The Changing of the Guard: A 500-Year Journey from Battlefield to Buckingham Palace

Royal Protection Before the Changing of the Guard

Long before the ceremonial Changing of the Guard we see today, English monarchs had various forms of protection. Anglo-Saxon kings had their "house guards" (huscarls), while Danish kings employed "housecarls"—elite household warriors who lived with and fought for their lord. By the 13th century, the Anglo-Norman kings had developed three specific groups: royal household sergeants-at-arms, the king's foot archers (or "Yeomen of the Crown") and esquires of the royal household.

Edward I (1272-1307) had "Crossbow men of the Household," soon replaced as the longbow became England's primary weapon. Edward II saw the first recorded mention of "Yeoman Archers"—described as "archers on foote for garde of the Kinge's body who shall go before the Kinge as he traveleth through the countrye." These guards served their monarchs well, fighting at legendary battles like Crécy, Poitiers and Agincourt. Richard III had his own guards when he fell at Bosworth Field in 1485.

Yet all these guards shared one characteristic: they were personal retainers tied to individual monarchs, often disbanded when a king died and reformed by his successor. The concept of a permanent, institutional guard that would serve the Crown itself—regardless of who wore it—had yet to emerge. That innovation would come from the victor of Bosworth Field.

Origins of the Guards Under Henry VII

Henry VII transformed royal protection by making the Royal Body Guard a permanent institution—a tradition that has now spanned over 520 years. After winning the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485, Henry VII created the "Yeomen of the Guard," establishing what would become Britain's oldest military corps still in existence.

Unlike his predecessors who relied on temporary personal retainers, Henry established a bodyguard that would serve the office of the Crown itself. The first official record appears in a warrant dated 18 September 1485, addressed to "William Browne, Yeoman of the King's Guard, for good service that our humble and faithful servant hath heretofore done unto us." On 1 October 1485, fifty members of the Yeoman of the Guard, led by John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, formally escorted Henry Tudor to his coronation.

Henry's innovation was to make the royal bodyguard a permanent institution. While previous monarchs had guards that were often disbanded and reformed with each reign, Henry created a continuous, professional bodyguard that would serve the Crown regardless of who wore it.

1656 Formation of Guards Regiments

Guards Regiments were formed to provide a personal bodyguard for the Sovereign with the first Guards raised in 1656 to protect the exiled King Charles II. During the English Civil War and Cromwell's Commonwealth (1649-1659), the monarchy was abolished—but remarkably, the Yeomen of the Guard never truly disbanded. They accompanied the exiled Charles II to France, maintaining their role as royal bodyguards even without a throne to protect.

When Charles II was restored to the English throne in 1660, the Yeomen of the Guard returned with him, participating in his triumphant entry into London on 29 May 1660. Charles II also established new guard regiments during this period, including the Life Guards (cavalry) and what would become the Grenadier Guards, originally formed to protect him in exile.

Civil War Connection

During the 1640s Civil War period, the first permanent 'standing' army was created and named 'the New Model Army.' This is the origin of the Foot Guards who perform the Changing of the Guard today. Ironically, one of Cromwell's most loyal regiments—led by General Monck—would eventually switch sides to support Charles II's restoration. This regiment evolved into the Coldstream Guards, one of the five regiments that perform ceremonial duties today.

The Civil War period fundamentally changed the nature of royal protection. What emerged was a professional, standing army that could serve both ceremonial and military functions—a model that continues to this day.

Original Location at Whitehall

The formal ceremony of changing guards originally took place at the Palace of Whitehall which was the Sovereign's official residence in London until 1698. For over two centuries, this daily ritual of changing the royal bodyguard occurred at what was then the centre of royal power.

Whitehall Palace was a sprawling complex of over 1,500 rooms, making it the largest palace in Europe. The guard changing ceremony would have been a familiar sight to Londoners, as guards marched through the palace precincts to take up their positions protecting the monarch.

Move to St James's Palace then Buckingham Palace

When the Court moved to St James's Palace, the guard changing ceremony took place there. After Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, The Queen's Guard remained at St James's Palace, with a detachment guarding Buckingham Palace. This arrangement, established almost 200 years ago, continues today.

This is why the modern Changing of the Guard ceremony involves multiple locations: the Old Guard forms up at St James's Palace, while the New Guard marches from Wellington Barracks. Both converge at Buckingham Palace for the formal handover. St James's Palace remains the official court of the sovereign, which is why ambassadors are still formally accredited to the "Court of St James's."

Current Changing of the Guard Schedule and Locations

The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 11:00 AM, involving multiple locations. The full Changing of the Guard ceremony involves:

• 10:30 AM: Old Guard inspection at St James's Palace

• 10:43 AM: Old Guard marches down The Mall

• 11:00 AM: New Guard arrives at Buckingham Palace from Wellington Barracks

• 11:00-11:45 AM: The formal Changing of the Guard ceremony in the forecourt

• 11:45 AM: Old Guard returns to Wellington Barracks

The ceremony can be cancelled during heavy rain, but the guard always changes—even if without the full ceremonial display. The guards you see are active soldiers from five regiments of Foot Guards: the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards. They carry loaded weapons and are fully trained for combat as well as ceremonial duties.

A Living Tradition

What began as Henry VII's practical solution to personal security after a bloody civil war has evolved into one of the world's most recognised military ceremonies. Through dynastic changes, civil conflicts and world wars, this tradition has continued unbroken for over 500 years.

Today's Changing of the Guard connects directly to that September day in 1485 when Henry VII issued his warrant to "William Browne, Yeoman of the King's Guard." Every precise footstep, every barked command, every note from the military band echoes with five centuries of continuous service to the Crown.

For visitors watching today's Changing of the Guard, remember: this isn't just pageantry. It's a living piece of history, performed by professional soldiers who stand ready to protect their sovereign just as their predecessors have done since the Battle of Bosworth Field.

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