King's Guard: Difference between revisions

{{about|the guard postings in the UK|the Norwegian unit|His Majesty the King's Guard|Hansthe Majestet Kongens Garde|Thai King's Guardunits|King's Guard (Thailand)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=AugustMarch 20132024}}

The '''King's Guard''' (called the '''Queen's Guard''' when the reigning monarch is female) are [[Picket (military)|sentry postings]] at [[Buckingham Palace]] and [[St James's Palace]], organised by the [[British Army]]'s [[Household Division]]. The Household Division also [[guard mounting|mounts]] sentry postings at [[Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards]], known as the '''King's Life Guard''' (called the '''Queen's Life Guard''' when the monarch is female).

The King's Guard and King's Life Guard are sentry postings that come under the operating area of the British Army's [[London District (British Army)|London District]], which is responsible for the administration of the [[Household Division]].<ref name=hhdhq>{{cite web|url=https://www.householddivision.org.uk/hq|title=Background|publisher=The Household Division|access-date=30 January 2023|year=2023|website=www.householddivision.org.uk}}</ref>

The Household Division typically has one infantry [[battalion]] posted for [[public duties]]; rotating between the first battalion of all five Foot Guards Regiments except the Scots Guards. In addition, there are five [[Guards Incremental Companies|incremental companies]] based at Victoria Barracks and Wellington Barracks - one each of the Grenadier, Coldstream and Scots Guards plus two from whichever Guards battalion is posted to [[11th Security Force Assistance Brigade]]. All of these units come under the administrative authority of the London District —– as public duties units, they not only take part in ceremonial but are also committed to providing military aid to the civilian authorities.

===King's GuardsGuard===

The King's Life Guard is the mounted guard at the entrance to [[Horse Guards (building)|Horse Guards]]. Horse Guards is the official main entrance to both St James's Palace and Buckingham Palace (a tradition that stems from the time when the Mall was closed at both ends); however, sentries have been posted there since the [[Stuart Restoration]], when the [[Palace of Whitehall]] was the main royal residence.

A sentry will be on duty "at their post" for two hours. Every 10 minutes, he [[At attention|comes to attention]], [[slope arms|slopes arms]] and does a march of 15 paces across the area of the post. Each sentry does this four to five times before halting. He then [[shoulder arms|shoulders arms]] and [[stand at ease|stands at ease]]. 'Standing easy' is not permitted whilst a sentry is at their post. Orders for sentry duty read out before each two-hour 'tour of duty', make it clear that sentries "may not eat, sleep, smoke, stand easy, sit or lie down during [their] tour of duty".<ref name="changing-guard.com">{{cite web|url=https://changing-guard.com/changing-the-guard-buckingham-palace.html|title=Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace}}</ref>

If a person steps in front of a sentry while he/she is marching, the latter will shout: "Make way for the King's Guard!".<ref name="changing-guard.com"/> A variant, "Make way for the (name of royal residence, i.e. Windsor Castle) guard" is said if the ruling monarch is not staying at such residence.

===Discipline===

Although the guards were previously positioned among the public, in recent times,{{when|date=December 2019}} more and more of the sentry posts have been moved away from the public because of incidents involving tourists interfering with the guards' job, as well as incidents where the guards have had to discipline tourists for disrespectful or dangerous behaviour. In 2012, footage of a tourist disrespecting the guards went viral, in which a Russian tourist refused to stop their attempt at climbing the Buckingham Palace fence despite the guard aiming his [[SA80]] rifle at the would-be intruder.<ref>{{Citation|title=Buckingham Palace Royal Guard Points SA80 at tourist|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bW4bRcEVEk|language=en|access-date=2019-10-24}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=November 2023}} Most recently, ropes were installed between the sentry posts at Windsor Castle and the public after an incident occurred between a sentry and a tourist who was mocking him, pretending to march alongside him and eventually grabbing the shoulder on which his rifle was resting.<ref>Video of tourist interfering with guard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQCSWPFnjbU</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11701783/Watch-Queens-Guard-turns-rifle-on-a-tourist-at-Windsor-Castle.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11701783/Watch-Queens-Guard-turns-rifle-on-a-tourist-at-Windsor-Castle.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live| title=Queen's Guard turns rifle on a tourist at Windsor Castle| date=27 June 2015| newspaper=The Telegraph| access-date=29 June 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In London, the sentry posts most recently remaining not behind any sort of fence were those at the [[Pall Mall, London|Pall Mall]] entrance to St James's Palace. In December 2014, the Pall Mall sentries were moved to [[Friary Court]] inside the walls of the palace, while the Clarence House sentries repositioned inside the fence and at the entrance to the gardens. This was a result of the increased threat of so-called [[Lone wolf (terrorism)attack|"lone wolf"]] terrorist attacks, particularly following the [[Murder of Lee Rigby|murder of a British soldier in Woolwich]], and the [[2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa|terrorist attack on the]] [[Parliament of Canada|Canadian Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://royalcentral.co.uk/state/queens-guards-moved-behind-fence-over-security-threat-41048 |title=Queen's guards moved behind fence over security threat |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=6 December 2014 |website=Royal Central |access-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref>

Battalions on public duties were part of the regular arms plot, a system where infantry battalions were periodically rotated to various locations and different roles. Following the restructuring of the army announced in 2006, the arms plot system ceased – infantry battalions have now been given fixed roles and locations. In theory, this includes public duties in London, which will retain its two guards and one-line infantry battalion. However, for some postings, including public duties, [[light infantry|light role infantry]] battalions will continue to rotate. In the case of public duties in London, the four Guards battalions will rotate every two years, with two being posted as part of the Field Army in [[4th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team]], one as a smaller Security Force Assistance Battalion with 11th SFA Brigade, and one Light Role public duties battalion. The shift from two to one public duties battalion has been offset by the addition of two more incremental companies, and the addition of four Guards reserve companies - who take supporting roles such as street lining in important occasions as well as on combat operations.

[[File:London the mall - Queen's Colour Squadron - 14.JPG|thumb|Members of the [[King's Colour Squadron]] formerlyat knownSt asJames Palace. The ceremonial unit mounts the King's Guard for several weeks each year.]]

Several other British Army units have also formed the guard. Prior to [[Options for Change]], because there were a total of eight guards battalions, it was rare for battalions of line infantry to mount the King's Guard and, as such, was a significant honour. Before 1996, only two battalions had served on public duties as part of an operational tour in London District.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/ |title=Regiments |date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209010054/http://www.regiments.org/ |archive-date=9 February 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> However, when the 2nd Battalions of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards were put in suspended animation, a decision to replace one of the three Foot Guard battalions then engaged on public duties by a line infantry battalion was taken, so as to enable the Foot Guards battalion to increase the proportion of its effort employed on training for operational roles. From 1996 to 2013, a line infantry battalion was stationed in London (first at Hounslow, then Woolwich) under the command of London District:<ref>In addition, the battalions of Gurkhas based at [[Church Crookham]], ostensibly under the command of 5 Brigade, were also at the disposal of London District from 1977 until 1999</ref>

Since 2013, regular public duties responsibility has reverted to the Household Division.<ref name="pwrr"/> However, line infantry units occasionally provide the Guard for short periods of time. The [[Royal Gibraltar Regiment]] is a line infantry regiment and home defence unit of [[British Forces Gibraltar]], that formed the Queen's Guard in March 2001, April 2012 and March 2022. In 2012, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment became the first unit to provide both the Queen's Guard and the [[Saluting Battery, Gibraltar|Saluting Battery]] simultaneously. In the summer of 2018, [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders|Balaklava Company]], the dedicated public duties unit of the [[Royal Regiment of Scotland]], and 2nd Battalion, [[The Rifles]], both provided the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2018/04/the-royal-regiment-of-scotland-passed-fit-for-london-public-duties/ |title=The Royal Regiment of Scotland passed fit for London public duties |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=20 April 2018 |websitepublisher=British Army |access-date=16 June 2018 }}</ref><ref name="Public Duties MayJun2018">{{cite web|url=http://www.householddivision.org.uk/changing-the-guard-calendar|title=Public Duties in London and Windsor - May and Jun 2018|website=Household Division|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616131143/https://www.householddivision.org.uk/index.php?action=changing-the-guard-calendar |archive-date=16 June 2018}}</ref>

On 14 May 1941, the [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]] provided the King's Guard, in recognition of the first anniversary of its foundation.<ref name="nla">{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8166510|title=The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria) – Thursday 15 May 1941 - HOME GUARD ON DUTY AT PALACE - Trove|websitevia=nla.gov.auNational Library of Australia|date=15 May 1941|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> This was repeated in May 1943.<ref name="itnsource">{{cite web|url=http://www.itnsource.com/jp/shotlist//RTV/1943/05/20/BGX409030120/?s=*|website=itnsource.com|title=Getty Images – ITN Source – ''NATION SALUTES HOME GUARD'' |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

Units from the [[British Empire]] and Commonwealth of Nations have occasionally formed the King's Guard. The [[117th (Eastern Townships) Battalion, CEF|117th (Eastern Townships) Battalion]] of the [[Canadian Expeditionary Force]] was the first non-British unit to form the guard in 1916. The first time commands were given in another language other than English occurred in 1940, when the French Canadian [[Royal 22e Régiment|Royal 22^e Régiment]] formed the guard and issued their commands in French.<ref name=rcinet>{{cite web|url=https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2018/10/19/canadian-troops-once-again-guard-buckingham-palace/|title=Canadian troops once again guard Buckingham Palace|date=19 October 2018|access-date=16 April 2022|last=Montgomery|first=Marc|publisher=Radio Canada International|website=www.rcinet.ca}}</ref> Only one unit from a Commonwealth country where the sovereign was not head of state has formed the guard, the 1st Battalion, [[Royal Malay Regiment]] in 2008.

British Empire and Commonwealth units have formed the guard to mark a number of occasions, such as the [[coronation of George VI and Elizabeth|coronations of George VI]] andin the1937 [[coronation of Elizabeth II|and Elizabeth II]] in 1953.<ref name=rcinet/> Commonwealth units have also formed the guard to mark anniversaries or to reinforce close ties with the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/royal-malay-regiment-on-guard-at-buckingham-palace-qhhg78fw08v|title=Royal Malay Regiment on guard at Buckingham Palace|publisher=Times Newspaper Limited|date=1 May 2008|access-date=16 April 2022|website=www.thetimes.co.ukThe Times|location=London}}</ref><ref name=rcr2018>{{cite web|url=https://www.cmfmag.ca/events/canadian-soldiers-uk-bound-to-assume-duties-as-the-queens-guard-2/|title=Canadian soldiers UK bound to assume duties as the Queen's Guard|publisher=Canadian Military Family Magazine|date=2 October 2018|access-date=26 July 2019|last=Chase|first=Sean}}</ref> The [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] mounted the guard in 2018 to commemorate the Royal Air Force's 100th anniversary and the cooperative history between the two air forces.<ref name=rcaf2018>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/events/public-duties.page|title=Public Duties |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=12 June 2018 |website=Royal Canadian Air Force |access-date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616113247/http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/en/events/public-duties.page |archive-date=16 June 2018 }}</ref>

Units that have formed the guard to commemorate national historic anniversaries include the [[Australia's1st FederationBattalion, GuardRoyal Australian Regiment]], who formed the guard in 1988 to commemorate the [[Australian Bicentenary|200th anniversary of the First Fleet's arrival to Australia]], and againthe [[Australia's Federation Guard|Federation Guard]] in 2000 to commemorate the centenary of the [[Federation of Australia]].<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/814684.stm|title=BBC News &#124; UK &#124; Female soldiers guard the palace: Captain Cynthia Anderson led the Buckingham Palace detachment in the morning parade and formally asked permission for the new guard to relieve the old guard|websitepublisher=news.bbc.co.ukBBC News|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref> The [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]] also formed the guard in 2017 to commemorate the [[150th anniversary of Canada|150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation]].<ref name="Pugliese_2017-06-16">{{cite web |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/canadian-military-units-take-on-ceremonial-duties-as-the-queens-guard-in-london |title=Canadian military units take on ceremonial duties as the Queen's Guard in London |last1=Pugliese |first1=David |date=16 June 2017 |website=ottawacitizen.com |publisher=[[Ottawa Citizen]] |access-date=18 June 2017}}</ref> Units have also formed the guard to commemorate their own anniversaries, with the Royal 22^e Régiment forming the guard in 2014 to commemorate their 100th anniversary, and The [[Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery]] forming the guard in 2021 to commemorate their 150th anniversary.<ref name=royal22>[http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/canadians-making-history-at-buckingham-palace-1.1912672 Canadians making history at Buckingham Palace], 14 July 2014</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Prepare For Queen's Guard Takeover|url=https://www.forces.net/video?videoId=6274747368001|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Forces Network|language=en}}</ref>

| [[Australia's Federation Guard|Australian Federation Guard]]<ref name="bbc"/><br />{{small|plus the [[Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon]]<ref name=ausband>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/352367.queens-oz-guard-at-the-ready/?ref=arc |title=Queen's Oz Guard Atat Thethe Ready |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=6 July 2000 |website=News Shopper |access-date=31 July 2019 }}</ref>}}

|1st Regiment, [[Royal Regiment of Canadian Horse Artillery]]<ref>{{cite nameweb|url="https:0"//www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/news/regional-news/western-sentinel/2021/12/canadian-artillery-soldiers-serve-as-queens-guard-in-london.html|website=www.canada.ca|title=Canadian artillery soldiers serve as Queen's Guard in London|last=Bryant|first=Tim|date=21 December 2021|access-date=27 May 2024|publisher=Government of Canada}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Canadian Gunners Guard Her Majesty The Queen for the first time|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/09/canadian-gunners-guard-the-queen/|access-date=2021-09-30|websitepublisher=www.army.mod.ukBritish Army|language=en-GB}}</ref><br />{{small|plus the [[Royal Canadian Artillery Band]]}}

The guard is usually provided by the [[Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment]] (HCMR), with the [[Life Guards (British Army)|Life Guards]] and the [[Blues and Royals]] alternating. When the HCMR leaves London for a month of summer training (and rest for the horses), the guard is provided by the [[King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery]].

Only two other units have mounted the Life Guard. In 2000, the [[Strathcona Ceremonial Mounted Troop|Mounted Troop]] of [[Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)]], a regiment of the [[Royal Canadian Armoured Corps]], mounted the Life Guard during the same deployment as [[The Royal Canadian Regiment]] provided the Queen's Guard. In 2012, as part of the [[Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Queen's Diamond Jubilee]] celebrations, the [[Musical Ride]] of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] mounted the Life Guard for a day in May 2012, becoming the first non-military unit to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=FORECAST OF CEREMONIAL AND MILITARY EVENTS IN LONDON AND WINDSOR|url=http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/foace.pdf|publisher=British Army|access-date=21 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906084006/http://www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/foace.pdf|archive-date=6 September 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian Mounties take over Royal duties at Horse Guards|url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/CanadianMountiesTakeOverRoyalDutiesAtHorseGuards.htm|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref>

Musical accompaniments for the King's Guard are typically provided by one of the seven [[Bands of the Household Division (United Kingdom)|military bands of the Household Division]]. This includes the [[Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry]], the Countess of Wessex’sWessex's String Orchestra and the five bands for the foot guards. The Foot Guards bands are:

In addition to the bands of the Household Division, several other bands have been invited to provide musical support for the Queen's Guards. The band of the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] has occasionally been invited to provide musical support since the 1990s and continuecontinues to do so in the 21st century.<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDQo02eKH1I|title=band of the honourable artillery company changing of the guard 18/10/201|websitevia=YouTube|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.themilitarytimes.co.uk/hm-forces/army/special-day-for-the-honourable-artillery-company/|title=Special Day for the Honourable Artillery Company • the Military Times|date=31 January 2018|access-date=9 June 2019|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121120310/https://www.themilitarytimes.co.uk/hm-forces/army/special-day-for-the-honourable-artillery-company/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Several military bands from the Commonwealth have also provided musical support during [[guard mounting]] ceremonies, typically when their respective national military units are mounting the guard.<ref name=rcr2018/> In May and June 2014, the [[Vancouver Police Pipe Band]] was invited to provide musical support during the mounting of the Queen's Guard, to commmoratecommemorate its 100th anniversary. The pipe band was the first non-military pipe band to perform during a guard mounting ceremony. During the ceremony, the pipe major was accompanied by Maurice Brown of the Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.squamishchief.com/lifestyles/squamish-bagpiper-takes-his-pipes-to-buckingham-palace-1.1209018|title=Squamish bagpiper takes his pipes to Buckingham Palace|first=David|last=Burke|website=Squamish Chief}}</ref>

The first woman to mount the King's Guard was Captain Cynthia Anderson of [[Australia's Federation Guard]] in 2000. She was also the first female to command a Queen's Guard detachment, having led an Australian Federation Guard unit during morning parade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-changing-of-the-guard/|title=A Changing Ofof Thethe Guard|date=1 July 2001|website=www.cbsnews.com|publisher=CBS News|access-date=14 February 2023}}</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/814637.stm Women and Skippy guard Buckingham Palace] BBC News, 1 July 2000</ref> The first female infantry officer to command the Queen's Guard through the changing of the guard was Captain Megan Couto of the Canadian Army's 2nd Battalion, [[Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry]] in June 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Toby|title=Buckingham Palace welcomes first female Captain of the Queen's Guard|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/queens-guard-buckingham-palace-first-female-megan-couto-second-battalion-princess-patricias-canadian-a7808261.html|access-date=26 June 2017|work=The Independent|date=26 June 2017}}</ref>

In April 2007, the first women from a British Army unit served on detachments of the Queen's Guard, when the [[King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery]] took over the guard at Windsor Castle, and the [[Army Air Corps (United Kingdom)|Army Air Corps]] took on public duties in London.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Female officers were also among the contingent of [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] members who formed the Queen's Life Guard in May 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mounties-guard-the-queen-in-london-for-a-day-1.830646 |title=Mounties guard the Queen in London for a day |date=23 May 2012 |publisher=CTV |access-date=25 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525075532/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120523/rcmp-musical-ride-buckingham-palace-guard-duty-120523/ |archive-date=25 May 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref>

The King's Guard is an operational posting, with the primary purpose of protecting the Sovereign. There have been a handful of incidents when this protection has been tested. In 1982, a man named [[Michael Fagan incident|Michael Fagan]] was able to evade the sentries before he was captured by police. In this instance, security of the Queen's room was the task of the [[Metropolitan Police]].

In 2004, a member of the pressure group [[Fathers4Justice]] spent five and a half hours standing on the parapet by the balcony at the front of Buckingham Palace. Again, the security was the primary responsibility of the Metropolitan Police. Although the Queen was not present at the time, it raised fears of the possibility of a terrorist attack on the palace, and gave rise to calls for the British Army to be given a greater hand in the overall security of the Royal Family.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-09-13 |title=Fathers' rights protester scales Buckingham Palace |url=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/sep/13/childrensservices.uknews |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=theThe Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

In addition to the King's Guard, the Household Division is also responsible for mounting the [[Tower of London]] Guard and the [[Windsor Castle]] Guard. Scottish regiments posted at [[Redford Barracks]] may also manpost sentry postingssentries at [[Edinburgh Castle]], and the [[Palace of Holyrood]], the sovereign's residence in Edinburgh. Although the Household Division considers these other sentry posts as distinct postings from the King's Guard,<ref name=hhdhq/> colloquially, these other postings have also been called the "King's Guard"

In addition to the King's Guard, the Household Division also mans the Tower of London Guard, who is also responsible for providing the guard at the Tower of London. As the Tower is still officially a royal residence and is also the location of the [[Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom|crown jewels]], it remains the Army's obligation to guard it. The Tower guard numbers one officer, three NCOs and ten soldiers, and usually posts a sentry outside the [[Jewel House]] and one outside the King's House. As the protection of the Tower is their responsibility (in conjunction with the [[Yeoman Warders]]), the guard must also see it is secure at night (see [[Ceremony of the Keys]]).<ref name="army">{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/events/ceremonial/23242.aspx|title=Events &#124; The British Army – The King's Guard |websitepublisher=army.mod.ukBritish Army|access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

During the [[Gordon Riots]] in 1780, a detachment of the Foot Guards successfully defended the [[Bank of England]] from a violent mob. Thenceforth the bank paid for a detachment of soldiers, usually provided by the Brigade of Guards, to defend the Bank.<ref>p. 113 Lindsay, Oliver ''Once a Grenadier: The Grenadier Guards 1945–1995'' Pen and Sword, 14 MarMarch 1996</ref> From 1780, the detachment marched from their barracks, initially from the Tower of London, later Wellington or Chelsea Barracks, though in bad weather the detachment would be sent by a normal train of the [[London Underground]].<ref>p. 29 Dorney, Richard ''An Active Service: The Story of a Soldier's Life in the Grenadier Guards, SAS and SBS, 1935–1958'' Helion & Company Limited, 2005</ref>{{clarify|reason=the Underground is old, but I do not think it was around in 1780|date=August 2016}}

Once at the bank, there were two sentry posts, one outside the Counting House Parlour and another outside the bullion vaults.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/europe/57127/lessons-ukraine-what-if-we-lost-patience-politicians|title=Lessons from Ukraine: what if WE lost patience with politicians?|website=[[The Week]] }}</ref> The officer was given half a bottle of port and the right to invite a friend or two to dinner in the bank. The [[Other ranks (UK)|other ranks]] were given a pint of beer with their dinner and one brand new shilling, two for a sergeant, to buy tea and a cake in the canteen. The Guard wore [[Plimsoll shoe|plimsolls]] in the Bank.

From 1963, the Bank Picquet travelled by vehicle clad in [[Service Dress (British Army)|service dress]] and armed with automatic weapons, with the emphasis on security moving from ceremonial to tactical deployment. Improved security features and armed police made the guard unnecessary, and the service ended on the evening of 31 July 1973.<ref name="BankOE">{{cite book|title=The Bank of England: 1950s to 1979|author=Forrest Capie|date=20 July 2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ePic4O3SnpkC&pg=PA64|page=64|publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781139490122}}</ref>

One of the public duties battalions or incremental companies is responsible for providing the Windsor Castle Guard. The location of the ceremony at Windsor varies; in the Easter, when the King is in residence it usually takes place on the lawn in the castle's quadrangle. In wet weather or winter, to protect the lawn, or when the King is not holding court at Windsor Castle, the ceremony occurs outside the guardroom by [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII's]] Gateway at the foot of Castle Hill.

Sentry posts are mounted at [[Palace of Holyroodhouse]] and at [[Edinburgh Castle]]. Although the Household Division's primarily operates in London and Windsor,<ref name=hhdhq/> the Scots Guards have mounted these postings when the sovereign is in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/scots-guards-return-home-mark-queens-holyrood-anniversary-visit-544814|title=Scots Guards return home to mark Queen’sQueen's Holyrood anniversary visit|date=29 June 2019|access-date=14 February 2023|last=Maishman|first=Elsa|website=www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com|publisher=National World Publishing}}</ref>

These sentry postings are also mounted at other times of the year, including Lord Commissioner's Week, and the month of the [[Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo]]. These sentries may also sometimes serve as the [[guard of honour]] for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. As there is no guard battalion permanently based in the city, sentries are provided by whichever resident infantry battalion is at [[Redford Barracks]].

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