Very Few Know The History of The Queens Guard, Goes Back to 15th Century

Sadly, recent incidents of troubling interactions with tourists plus security concerns have resulted in the British authorities removing the guards in many cases from points of direct public interaction.

Millions of tourists who flock to Buckingham Palace to see the famous changing of the guard, or guard mounting ceremony, are awed by the pageantry, but few really know the history of this time-honored tradition.

Selected soldiers have protected Britain’s monarch since the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509), but it was not until 1689 that the genesis of the modern ceremony began at the outset of the reign of William III and Mary II.

These first ceremonies took place at the Palace of Whitehall but were shortly moved to St. James’s Palace. Finally, they found their way to Buckingham Palace when Queen Victoria made her court there in 1837. The Queen’s Guard remained at St. James’s, but a detachment was sent to protect Buckingham Palace.


https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/very-few-know-the-history-of-the-queens-guard-goes-back-to-15th-century.html

We know quite a few guys who have been on guard duty. How they keep their cool is a miracle. The horror stories we’ve heard! And it’s not just tourists but locals who get boozed up and “want to have a laugh” that are just as bad. One friend said it was easier getting bombed in Iraq than being at Windsor in spring/summer.

And you are right, none of them know anything of the history.

Humans can be such asshats.