GUARDS BROCHURE to print 27/5/99 3:56 pm Page 2 Changing the Guard At Buckingham Palace RRP £3.00 ISBN 0 9529578 0 9 Official Guide GUARDS BROCHURE to print 27/5/99 3:57 pm Page 4 Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace First Edition British Library Cataloguing in publication data A Catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 0 9529578 0 9 Copyright ©1999 (IPMS) International Partnership in Marketing Services Written by J.R. Sullivan-Tailyour Edited by S.M. Honey and R.J.R. Miller Designed by Nomad Graphique Printed in Great Britain by Ian Rourke Print Management Published by International Partnership in Marketing Services (IPMS), 766a Fulham Road, Fulham, London, SW6 5SJ. Partners: J.R. Sullivan-Tailyour, S.M. Honey and R.J.R. Miller All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission from the publishers, IPMS, 766a Fulham Road, Fulham, London SW6 5SJ. Disclaimer Every effort has been made by the Publishers to ensure that the information contained herein is as accurate and up to date as possible. However, the Publishers are unable to accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury sustained by anyone as a result of the advice and information given in this guide. GUARDS BROCHURE to print 27/5/99 3:57 pm Page 6 INTRODUCTION A Continuing Need The Army Benevolent Fund whose patron is Her Majesty The Queen, is the Army’s Central Charity. It provides financial help, in conjunction with Regiments and Corps, to Changing the Guard is one of the most colourful anyone who is serving or has served in the British Army and ceremonies you are ever likely to see. The responsibility their families. It also provides practical help by donating to of guarding the Sovereign by the Household Troops (as some 70 charities which meet the special needs of soldiers, they were known at the time) dates back to the time of ex-soldiers and their dependents. Henry VII (1485-1509). Changing the Guard is not just a ceremony, it is also a tradition that the most highly There are countless veterans and widows of both World Wars who continue to need the help of the Army trained soldiers guard the King or Queen. Benevolent Fund.All of them are getting older and need more care. In addition there are the many casualties from These are some of the best soldiers in the British Army the operations in which the Army has been involved since and have fought in virtually every major area of conflict 1945 - The Falklands, the Gulf, Northern Ireland and Bosnia with great distinction since the 17th Century. They also are examples.All these soldiers, whether serving or retired take an active role in protecting their Sovereign; at night and their families continue to need our help. they patrol the grounds of both Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace. By buying this guide book,YOU have helped to contribute to this worthwhile Charity.The profits from the sale will go It is an honour and a privilege to introduce straight to The Army Benevolent Fund.The money will you to a part of Great Britain’s grand be used wisely and in direct support of those who need heritage. We hope you enjoy help today. Changing the Guard at Buckingham Thank you. Palace and all it represents. If you are interested in learning more we recommend you visit both The Guards Museum and the Household Cavalry Museum (see pages 28 & 29). For a limited time each summer Buckingham Palace is open to the public and is well worth visiting. The Army Benevolent Fund, 41 Queen’s Gate, London, SW7 5HR. Registered Charity No: 211645 GUARDS BROCHURE to print 27/5/99 3:57 pm Page 8 Soldiers of the Household Division are renowned for the CONTENTS efficiency with which they carry out ceremonial duties. Page 5 The Household Division Yet, while upholding the Page 6 The Grenadier Guards traditions of the past, the Page 6 The Coldstream Guards Household Division has Page 8 The Scots Guards mastered the skills of Page 9 The Irish Guards modern soldiering and is Page 10 The Welsh Guards equally at home driving Page 11 The Household Cavalry tanks, armoured cars or Page 12 The Life Guards parachuting.These men, Page 13 The Blues and Royals resplendent in their Pages 14 & 15 Identifying the Regiments uniforms, mounting Queen’s Pages 16 - 21 Maps Guard or Trooping the Pages 22 & 23 Changing the Guard Pages 24 & 25 Other Ceremonials Colour in disciplined ranks, PageS 26 & 27 Pageantry Tales are the same men who Page 28 The Guards Museum perform operational Page 29 The Household Cavalry Museum duties Page 30 Français worldwide. Page 31 Deutsch Page 32 The Page 33 Español Household Division Page 34 Helpful hints is made up of seven Page 35 Helpful numbers Regiments.These comprise: The Household Cavalry Regiment - The Life Guards ACKNOWLEDGMENTS and The Blues and Royals; and We would like to thank the Household Division for their support, five Regiments of Foot in particular Major General Webb-Carter OBE, Public Relations Guards - The Grenadier Dept. London District, Sergeant I.F.Liptrot, Captain D.Horn MISM Guards,The Coldstream FRSA (Curator of the Guards Museum) and Major A.W.Kirsting Guards,The Scots Guards, MISM (Curator of the Household Cavalry Museum), Lieutenant The Irish Guards and The Colonel Sir Julian Paget BART CVO (for allowing use of his book Welsh Guards.As soldiers they ‘Discovering London Ceremonial and Traditions’ and for his are second to none, respected technical advice and knowledge), Brigadier N.M. Prideaux (Appeals throughout the world for their Director,The Army Benevolent Fund), Major R. B. Sullivan-Tailyour self-discipline, smartness and for all his support and suggestions and our families and friends reliability. who suddenly got very interested in ‘Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace’! THE ILLUSTRATIONS Page 2 from ‘Buckingham Palace’ from ‘When we were very HOUSEHOLD young’ by A.A. Milne.All photographs where supplied by Public Relations Dept. London District and London District Central Services except: Cover - ‘Big Ben at 11.30’ - Sergeant I.F.Liptrot DIVISION GUARDS BROCHURE to print 27/5/99 3:57 pm Page 10 he Coldstream HE Guards were formed in T T 1650. Originally they were a Regiment from GRENADIER Cromwell’s New Model Army, commanded by General Monck. The Regiment’s name comes GUARDS from the little town of Coldstream on the Scottish s the First Regiment of border from where General Foot Guards, the Monck and his men marched on Regiment was formed A London on 1st January at Bruges by King Charles II in 1660 with the 1656 whilst the King was in intention of exile in Flanders. The restoring the Regiment’s action in Monarchy. defeating the ‘grenadiers’ of the French Imperial The Regiment is Guard at the battle of recognised as being Waterloo in 1815 was one of the oldest of our commemorated by the award existing national Regiments. of the title, It has been awarded 117 Battle Grenadiers, and the Honours and 13 of it’s members Regiment is to this have been awarded the Victoria day known as the Cross and one George Cross. First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards. THE The Grenadier Guards, being COLDSTREAM the senior Regiment of the Foot Guards, GUARDS historically take The Coldstream the right of the Guards, who line in battle. historically take the They are identified left of the line in by a white plume battle, are identified on the left hand by a red plume on side of their the right of their bearskin cap and bearskin cap and the buttons of the buttons on their red tunics are their red tunics are evenly spaced. spaced in pairs. GUARDS BROCHURE to print 27/5/99 3:58 pm Page 12 he Irish Guards, or THE ‘Micks’ as they are T affectionately known, were formed in 1900 by Queen SCOTS Victoria, to commemorate the bravery of the many Irish Regiments who fought in the GUARDS South African War. They have a Corps of Drums and Pipes and Drums (the Pipes being Bagpipes). In a tradition dating back to 1901, every year on St. Patrick’s Day, a shamrock is presented to each he Scots Guards were Guardsman by a member of the formed in 1642 by Royal Family. This is currently Charles I as his personal T carried out by HM bodyguard in Scotland and were Queen Elizabeth then sent for service in Ireland. the Queen In 1642 a cousin of the Royal Mother. A unique Household was appointed as first feature of The Colonel of the Regiment although Irish Guards, is The Sovereign has always been that they are the their Colonel-in-Chief since only Regiment Edward VII’s time. It has since in the been a tradition that a Royal Household Prince holds the appointment of Division to have Colonel of the Regiment. His a mascot: Royal Highness The Duke of Kent an Irish presently holds that title. Wolfhound. They have a Corps of Drums and The Regiment is Pipes and Drums (the Pipes being identified by a St. Bagpipes). The Regiment historically Patrick’s blue take the centre of the plume on the line of battle and are right hand side of identified by having no their bearskin cap plume on their bearskin THE and the buttons on cap and the buttons on their red tunics are their red tunic are spaced spaced in fours.