June 8, 2009:
The next morning we got an early start to catch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. During the summer the ceremony takes place every day that weather permits. There was a large crowd by the time we arrived, a little before 11am, so we weren’t able to get very close to the palace gates.
First we saw the Queen’s Life Guard, who are the soldiers riding horses. The horses are beautiful, and some of the tallest we’ve seen! If you’ve been looking for a knight in shining armor, maybe you’ll find one at Buckingham Palace ;).
The changing of the guard outside Buckingham Palace followed at around 11:30am. First the New Guard led by the band marches in, and then a while later the Old Guards marches out led by the band. We couldn’t see what happened inside the palace gates from where we were standing.
The Guard’s Band even played “Livin’ La Vida Loca” and “Bailamos” while they were in the palace gates.
The sentries have a very entertaining way of marching back and forth. First he’ll march towards his right, picking up his knees, and then when he runs into a wall he’ll march in place and then turn around, and then march back to his Sentry Box.
Did we mention that London was Mini land!? We saw way more Minis there than we’ve ever seen anywhere.
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I guess India has the British influence because I have seen a changing of the gaurd occur at the India-Pak border in Amritsar which was really amazing also. The gaurds had perfect form while marching but no furry hats. Both sides were having their changing of the guard and the audiences tried to outcheer each other… I’d say we were louder! 😛
Hehe, you took a picture of a couple of Coopers, very romantic! And if I could have my own palace it would be just like that picture of the Buckingham Palace – there are so many towers!
The building in the last photo taken in St. James Park isn’t the Buckingham Palace. We’re not sure what it is, but it is beautiful!
I think that beautiful building with the towers behind the pond in St. James Park is called Whitehall.