for the military security of the Queen Sovereign, and for ceremonial duties in London, such as the historic changing of the guards and trooping of the colours. The Guards Battalion stationed at Windsor generally provides the Windsor Castle Guard.

How can you tell which regiment the different guards are from? …..

This can be done by observing the colour of the plume, and what side it is worn on the bearskin, button spacing, the collar badge and the shoulder badge. When all five regiments parade together, they are in the order Grenadier Guards on the right flank, then Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Guards and Coldstream Guards on the left flank.

Regiment	Plume	Plume colour	Button spacing	Collar badge	Shoulder badge
Grenadier Guards	Left	White	Singly	Grenade	Royal Cypher
Coldstream Guards	Right	Scarlet	Pairs	Garter Star	Rose
Scots Guards	None	N/A	Threes	Thistle	Thistle Star
Irish Guards	Right	Blue	Fours	Shamrock	St Patrick Star
Welsh Guards	Left	White-Green-White	Fives	Leek	Leek

Grenadier	Coldstream	Scots	Irish	Welsh

Changing the Guard in London is a ceremony that originated in the 1790s. The Procedure of the ceremony is as follows:

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is the formal handing-over of responsibility from the ‘old guard’ who have been standing guard at St. James’s and Buckingham Palace, to the ‘new guard’.

11:00 a.m the ceremony begins when Foot Guards of the old guard form up in Friary Court at the side of St. James’s Palace. A Corps of Drums, a Pipe Band or a full Military Band then plays the guard down The Mall to the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

11.30 a.m. when the new guard forms up inside Wellington Barracks while a Regimental Band plays. When the old guard is ready, the new guard marches across into the forecourt. Once the old and new guards are drawn up facing each other, the Captain of the old guard hands the keys of the Palaces to the Captain of the new guard. New sentries are then marched to their positions while the Band plays and the Colours (regimental flags) of the old and new guards are paraded.

12.10 a.m the sentries have been set. The band and old guard then leave for Wellington Barracks, slow marching out of the forecourt and saluting the new guard as they pass. The new guard for St. James’s marches behind its music up The Mall to Friary Court. This is where the Changing of the Guard ceremony ends, and a tradition that goes back through the centuries is over for another day.

The Changing of the Guard Times and Schedule at Buckingham Palace London – Guard Mounting takes place on alternate dates during Autumn and Winter but takes place everyday during peak tourist season of Spring and Summer. Please ensure you check date and time details before attending Changing the Guard Times and Schedule for June 2006 are shown below ….

JUNE 2006

London is an ancient city steeped in royal pomp and ceremony, one of the best known of these ceremonies being the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace London ….

The household troops (the queens troops) have guarded the sovereign and the royal palaces since 1660. When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham palace in 1837 the queens troops remained at the old St James Palace. Therefore everyday a detachment of troops was and still is marched up from St James Palace to replace those guarding the Queen at Buckingham palace. Click this link for a more detailed description of the ceremony changing of the guard.

Which Regiments take part in the parade? The queens guard usually consists of the Household division Foot Guards, comprising the Life Guards; Scots Guards; Welsh Guards; Coldstream Guards; Blues and Royals and Grenadier Guards. However dependent upon commitments other units may participate in place of them if they are unavailable.

Is the famous Bearskin hat really made of Bearskin?
The standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards is 18 inches tall, weighs one and a half pounds and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear.

Can I try a Bearskin Hat on? Yes you can!! In the Guards museum there is one you can try on for size. It also has uniforms and medals on display and a history of the foot guards.

Buckingham Palace London – The Official Principal Residence of the British Monarch the London residence of Her Majesty The Queen and one of the most famous buildings in the world. It is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today….

State Visits by high commissioners and ambassadors, Garden Parties and receptions hosted by the Royal Family are among the numerous events held in the Palace throughout the year. Originally a country house built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. It was only 1837 when Queen Victoria became Queen and took up residence that it became the official home of the British Monarch. Of course equally as famous as the palace building itself are the impressive the Queens Guard in their smart red tunics and bearskin hats that keep vigil over the Queen and undertake the Changing of the Guard and other ceremonial duties.

Can I get a tour of Buckingham Palace London? Tours of the lavish Buckingham Palace State Rooms are available but only during the period 26 July – 24 September.

When does the Buckingham Palace State Room open and how long does the visit last? The State Rooms open at 09:45 and closes at 18:00, with last admission at 15:45. A visit lasts between 2 and 2½ hours.

How much does admission to the State Rooms cost? Adult £14.00; Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £12.50 ; Under 17 £8.00; Under 5 Free; Family £36.00 (2 adults, 3 under 17s).

Will the Queen be there and will I see her? When the Queen is in residence the Royal Standard will be flying from the mast above Buckingham palace. But usually she goes on her summer holidays to Balmoral in Scotland during this time period.

Which Regiments take part in the parade? The queens guard usually consists of the Household division Foot Guards, comprising the Life Guards; Scots Guards; Welsh Guards; Coldstream Guards; Blues and Royals and Grenadier Guards. However dependent upon commitments other units may participate in place of them if they are unavailable.

Is the famous Bearskin hat really made of Bearskin?
The standard bearskin of the British Foot Guards is 18 inches tall, weighs one and a half pounds and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear.

Can I try a Bearskin Hat on? Yes you can!! In the Guards museum there is one you can try on for size. It also has uniforms and medals on display and a history of the foot guards.

Can I get a tour of Buckingham Palace London? Tours of the lavish Buckingham Palace State Rooms are available but only during the period 26 July – 24 September.

When does the Buckingham Palace State Room open and how long does the visit last? The State Rooms open at 09:45 and closes at 18:00, with last admission at 15:45. A visit lasts between 2 and 2½ hours.

How much does admission to the State Rooms cost? Adult £14.00;
Over 60/Student (with valid ID) £12.50 ; Under 17 £8.00; Under 5 Free;
Family £36.00 (2 adults, 3 under 17s).

Will the Queen be there and will I see her? When the Queen is in residence the Royal Standard will be flying from the mast above Buckingham palace. But usually she goes on her summer holidays to Balmoral in Scotland during this time period.

For the best view of the changing of ther guards? Arrive early and stand as near as you can to the railings at the Victoria Monument.

Want a picture of a guard with you standing next to him? At St James’ Palace, walk all the way past the courtyard at the Palace and turn round the corner, you are now in Pall Mall at this spot there is a guard standing all on his own. Simply go and stand next to him and pass your friend the camera.

How do you know if the Queen is actual at Buckingham palace? When the Queen is there then she has four sentries at the front – when she is away there are only two.

What are the nearest Tubes stations? Victoria tube and railway station, St James Park Tube or Green Park Tube

How do I get there by Bus? Numbers 11, 211, 239, C1 and C10 buses all stop on Buckingham Palace Road

Can I watch changing the Guards anywhere else? Changing of the Guards takes place at Windsor Castle in June and July everyday at 11:00 am. Tower Of London 11:00 am daily and at Horse Guards Arch 11:00 am during the week but at 10:00 am on Sundays.

What should I do if its cancelled due to rain? Why not go to the Guards museum. It has uniforms and medals on display together with dioramas depicting the battles which the Guards have been involved in, from the English Civil War to the present day.

How can you tell which regiment the different guards are from? This can be done by observing the colour of the plume, and what side it is worn on the bearskin, button spacing, the collar badge and the shoulder badge. When all five regiments parade together, they are in the order Grenadier Guards on the right flank, then Scots Guards, Welsh Guards, Irish Guards and Coldstream Guards on the left flank.