The changing of the guard ceremony is every second day in the winter months and everytime we went into that part of London it was the wrong day.(Figures!!) Finally we struck it right. Mind you, so did everybody else. It's really amazing too how all the tall people manage to make it to the front. Anyway, we did our best and managed to see snipits between people. The ceremony is very good too because they come in and split and one group goes one way and the other group goes the other way so you do have two vantage points. In winter the guards wear grey coats and they all look so young. It is lovely to watch the march and then listen to the brass band. Then a 2nd band comes along and they are all playing fyfes which is like a little penny whistle. Very nice sound. They are led by a mounted police and it was so funny as the horse did what horses do and the crowd murmered as to what the band would do. A great cheer came up when he barely altered his step and just missed the pile. One of the poor band members obviously didn't see it clearly under his big fluffly hat (bearskin cap. If you want to learn about the different regiments go to http://www.changing-the-guard.com/. They are actually the most elite regiments in the army and they have interesting careers. When they have finished in active soldiering some of them can become the beefeaters at the Tower of London. After the ceremony we headed off to see the carriage house but need to go back at the end of March when it will be open to the public. In there we will see the ceremonial carriages that are used for parades and of course the upcoming Royal wedding on my birthday (29th April)
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That's my hand getting a movie while Rod takes a photo. |
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