The traditional Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have been canceled for the remainder of the week due to soaring temperatures. These ceremonies, which typically occur daily outside the royal residences, involve spectators witnessing soldiers in their distinctive bearskin hats and red tunics marching to the accompaniment of a military band, including horses.
With temperatures in London and the Windsor region forecasted to climb up to 39°C in the upcoming days, the Met Office has issued a red weather warning, prompting the cancellation of Changing of the Guard ceremonies on Wednesday and Thursday. Today’s ceremony was also called off to ensure the safety of soldiers, horses, and onlookers.
The Army In London, responsible for these ceremonies, explained that the cancellations were necessary to safeguard the well-being of all participants. In a statement, they highlighted the decision was based on the forecasted extreme temperatures and the red heat alert issued for the mid-week period. Following advice from the Met Office and other authorities to minimize outdoor activities, Guard Changes in Windsor and London have been suspended for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Moreover, the ongoing heatwave has necessitated adjustments to the routine guarding of royal establishments and other sites like Horse Guards Parade. The King’s Life Guard at Horse Guards will undergo a ceremony-free change at 0800 on Wednesday to protect the horses from heat stress. Soldiers on Guard duty have been relocated to shaded spots and are being rotated more frequently, standard practice during hot weather conditions.
The Household Troops, known as Guards, have safeguarded the Sovereign since 1660 and have a long history of patrolling outside Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837. During the Changing of the Guard ceremony, the Old Guard standing in front of the Palace is replaced by the New Guard from Wellington Barracks, accompanied by a Band or Corps of Drums.
As a heat dome settles over western Europe, temperatures are expected to soar close to 40°C by Wednesday, potentially breaking the June record of 35.6°C set in Hampshire back in 1976. A red weather warning for extreme heat has been issued by the Met Office covering a vast area from London to Swansea and Somerset to Birmingham from Wednesday 9 am until Thursday 9 pm. The mercury might near the UK’s all-time high of 40.3°C recorded in July 2022.
Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge indicated a headline maximum temperature of 39°C on Thursday, likely in London or the South East, with a possibility of even higher temperatures if readings lean towards the upper end of the range.
