King Charles Forced to Cancel Iconic 350-Year Buckingham Palace Tradition Over Safety Concerns
The ceremonial Changing of the Guard is a beloved royal tradition. However, it has been put on hold.
The ceremonial Changing of the Guard is one of the most well-known and beloved traditions at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. However, the 350-year-old is being put on hold for this one reason. The ongoing U.K. heatwave has forced the Household Division to cancel this week's ceremonial Changing of the Guard outside royal residences. Seven British Army regiments oversee the tradition.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the ceremony will not be held at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. The Household Division released a statement saying, “We take the well-being of our soldiers and military working horses very seriously and, like the rest of the country, are aware of the forecasted excessive temperatures expected this week, including a RED alert towards the middle of the week.” It continues, “There will be no ceremonial guard changes in Windsor and London on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.”
The Household Division also said that while the King's Life Guard would continue its scheduled changeovers on Wednesday and Friday, the ceremony itself would be skipped and take place earlier in the day to protect the horses. It added that guards may also be moved into shaded areas and rotated more frequently, which is standard practice during hot weather.
They further explained, “Whilst it may be disappointing not to experience the Ceremonial Operations in full, it is important the wellbeing of the public, our soldiers and military working horses is maintained at all times.” Crowds regularly gather outside Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard, one of London's most iconic ceremonies. It takes place several times a week, beginning at 10:45 a.m. and lasting roughly 45 minutes.
The description under the Household division says: “The Old Guard (the soldiers currently on duty) form up in front of the palace and are relieved by the New Guard which arrives from Wellington Barracks. The New Guard is accompanied by a Band. The ceremony represents a formal handover of responsibilities.”
It is not the first time the ceremony has been called off, although it is rare. The Changing of the Guard was canceled after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing at the Ariana Grande concert, so police and soldiers could be deployed elsewhere. It also took an 18-month break during the COVID-19 pandemic, when large gatherings were banned.
A few days back, senior royals of the firm – King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and more gathered at the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the traditional RAF flypast.
