For the first time in its 357-year history, sailors from the Royal Navy today performed the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace.
Eighty-six sailors from 45 Royal Navy ships and establishments spent a month learning the intricate routines before being deemed ready to carry out the event for real.
The ceremony, which has been taking place since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, is traditionally performed by one of the five Foot Guards Regiments from the Army’s Household Division.
The sailors trained at the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, with their new skills being polished by drill instructors from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.
For the first time in its 357-year history, sailors from the Royal Navy today performed the Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace
Eighty-six sailors from 45 Royal Navy ships and establishments spent a month learning the intricate routines before being deemed ready to carry out the event for real
The ceremony, which has been taking place since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660, is traditionally performed by one of the five Foot Guards Regiments from the Army’s Household Division
The sailors trained at the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth, with their new skills being polished by drill instructors from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
They marched through the famous gates to the theme tune of Game Of Thrones watched by thousands of tourists
Warrant Officer 1st Class Eddie Wearing, the Royal Navy’s state ceremonial training officer, said before the ceremony: ‘It’s daunting, but I’m very excited
‘To be the conducting warrant officer for the first mount ever in the Royal Navy is a massive privilege and an honour to do. I’m really looking forward to it’
The roots of the Changing of the Guard ceremony can be traced all the way back to the reign of Henry VII when the first royal bodyguard was created
Sailors march to past Buckingham Palace to the theme from Game of Thrones as the Royal Navy participates for the Changing of the Guard for the first time in the ceremony’s history
Warrant Officer 1st Class Eddie Wearing, the Royal Navy’s state ceremonial training officer, said before the ceremony: ‘It’s daunting, but I’m very excited’
The Royal Navy’s turn in the Changing of the Guard ceremony is one of many events staged to celebrate 2017 as ‘The Year of the Navy’
They marched through the famous gates to the theme tune of Game Of Thrones watched by thousands of tourists.
Warrant Officer 1st Class Eddie Wearing, the Royal Navy’s state ceremonial training officer, said before the ceremony: ‘It’s daunting, but I’m very excited.
‘To be the conducting warrant officer for the first mount ever in the Royal Navy is a massive privilege and an honour to do. I’m really looking forward to it.’
The roots of the Changing of the Guard ceremony can be traced all the way back to the reign of Henry VII when the first royal bodyguard was created.
Lieutenant Commander Steve Elliott will be Captain of the Queen’s Guard.
‘As we march out of the Wellington Barracks for the first time I’m fairly sure everyone will feel an enormous sense of pride,’ he said.
‘It’s great to do this ceremonial piece and have the Royal Navy in the public eye in this way.’
But a group of soldiers from the Grenadier Guards, one of the five Foot Guards Regiments, were not worried they would be upstaged.
One said: ‘They could be better. They won’t ever be able to do it like the Grenadiers can.’
Queen’s Guard marching band exits the main gate after the British Royal Navy performed their first changing of the guard ceremony
The historic ceremony was a proud moment for the Royal Navy Sailors but a group of soldiers from the Grenadier Guards, one of the five Foot Guards Regiments, were not worried they would be upstaged
Able seaman Laura Suttle (right) takes her position in a sentry box. The Old Guard march from the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11:00 GMT, accompanied by a regimental band
The New Guard then march with a band from Wellington Barracks to take over. The event drew in crowds of tourists to witness the historic spectacle
The sailors been training at the Royal Navy’s headquarters in Portsmouth and their new skills being polished by drill instructors from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
He added: ‘We popped in to the Wellington Barracks last night and they were dead nervous. They’ve only had a month to train.’
Another joked: ‘We’ve been doing it for 300 years. It’s about time we let [the Navy] have a turn.
‘Don’t let them say we never do anything for them.’
The Royal Navy’s turn in the Changing of the Guard ceremony is one of many events staged to celebrate 2017 as ‘The Year of the Navy’.
It marks the arrival of several new ships to the fleet, including the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.