Changing the Guard

At 11am (10am on Sundays) the St James Palace detachment of the Old Guard forms up in Friary Court before marching off via Stable Yard Gate and along the Mall to join up with the rest of the Old Guard waiting in the forecourt at Buckingham Palace. At 11.30am (10.30am Sun) the New Guard, led by their Regimental Band and Corps of Drums, marches into the Palace Forecourt, having left the barracks in Birdcage Walk a few minutes earlier (they form up there from about 11am, 10am Sun). After a symbolic handing-over of the Palace keys, the posting of sentries and other military formalities, the Old Guard departs for the barracks in Birdcage Walk and the St James Palace detachment of the New Guard marches off along the Mall to take up their posts.