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Changing Guard at Windsor Castle

The Changing of the Guards at Windsor Castle is the regular event where the town and crown interact most closely. The Changing of the Guards is also a wonderful spectacle for visitors.

The guards are real soldiers and are on a rotation system so although they may look a little like 'toy soldiers' when in full parade costume, they may well have been in a real combat arena only weeks previously.

Five regiments: Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards and Welsh Guards all take turns guarding the castle and participating in the changing of the guards ceremony.

When on parade you can tell which regiment is on duty by looking at their tunic buttons. The picture above shows a member of the grenadier guards, whose buttons are evenly spaced. The Coldstream Guards buttons are set in a series of pairs. The Scots Guards in sets of three, the Irish Guards in sets of four and the Welsh Guards buttons are in sets of five.

The Guards march from Victoria Barracks and up Sheet Street. Then it is left into the High Street, past the Church and Guildhall. At Queen Victoria's Statue the guards, accompanied by their marching band turn right and head up into the Castle. About fifteen minutes later the old guard return via the same route with more music.

When do they change the guard at Windsor?