A guide to Windsor Castle's Changing of the Guard ceremony

The Changing of the Guard ceremony, also known as Guard Mounting, is a traditional military ceremony where a new group of guards replaces the current (old) guard at significant institutions or royal residences like Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace. This ritual dates back centuries and serves the practical purpose of ensuring continuous protection while also providing a display of military precision and pageantry.

A timeline:

• The ceremony begins with the Windsor Castle Guard forming up outside the Guard Room to await the arrival of the New Guard.
• The New Guard march into the Castle through the Henry VIII Gate, behind the Band, and halt before turning to face the Windsor Castle Guard.
• The New Guard slowly march towards the Windsor Castle Guard with the Band playing their Regimental Slow March.
• Coming to halt the Windsor Castle Guard and New Guard 'Present Arms' before the Captains of the Guard hand-over, with a symbolic touch of their left hands, the Castle keys. From that time forward the New Guard will be responsible for the security of Windsor Castle until they are relieved.
• Once the handover is complete, the Band forms a semi-circle and plays a selection of music.
• Sentries are then posted to relieve those from the old guard who have remained at their posts during the handover.
• When all the sentries have been relieved and the Old Guard is complete the duty bugler informs the Director of Music that the handover is complete and the Band reforms.
• Advancing towards the New Guard, to the strains of their Regimental Slow March, the Old Guard wheel right, and as they approach the Castle Gates break into quick time for the march back to Victoria Barracks via the High Street.

The Bands and music

The State Ceremonial Musicians of the Bands of the Household Division can be routinely seen performing music for the Changing of the Guard ceremony at all the Royal Palaces and Castles, State Visits and Guards of Honour, moments of National Celebration, as well as moments of Nation Commemoration and Remembrance. Resplendent in red tunics and bearskin caps of the Foot Guards, or the State Dress of the Household Cavalry, the Bands of the Household Division provide the very finest, most stirring and moving performances of music.

Drawn from British Army Music, the State Ceremonial Musicians of the Household Division each serve in one of 7 Regimental Bands or in the string orchestra: Grenadiers, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards of the Foot Guards Bands, the Household Cavalry Band, which includes musicians of both the Life Guards and Blues and Royals, and the Duchess of Edinburgh's String Orchestra.

The Bands may be accompanied by the Corps of Drums of each Regiment. The Scots and Irish Guards have pipers who play distinctive tunes on their bagpipes. Music played during the guard changing ceremony has always been a mixture of traditional and popular music of the day. For Changing the Guard, a full Military Band is provided, usually from one of the Guards Regiments, accompanied by their Director of Music.