British Queen’s Guards

The Queen's Guard is the name given to the contingent of infantry responsible for guarding. The Queen’s Guard in London changes at 11:30am every day. All guards separated to the two groups so the first one for Buckingam Palace and the second one for St James’s Palace. Guard is under the command of the Captain of The Queen’s Guard. In 1698 St James’s Palace became the official residence of the Sovereign and it remained at the centre of the Court.

The Queen's Guard is not purely ceremonial in nature. They provide sentries during the day and night, and during the latter hours they patrol the grounds of the Palace. Until 1959, the sentries at Buckingham Palace were stationed outside the fence. This stopped following an incident involving a female tourist and a Coldstream Guardsman - due to the continued pestering of tourists and sightseers, the guardsman kicked the tourist on the ankle as he marched. The tourist made a complaint to the police and, despite sympathy, the sentry was confined to barracks for ten days. Not long after, the sentries were moved inside the fence.