by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Members of the British Royal Family attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday in November or the Sunday nearest to November 11, the anniversary of the Armistice,  the end of hostilities in World War I on November 11, 1918. Remembrance Sunday commemorates the contribution of British and Commonwealth military men and women in World War I, World War II, and later conflicts. Many countries changed the name from Armistice Day, with member states of the Commonwealth of Nations adopting Remembrance Day and the United States opting for Veterans Day.

What is the Cenotaph?

A cenotaph is a monument erected in memory of a deceased person whose body is buried elsewhere. The word comes from the Greek kenotaphion, kenos “empty” + taphos “tomb”. The Cenotaph is a war memorial on Whitehall in London, England. Whitehall is the street recognized as the center of the Government of the United Kingdom. Along Whitehall are many government departments and ministries, including the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office.

In 1919, British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens was approached by Prime Minister David Lloyd George and Sir Alfred Mond, First Commissioner of Works, to design a temporary cenotaph that would stand on Whitehall to be part of Peace Day celebrations in July 1919. Although the temporary cenotaph was intended to stand for only one week, it was so popular that Lutyens was asked to design a permanent one.

The Cenotaph is made from Portland stone. The design guides the eye upwards, in a back-and-forth motion, from the plinth to the words “The Glorious Dead” (referring to those who lost their lives in World War I and World War II and later conflicts), the flags on the sides, the dates of the wars, and the laurel wreaths (carved by the sculptor Francis Derwent Wood) and finally to the empty tomb on top. The Cenotaph is 35 feet/11 meters high and 15 by 9 feet/4.5 by 2.7 meters at the base.

The unveiling of The Cenotaph on November 11, 1920. The gun carriage bearing the casket of The Unknown Warrior can be seen on the left.

The Cenotaph was unveiled on November 11, 1920, the same day The Unknown Warrior was given a full state funeral and interred in the Nave of Westminster Abbey, only a few feet from the entrance. The casket of The Unknown Warrior was placed on a gun carriage and drawn by six black horses through the streets of London lined with large and silent crowds. When the gun carriage reached Whitehall, it stopped at The Cenotaph, which was then unveiled by King George V. The gun carriage was then followed by King George V, members of the Royal Family, and the government ministers to Westminster Abbey for the state funeral of The Unknown Warrior.

What happens at the National Service of Remembrance?

A military band at the 2023 Service of Remembrance

The ceremony begins at 10:36 AM with a music program that has remained unchanged since 1930.

• Rule, Britannia! by Thomas Arne – A patriotic song, originating from the poem “Rule, Britannia” by James Thomson
• Heart of Oak by William Boyce – Words by the 18th-century English actor David Garrick. It is the official march of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, and formerly the Royal Australian Navy.
• The Minstrel Boy – Traditional Irish air – Words by Thomas Moore in remembrance of his friends from Trinity College, Dublin who were killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. It is associated with the Irish Army and the traditionally Irish regiments in the army of the United Kingdom.
• Men of Harlech (Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech) – Traditional Welsh air – Words describe events during the seven-year siege of Harlech Castle between 1461 and 1468.
• The Skye Boat Song – Traditional Scottish air – The song tells how Bonnie Prince Charlie, disguised as a serving maid, escaped in a small boat after the defeat of his Jacobite rising of 1745, with the aid of Flora MacDonald. The lyrics were written by Sir Harold Boulton, 2nd Baronet.
• Isle of Beauty – Music by T.A. Rawlings – Words from the poem by Thomas Haynes Bayly – The phrase “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” comes from the poem.
• David of the White Rock (Dafydd y Garreg Wen) – Music and words attributed to David Owen
• Oft in the Stilly Night – arrangement by John Andrew Stevenson of older Scottish air, words by Thomas Moore (who also wrote the words to The Minstrel Boy above.
• Flowers of the Forest – Scottish folk tune – Commemorates the defeat of the Scottish army of James IV, King of Scots at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513.
• Nimrod from Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar – Nimrod, was an Old Testament patriarch described as “a mighty hunter before the Lord”

Music played during the actual National Service of Remembrance

• Dido’s Lament from the opera Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell – The final scene of the opera Dido and Aeneas when Dido, the Queen of Carthage, rejects her lover Aeneas for having thought of leaving her.
• The Supreme Sacrifice – Music by Charles Harris – Words were taken from a poem by Sir John Stanhope Arkwright
• Solemn Melody by Henry Walford Davies, originally for organ and orchestra
• Last Post – A bugle call used at Commonwealth military funerals and ceremonies commemorating those killed in war. The “Last Post” call originally signaled that the final sentry post had been inspected, and the camp was secure for the night.
• Beethoven’s Funeral March No. 1 – Formerly attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven but now known to have been composed by his contemporary Johann Heinrich Walch.
• O God, Our Help in Ages Past – Hymn by Isaac Watts that paraphrases the 90th Psalm
• The Rouse – A bugle call most often associated with the military in Commonwealth countries. It is commonly played following Last Post at military services and is often mistakenly referred to as Reveille.
• God Save the King – The National Anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

King Charles III leads The Prince of Wales, and The Princess Royal to The Cenotaph during the 2023 Service of Rembrance

As the band plays Dido’s Lament by Henry Purcell, the clergy led by a cross-bearer and the Choir of the Chapel Royal, proceeds to The Cenotaph. The service is led by the Dean of the Chapel Royal, usually the Bishop of London. During the playing of Solemn Melody by Henry Walford Davies, politicians, high commissioners, religious leaders from many faiths, and humanists representing the non-religious assemble. All stand at attention in silence as the Royal Family emerges.

As Big Ben strikes 11:00 AM, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fires a single-shot salute from World War I era guns on Horse Guards Parade. Two minutes’ silence is then observed. The silence represents the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when the Armistice, an agreement to end the fighting of World War I as a prelude to peace negotiations, began at 11:00 AM November 11, 1918. This silence is ended by Gunners of the Royal Horse Artillery firing a gun salute. Royal Marines buglers then sound the Last Post.

The first wreath is laid by The Monarch on behalf of the nation, followed by other members of the Royal Family laying wreaths. The Queen, The Princess of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family watch the ceremony from the Foreign Office balcony.

Queen Camilla and The Princess of Wales watch the 2023 National Service of Remembrance

The Prime Minister, other government leaders, former living Prime Ministers, and representatives of the military

The band plays Beethoven’s Funeral March No.1 by Johann Heinrich Walch as the Prime Minister lays a wreath. Other Commonwealth leaders also lay wreaths if they are present, along with the Leader of the Opposition, the leaders of major political parties, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Speaker, the Foreign Secretary, the Home Secretary, Commonwealth High Commissioners, former living United Kingdom prime ministers, representatives from the Royal Navy, Royal Army, Royal Air Force, the Merchant Navy, and the civilian emergency services.

The clergy conducting the religious service

The Dean of the Chapel Royal, usually the Bishop of London, conducts a short religious service. The hymn O God Our Help In Ages Past is sung and The Lord’s Prayer is recited.

The Rouse is played by the buglers, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. The Monarch and the other members of the Royal Family salute The Cenotaph and depart.

• The Royal Family YouTube Channel: The King Leads The National Service of Remembrance in London

After the National Service of Remembrance

The Veterans Parade in 2023

As the bands play marches and popular World War I era and World War II era songs, a parade of veterans march past The Cenotaph, saluting as they pass and laying wreaths at The Cenotaph. The veterans’ parade includes members of the Reserve Forces, volunteers from St John Ambulance, paramedics from the London Ambulance Service, and veterans from World War II, Korea, the Falklands, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other past conflicts.

The veterans march back to Horse Guards Parade, where a member of the Royal Family takes their salute in front of the Guards Memorial which commemorates the war dead from the Guards Division and related units during World War I and the war dead of the Household Division during World War II and other conflicts since 1918.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• History of the Cenotaph. English Heritage. (n.d.). https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/the-cenotaph/history/
• National Service of Remembrance. (2023). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Service_of_Remembrance
• The Cenotaph. (2024). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cenotaph
• What is the Cenotaph?. Imperial War Museums. (n.d.). https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/what-is-the-cenotaph

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Royal Ascot, held from June 18 – 22 in 2024, is a five-day race meeting held at Ascot Racecourse located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, 6 miles/9.7 km from Windsor Castle. The Ascot Racecourse covers 179 acres/72 hectares leased from the Crown Estate, a collection of lands and holdings in the United Kingdom belonging to the British monarch. Ascot Racecourse has 26 days of racing during the year, 18 days of thoroughbred horse racing between April and October, and 8 days of jump meetings between October and March.

History of Ascot Racecourse

King George IV and his brother Prince Frederick, Duke of York watching horse racing in The Royal Stand at Royal Ascot in the early 19th century

Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne (reigned 1702 – 1714). While Queen Anne was riding out from Windsor Castle, she came upon an area of open land with grass, bushes, and other small plants, and declared it was “ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch”. Her plans for a new race meeting were announced in the London Gazette of July 12, 1711: “Her Majesty’s Plate of 100 guineas will be run for round the new heat on Ascott Common, near Windsor, on Tuesday, August 7th next, by any horse, mare or gelding, being no more than six years old the grass before, as must be certified under the hand of the breeder, carrying 12 St., [Note: 12 St. = 12 stone = 168 pounds] three heats, to be entered the last day of July, at Mr. Hancock’s, at Fern Hill, near the Starting Post.”

The first race meeting was postponed until August 11, 1711. Queen Anne and her court drove in horse and carriage from Windsor Castle to witness the first race, a seven-horse race with a £50 prize, won by a horse called Doctor owned by Charles Beauclerk, 2nd Duke of St Albans, grandson of King Charles II of England and his mistress Nell Gwynn.

The first grandstand, able to hold 1,650 people, was completed in 1793 and was used for almost fifty years. An 1813 Act of Parliament ensured that the Ascot Heath would be used as a racecourse for the public in the future. Today’s grandstands at Ascot Racecourse have a capacity of 70,000.

The administration of Ascot Racecourse is handled on behalf of the Crown by His/Her Majesty’s Representative at Ascot, now appointed by the Monarch. Until 1901, the position was held by the Master of the Buckhounds, the reason why some races (see below) were named in honor of a Master of the Buckhounds.

What happens at Royal Ascot?

“The Road to the Races” – During the reign of Queen Victoria, coaches make their way down the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park, on their way to Ascot Racecourse in 1846. This is still the current practice.

In a tradition started by King George IV in 1825, each day of the five days of Royal Ascot, the Royal Family rides from Windsor Castle in the five Ascot Landaus, smaller and lighter carriages with basket-work sides, which are used each year at Royal Ascot. They arrive at the racetrack at 2:00 PM. The National Anthem is played and the Royal Standard is raised. The Royal Family sits in the Royal Enclosure.

The Royal Procession arrives at the Parade Ring during  the 2023 Royal Ascot

The Queen Anne Stakes is the first race on opening day, always a Tuesday, honoring Queen Anne’s gift to racing, founding Ascot Racecourse. There are traditional races held each day, and many of them have royalty-related names.

Tuesday

• Queen Anne Stakes – first held in 1840
• Coventry Stakes – first held in 1890
• King Charles III Stakes – first held in 1890, originally the Queen’s Stand Plate, then the King’s Stand Plate following the death of Queen Victoria and the accession of King Edward VII in 1901, renamed the King Charles III Stakes in 2023 to mark the King‘s 75th birthday
• St James’s Palace Stakes – first held in 1834
• Ascot Stakes – first held in 1988
• Wolferton Stakes – first held in 2002, when Royal Ascot was extended to five days to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, named after the village of Wolferton near Sandringham House
• Buckingham Palace Stakes – first held in 2002, when the Royal Ascot meeting was extended to a fifth day to mark the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II, named after Buckingham Palace

Wednesday

• Jersey Stakes – first held in 1919
• Queen Mary Stakes – first held in 1921, named in honor of Queen Mary, wife of King George V
• Duke of Cambridge Stakes – first held in 2004, originally titled the Windsor Forest Stakes, renamed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes in 2013 in honor of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
• Prince of Wales’s Stakes – first held in 1862, named after the Prince of Wales at that time, the future King Edward VII
• Royal Hunt Cup Handicap – first held in 1843
• Sandringham Stakes – first held in 1988, named after Sandringham, where Sandringham House, one of the royal residencies is located

Thursday

• Norfolk Stakes – first held in 1843, originally called the New Stakes, renamed the Norfolk Stakes in 1973 in of Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk who served as HM’s Representative at Ascot from 1945 to 1972
• Hampton Court Stakes – first held in 1996, had several names, renamed in 2002 named after Hampton Court, a royal residence of the Tudor period
• Ribblesdale Stakes – first held in 1919, named in honor of Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds from 1892 to 1895
• Gold Cup – first held in 1807
• Britannia Stakes – first held in 1928
• King George V Stakes – first held in 1988

Friday

• Albany Stakes – first held in 2002, originally the Henry Carnavon Stakes in memory of Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, Queen Elizabeth II’s racing manager, who died in 2001, renamed Albany Stakes in 2003
• King Edward VII Stakes – first held in 1834, originally known as the Ascot Derby, renamed King Edward VII Stakes in 1926
• Commonwealth Cup – first held in 2015
• Coronation Stakes – first held in 1840, commemorating the coronation of Queen Victoria, two years earlier
• Duke of Edinburgh Stakes – first held in 1914, originally the Bessborough Stakes in honor of John Ponsonby, 5th Earl of Bessborough who was Master of the Buckhounds, renamed in 1999 in honor of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
• Queen’s Vase – first held in 1838, the original trophy was a gold vase donated by Queen Victoria

Saturday

• Chesham Stakes – first held in 1919, in honor of Charles Cavendish, 3rd Baron Chesham, the last Master of the Buckhounds
• Windsor Castle Stakes – first held in 1988
• Hardwicke Stakes – first held in 1879, in honor of Charles Yorke, 5th Earl of Hardwicke, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds
  Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes – first held in 1868, originally called the All-Aged Stakes, renamed the Cork and Orrery Stakes in 1926, in honor of Richard Boyle, 9th Earl of Cork, who served as the Master of the Buckhounds, renamed Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2002 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, renamed the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012 to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and in 2022 it was again renamed to the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
• Wokingham Stakes – first held in 1813, named after Wokingham, a market town several miles to the west of Ascot
• Queen Alexandra Stakes – first held in 1864, originally called the Alexandra Plate, named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark who married The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII in 1863, renamed Queen Alexandra Stakes in 1931, traditionally the last race on the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting

The Enclosures

There are four enclosures, or viewing areas, at Royal Ascot: Royal Enclosure, Queen Anne Enclosure, Village Enclosure, and Windsor Enclosure. The Queen Anne Enclosure, Village Enclosure, and Windsor Enclosure are open to the public.

The Royal Enclosure

The Royal Enclosure has grandstand seats (on the right) and a close-up standing area

The Royal Enclosure, where the British Royal Family sits, is the most prestigious, and access is strictly limited. First-time applicants must apply to the Royal Enclosure Office and be sponsored by someone who has attended the Royal Enclosure for at least four years. Existing members are sent invitations by His Majesty’s Representative at Ascot to request badges each year. Badges are handwritten and can only be worn by the named person. The colors of badges vary for each day of the Royal Ascot.

The Queen Anne Enclosure

Racegoers relax in the interior of the Queen Anne Enclosure

The Queen Anne Enclosure is famous for its high fashion and extraordinary ladies’ hats. It is the only public enclosure that grants access to the Parade Ring, Grandstand, and Bandstand where Singing Around The Bandstand takes place each day after racing.

The Village Enclosure

Racegoers in the Village Enclosure

The Village Enclosure is on the inside of the track. It provides a festival atmosphere with street food stalls, cocktail bars, and live music.

The Windsor Enclosure

Racegoers in the Windsor Enclosure

The Windsor Enclosure provides a party atmosphere with roaming musicians and no formal dress code although there are items of clothing not allowed in any enclosure. Those attending can bring a picnic lunch or visit the bars and food stalls. The trackside lawns offer exciting views of the horses racing for victory as they thunder down the track.

Dress Codes

Each of the four Royal Ascot enclosures has a different Dress Code. The dress codes are very specific and very strict, especially for the Royal Enclosure. Below are dress codes verbatim from the Ascot Racecourse website: Dress Codes by Enclosure

There are some items of clothing not permitted in any enclosure:

• Novelty patterns and fabrics (including, for example; slogans, phrases, promotional messaging, brand logos, or cartoon imagery)
• Trainers (Sneakers)
• Denim
• Leggings
• Shorts

ROYAL ENCLOSURE: Members and their guests must adhere to the dress codes by choosing to follow in full a dress code they feel most comfortable with.

LADIES

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• A dress or skirt falling just above the knee or longer (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted)
• Shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch / 2.5cm
• A jacket or pashmina may be worn. Tops and dresses beneath must still comply.
• A trouser suit of matching material and colour
• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements
• Hats must be worn. However, a headpiece or hatinator with a minimum base diameter of 4 inches / 10cm is acceptable. (Note: A hatinator is fastened on the head with a band like a fascinator, but has the appearance of a hat, while a fascinator is much smaller and normally does not go over the sides of the head.)

GENTLEMEN

• Morning dress of black, grey or navy material
• A waistcoat and necktie (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)
• A black or grey top hat (may be removed within a restaurant or Private Box. Top hats may also be removed within an enclosed external seating area, terrace, balcony, or garden)
• Black dress shoes worn with socks covering the ankle

JUNIORS (Aged 10-17)

• Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with the above dress codes. However, a headpiece or fascinator may be worn as an alternative to a hat, without any size requirement.
• Juniors under 17 may wear morning dress as per the above. Alternatively, a dark-coloured lounge suit with a collared shirt and necktie is also permitted.

NOT PERMITTED IN THE ROYAL ENCLOSURE

• Unless under the age of 17, fascinators (defined as a small headpiece attached to a comb, hair clip or headband that does not have a solid base of at least 4 inches / 10cm)

Dresses and tops that are:

• Strapless or one shoulder
• Halter neck (defined as a garment held up by a strap around the neck with an open back)
• Spaghetti straps
• Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is see-through / entirely transparent)
• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)
• Customised top hats (with, for example; coloured ribbons, feathers or embellishments)
• Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs

QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE

LADIES

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)
• A trouser suit of matching material and colour
• A jumpsuit that falls below the knee and complies with the shoulder strap requirements
• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

GENTLEMEN

• A full-length two or three-piece suit. Jackets and trousers should be of matching material (morning dress is also permitted)
• A collared shirt
• A necktie (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)
• Socks must be worn and should cover the ankle

JUNIORS (Aged 10-17)

• Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with either of the above dress codes although hats, headpieces and fascinators are not compulsory.
• Juniors under the age of nine should be dressed smartly but are not required to wear a jacket or tie with their trousers and shirt.

NOT PERMITTED IN THE QUEEN ANNE ENCLOSURE

• Dresses and tops that are:
• Strapless or one shoulder
• Off-the-shoulder or bardot
• Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is see-through / entirely transparent)
• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)
• Cravats, bow ties and neckerchiefs

VILLAGE ENCLOSURE

LADIES

• A dress or top and skirt, with shoulder or halter neck straps (lace and chiffon fabrics are permitted, no minimum length)
• Trouser suits are welcome and should be of matching material and colour
• Jumpsuits should fall below the knee and comply with the above strap requirements
• A hat, headpiece or fascinator

GENTLEMEN

• A suit jacket or blazer (can be of different material to the trousers)
• A full-length trouser or chino
• A collared shirt
• A necktie, bow tie or cravat (patterns of a patriotic nature, for example a national flag, are acceptable)
• Socks must be worn and should cover the ankle

JUNIORS (Aged 10-17)

• Those aged 10-17 should dress in accordance with either of the above dress codes although hats, headpieces and fascinators are not compulsory.

NOT PERMITTED IN THE VILLAGE ENCLOSURE

Dresses and tops that are:

• Strapless or one shoulder
• Off-the-shoulder or bardot
• Sheer (defined as any type of fabric that is see-through / entirely transparent)
• Visible midriffs (defined as the mid-region of the torso between the chest and the waist)

WINDSOR ENCLOSURE

• Whilst there is no official dress code for the Windsor Enclosure, guests are encouraged to dress in smart daywear. A hat, headpiece or fascinator is encouraged along with a jacket and collared shirt.

OVERSEAS VISITORS & SERVING MILITARY PERSONNEL (in any enclosure)

OVERSEAS VISITORS

• Visitors are welcome to wear the formal National Dress of their country or Service Dress. If your National Dress does not include a hat or headpiece then you do not need to wear one. Religious headdress is permitted in place of a hat or headpiece.

SERVING MILITARY PERSONNEL

• Serving military personnel are welcome to wear Service Dress or equivalent.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Ascot. Ascot Racecourse. (n.d.). https://www.ascot.com/horse-races-and-events/royal-ascot/overview
• Ascot. Ascot Racecourse. (n.d.). https://www.ascot.com/what-to-wear/royal-ascot-dress-code
• Ascot Racecourse. (2024). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascot_Racecourse
• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• Royal Ascot. The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/royal-ascot

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

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A family watches as King Charles III gives his first Christmas Message on December 25, 2022, in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The King paid tribute to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

At 3:00 PM British Time on December 25, the British Monarch’s pre-recorded Christmas Message is broadcast throughout the United Kingdom. It is also broadcast in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth nations at times convenient to those countries. In the United States, C-SPAN broadcasts the message at times that vary depending on the network’s schedule. On the internet, the Christmas Message is embargoed until 3:00 PM British Time. The Christmas Message is now written by the Monarch sometimes with input from family and advisors.

History of the Christmas Message

John Reith, the founding Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), suggested to King George V that he make a short speech on BBC radio in 1922, the founding year of the BBC. King George V considered the new radio just entertainment and declined. Ten years later, John Reith again asked King George V to make a speech, and with the encouragement of his wife Queen Mary and Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, he agreed. On December 25, 1932, King George V read the first Christmas Message, written by the renowned English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist Rudyard Kipling.

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On December 25, 1952, Queen Elizabeth II gave her first Christmas Message at Sandringham House

The Christmas Message has been broadcast every year since 1932 with several exceptions. There was no Christmas Message in 1936 because King Edward VIII had abdicated the throne just two weeks prior, on December 10, 1936. Because Queen Elizabeth II was weeks away from the births of Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, there was no Christmas Message in 1959 and 1963. In 1969, it was decided to forgo the Christmas Message because a repeat of the documentary film Royal Family, televised in the summer in connection with the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales, was already scheduled for the holiday period. Instead, Queen Elizabeth II issued a written Christmas Message in 1969.

On December 25, 1957, Queen Elizabeth II gave the first televised Christmas Message in the Long Library at Sandringham House.

The Christmas Message

A family watching as Queen Elizabeth II gives what would be her last Christmas Message on December 25, 2021, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. The Queen marked the death of her husband Prince Philip earlier in the year.

The text of the Christmas Message usually reflects current issues and concerns along with the monarchy’s milestones and the Monarch’s personal feelings about Christmas. Several months before Christmas, the Monarch decides upon a theme, and related videos and photos are collected for inclusion in the broadcast. Queen Elizabeth II mostly wrote the text of her Christmas Messages, sometimes receiving input from her husband Prince Philip and her staff. King Charles III writes his own Christmas Messages without any input.

The Christmas Message is recorded a few days before Christmas. The location is usually Buckingham Palace, but recordings have also been made at Windsor Castle and Sandringham House. In 2003, a special broadcast from Combermere Barracks, the Household Cavalry Barracks in Windsor, was arranged at Queen Elizabeth II’s request. In 2022, King Charles III gave his first Christmas Message at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Traditionally, the Christmas Message broadcast begins with the British national anthem God Save the King/Queen except for 1968, 1986–2000, 2002, and 2007 when the national anthem was played at the end of the Christmas Message.

• Summaries of every Christmas Message can be seen at Wikipedia: Royal Christmas Message – Messages
• Texts of Queen Elizabeth II’s and King Charles III’s Christmas Messages can be read at The Royal Family: Christmas Broadcast transcripts

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• The Christmas Broadcast. The Royal Family. (n.d.-c). https://www.royal.uk/the-christmas-broadcast
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Royal Christmas message. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Christmas_message

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Commonwealth Day is held on the second Monday in March. However, there is not a worldwide uniform observance of the day in the member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, and it is not celebrated as a public holiday in most Commonwealth countries. Events which include the British Royal Family are held in London.

What is the Commonwealth of Nations?

Originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration of 1926 at the 1926 Imperial Conference in London, the Commonwealth of Nations is an international association of currently 56 member countries, most of which were former territories of the British Empire.

• The Commonwealth
• Wikipedia: Current Commonwealth Member Countries

The Head of the Commonwealth is a ceremonial leader who symbolizes “the free association of independent member nations” of the Commonwealth of Nations and keeps in touch with Commonwealth developments through regular contact with the Commonwealth Secretary General and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The Head of the Commonwealth is not formally hereditary. The Commonwealth heads of government choose the successors. Once in office, there is no term limit. The Head of the Commonwealth has no constitutional role in any Commonwealth countries except the United Kingdom if the Head of the Commonwealth is also Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The first Head of the Commonwealth, chosen in 1949, was King George VI. Since then his successors as Sovereign of the United Kingdom, his daughter Queen Elizabeth II, and his grandson King Charles III, have been chosen as Head of the Commonwealth.

What is the history of Commonwealth Day?

Commonwealth Day traces its origins to Empire Day, an event initially created to celebrate the British Empire. It was originally observed on Queen Victoria’s birthdate, May 24th, or the last weekday before it. In the latter half of the 20th century, the celebration’s focus shifted towards emphasizing the modern Commonwealth of Nations, with the event being renamed Commonwealth Day in 1958, and its date moved in 1977 to the second Monday in March.

What happens on Commonwealth Day?

Members of the British Royal Family attend the 2024 Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey. King Charles III and The Princess of Wales were unable to attend due to their cancer treatments.

Events and speeches each year focus on a theme. Past themes can be seen at Wikipedia: Commonwealth Day themes.

The Head of the Commonwealth, now King Charles III, broadcasts the Commonwealth Day Message throughout the entire Commonwealth of Nations. In some Commonwealth countries, the message is sometimes followed by a speech from a member country’s president, prime minister, or another senior government minister. The Commonwealth Secretary-General also issues a statement.

King Charles III (on left) delivers his Commonwealth Day Message during the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 13, 2023

Royal Family members along with 2,000 people attend an inter-denominational Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey in London. They listen to reflections on the year’s theme and view performances by artists from throughout the Commonwealth of Nations. The Head of the Commonwealth delivers their Commonwealth Day Message as King Charles III did in 2023.

Guests watch a video of King Charles III delivering his Commonwealth Day Message during the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, on March 11, 2024

In 2024, King Charles II could not attend in person due to his cancer treatment, and a video of his Commonwealth Day Message was played during the service. Attending the service in 2024 were Queen Camilla, The Prince of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent.

• YouTube: King Charles III’s 2024 Commonwealth Day Message
• YouTube: BBC – A Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day 2024

King Charles III shakes hands with former British Prime Minister John Major during the Commonwealth Day Reception at Buckingham Palace in 2023

Later in the day, the Commonwealth Day Reception is held for members of the Commonwealth and diplomatic communities. In 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted the first Commonwealth Day Reception of King Charles III’s reign at Buckingham Palace where they were joined by The Prince and Princess of Wales, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. In 2024, Queen Camilla attended the Commonwealth Day reception at Marlborough House, the international headquarters of the Commonwealth, where the reception is traditionally held.

• British Monarchy: Commonwealth Day 2024
• British Monarchy: Commonwealth Day 2023

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Celebrating 75 years of the Modern Commonwealth. (n.d.). https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/celebrating-75-years-of-the-commonwealth
• Celebrating the Commonwealth. Westminster Abbey. (n.d.). https://www.westminster-abbey.org/history/explore-our-history/celebrating-the-commonwealth
• Commonwealth. Westminster Abbey. (n.d.-c). https://www.westminster-abbey.org/worship-music/services-times/special-services/commonwealth-at-the-abbey
• Commonwealth Day. Commonwealth. (n.d.). https://thecommonwealth.org/commonwealth-day
• Commonwealth Day 2024. The Royal Family. (n.d.-b). https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2024-03-11/commonwealth-day-2024
• Members of the Royal Family Celebrate Commonwealth Day at the Abbey. (2024). Westminster Abbey. https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-news/commonwealth-day-service-2024
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Commonwealth Day. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Day
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Commonwealth of Nations. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Each year around 2,600 people are personally invested with their honours by the Monarch or another senior member of the British Royal Family. Twice a year, in the New Year Honours and the June Birthday Honours, a list of the honour recipients is published. Most honours are awarded on the advice of the Cabinet Office, and anybody can make a recommendation if they know someone they believe to be worthy. To find out more visit https://www.gov.uk/honours

Investitures for those honours are held throughout the year usually in either the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace or the Grand Reception Room at Windsor Castle. Sometimes Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland, and other sites are used, even the field of battle as in the photo below.

What kind of honours are awarded?

The current honours system consists of six orders of chivalry and four orders of merit. Those who receive two orders of chivalry, the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, are invested with the order’s insignia at separate specific ceremonies just for those orders.

The following orders of chivalry and orders of merit are awarded at Investitures.

Orders of Chivalry

• Most Honourable Order of the Bath
• Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
• Distinguished Service Order
• Royal Victorian Order

Orders of Merit

• Order of Merit
• Imperial Service Order
• Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• Order of the Companions of Honour

Unofficial Royalty: British Orders and Honours

What happens at an Investiture?

King Charles III while Prince of Wales conducting an Investiture in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in 1986

An Investiture is a formal ceremony in which those awarded an honour personally receive their insignia from a member of the Royal Family. The recipient will visit a royal residence with their family and friends to receive their honour. Around 60 recipients attend each Investiture. When the recipients arrive at the Investiture site, they are given a special pin to wear so that their insignia can be easily attached to their clothing when their honour is awarded. On the day of the Investiture, the insignia are carefully checked and laid out in the room where the Investiture will be held. The sword used for knighting is checked and put in its place.

The Monarch or senior member of the Royal Family enters the room attended by two Gurkha orderly officers, a tradition begun by Queen Victoria in 1876. On the dais are five members of the Yeomen of the Guard. Three Lady or Gentleman Ushers are on duty to help look after the recipients and their guests. The National Anthem is played, and then the military band or orchestra plays a selection of music during the Investiture.

Each year around 2,600 people are personally invested with their honours by the Monarch or another senior member of the British Royal Family. Twice a year, in either the New Year Honours or the June Birthday Honours, a list of the honour recipients is published. Most honours are awarded on the advice of the Cabinet Office, and anybody can make a recommendation if they know someone they believe to be worthy. To find out more, or to nominate someone for an honour, visit https://www.gov.uk/honours

King Charles III while Prince of Wales conducting an Investiture in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in 2019

Either the Lord Chamberlain or the Lord Steward stands to the right of the Monarch or senior member of the Royal Family and announces the name of each recipient and the achievement for which they are being honoured. Each insignia is placed on a cushion and is then passed to the Royal Family member awarding the honour. The Monarch or senior member of the Royal Family is provided with a brief background for each recipient by their equerry as each recipient approaches, and then places the insignia on the person and congratulates them on their honour.

Men receiving a knighthood kneel on an Investiture stool to be dubbed. The Monarch or senior member of the Royal Family lays the sword blade on the right and then the left shoulder. Only men are dubbed. Women receiving a damehood, the female counterpart to a knighthood, receive that honour in the same fashion as those receiving decorations or medals.

After the Investiture, recipients gather outside in the quadrangle with their families and friends, where they can take photographs to remember the moment.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Behind the Scenes: Investitures. The Royal Family. (n.d.). https://www.royal.uk/behind-the-scenes-investitures
• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• Investiture. (2024). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investiture
• Investitures. Royal Collection Trust. (n.d.). https://www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/a-royal-welcome-at-buckingham-palace/buckingham-palace/explore-the-exhibition/investitures
• Investitures. The Royal Family. (n.d.-b). https://www.royal.uk/investitures
• Mehl, Scott. (2012). British Orders and Honours. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/current-monarchies/british-royals/british-orders-and-honours/

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

In 2024, the Chelsea Flower Show will be held from May 21 to May 25. King Charles III and Queen Camilla along with The Duke of Gloucester and The Duchess of Gloucester will attend the preview show on May 20.

The Chelsea Flower Show, now held five days in May, is sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society and held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, an Old Soldiers’ retirement home and nursing home in Chelsea, London. 157,000 people attend the Chelsea Flower Show each year. The number of visitors is limited by the capacity of the 11-acre/4.5-hectare grounds, and all tickets must be purchased in advance. Members of the British Royal Family attend the Chelsea Flower Show.

• Royal Horticultural Society: Chelsea Flower Show

History

Chelsea Garden Show, May 19, 1914

Starting in 1833, the Royal Horticultural Society held flower shows at their gardens in Chiswick, a district in the London Borough of Hounslow, West London. In 1862, the flower show, called the Great Spring Show, was moved to Kensington Gardens in London and remained there until 1888 when the Royal Horticultural Society decided to move the flower show to Temple Gardens at The Temple, an area of the City of London surrounding Temple Church.

In 1912, the Great Spring Show was canceled at the Temple Gardens to allow an international horticultural exhibition to use the site. Instead, the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea were used for the 1912 Great Spring Show. It proved such a good site that the Great Spring Show was permanently moved there in 1913 and has taken place almost every year since, except for breaks during World War I and World War II. Eventually, the flower show came to be called the Chelsea Flower Show.

What Happens?

Visitors view the roses at the David Austin display stand at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show

There are show gardens and competition gardens. Four grades of awards – gold, silver-gilt, silver, and bronze – are awarded for the competition gardens in the following categories: gardens and floral exhibits, exhibits of trees, exhibits of vegetables including herbs, exhibits of special educational or scientific interest and exhibits of pictures, photographs, floral arrangements, and floristry.

Sculptures made of wood at the 2023 Chelsea Garden Show

There are also special awards for best show garden, best courtyard garden, best chic garden, best city garden, sundries bowl, junior display trophy, floral arrangement trophies, floristry trophies, show certificates of merit, certificates for junior displays, Royal Horticultural Society President’s Award, Royal Horticultural Society Best Tradestand Award, and Royal Horticultural Society Director General’s Award for the Best Tradestand.

There have been several royalty-related show gardens including in 1937, the year of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later The Queen Mother) – “Coronation Year: The Empire Exhibition”, with displays of ornamental and economic plants from around the British Empire.

A display created by Simon Lycett for the 2022 show in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, featuring 70 terracotta pots – one for every year of The Queen’s reign – planted with Lily of the Valley

In 2022, the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – 2022 – “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Garden”, with laser-cut steel silhouettes of the Queen surrounded by 70 planted terracotta pots planted with Lily of the Valley, the Queen’s favorite flower.

The Back to Nature Garden

In 2019, Catherine, Princess of Wales, then Duchess of Cambridge, worked with the Royal Horticultural Society as one of the co-designers for a garden display “Back to Nature Garden”. The garden featured a tree house, a waterfall, a rustic den, and a campfire to emphasize the benefits the natural world brings to mental and physical well-being.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, then Duchess of Cambridge climbing up the ladder to the treehouse in the Back to Nature Garden

The Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration, designed by Dave Green for the 2023 show, featuring a bust of King Charles III (on the right)

In 2023, the Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s life and King Charles III‘s coronation. The garden featured some of the favorite plants of both Queen Elizabeth and King Charles III.

The Princess of Wales having a picnic with students at the 2023 show

Also, in 2023, Catherine, Princess of Wales, hosted the first children’s picnic at a newly created garden at the show with students from ten schools from the Royal Horticultural Society’s school gardening campaign.

Royal Attendance

In 1913, royal visits were yet to become a tradition. King George V and Queen Mary did not attend but the King’s mother Queen Alexandra did attend the 1913 show. Eventually, royalty became a significant presence at the Chelsea Flower Show. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later The Queen Mother) regularly attended the Chelsea Garden Show. Queen Elizabeth II visited fifty times during her seventy-year reign.

King Charles and Queen Camilla speak with Janet Fookes,  Judy Ling Wong, and Piet Oudolf after awarding them the Elizabeth Medal of Honour in the Garden of Royal Reflection and Celebration during the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show 

In 2023, King Charles III, accompanied by Queen Camilla, made his first visit as King. He presented the first-ever Elizabeth Medal of Honour given out to people who have had a “significant impact on the advancement of science, art, or the practice of horticulture for the benefit of all generations and the environment.” The Elizabeth Medal of Honour is limited to seventy recipients at any one time, in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign. The Elizabeth Medal of Honour may not be awarded every year, however, it may be awarded to multiple recipients in other years.

Today, just about any member of the British royal family could attend the Chelsea Garden Show. Usually, several members of the British royal family attend a preview of the show, as part of the royal patronage of the Royal Horticultural Society.

• Gardens Illustrated: Royalty at Chelsea Flower Show through the years

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Piet Oudolf Receives Elizabeth Medal of Honour Presented by The King and Queen. Gardens Illustrated. (n.d.-a). https://www.gardensillustrated.com/chelsea/elizabeth-medal-honour-2023
• RHS Chelsea Flower Show. RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 / RHS Gardening. (n.d.). https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
• Royalty at Chelsea Flower Show Through the Years. Gardens Illustrated. (n.d.). https://www.gardensillustrated.com/chelsea/royals-at-chelsea-flower-show
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Chelsea Flower Show. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_Flower_Show

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Guarding the British Monarch is the responsibility of seven army regiments called The Household Division. The Household Division is responsible for Mounting The King’s Guard (or The Queen’s Guard if the Monarch is female) – guarding the Monarch – at Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle,  the Tower of London, Horse Guards, Clarence House, the London home of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, adjacent to St. James’s Palace, and sometimes Holyrood Palace, the Monarch’s official residence when in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The regiments of the Household Division also participate in State Ceremonial events including The King’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour), the State Opening of Parliament, State Visits, the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, and other events of national importance such as royal weddings and royal funerals. When some members of The Household Division are on their ceremonial duty rotation, the other members serve as active-duty soldiers. The Monarch is Colonel-in-Chief of all seven regiments in the Household Division.

Two regiments, known as the Household Cavalry, are on horses. The remaining five regiments, who wear the scarlet tunics and the bearskins, are the Foot Guards, infantry soldiers. The five Regiments of Foot Guards in the Household Division perform the mounting of the guard at Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Windsor Castle, the Tower of London, and Clarence House. The two regiments of the Household Cavalry mount the guard while mounted on horses outside of Horse Guards.

Regiments of the Household Cavalry

The Life Guards

The Life Guards is the most senior regiment of the British Army. They wear a scarlet tunic, a metal cuirass (a piece of armor covering the torso), and a matching helmet with a white plume on the top in an onion shape. The Life Guards wear their chin strap below their lower lip.

The Blues and Royals

The Blues and Royals is the second-most senior regiment in the British Army. They wear a blue tunic, a metal cuirass, and a helmet with red plumes. The Blues and Royals wear their chin strap under their chin.

Regiments of the Foot Guards

(And how to tell them apart. It’s the buttons.)

Grenadier Guards

The Grenadier Guards have single buttons on their tunics and their collar badge is a grenade. The most senior infantry regiment of the British Army, the Grenadier Guards is the premier ceremonial regiment. It traditionally provides the pallbearers for deceased monarchs, most recently for Queen Elizabeth II. At the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, a color party from the Grenadier Guards was present in Westminster Abbey.

Coldstream Guards

The Coldstream Guards have buttons in groups of two on their tunics and their collar badge is the Garter Star and is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. In addition to other public and ceremonial duties, the band of the Coldstream Guards plays at the Changing of The Guard, state visits, and many other events.

Scots Guards

The Scots Guards have buttons in groups of three on their tunics and their collar badge is a thistle. They were the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland.

Irish Guards

The Irish Guards have buttons in groups of four on their tunics and their collar badge is a shamrock. They were formed in 1900 by order of Queen Victoria to commemorate the Irishmen who fought in the Second Boer War for the British Empire.

Welsh Guards

The Welsh Guards have buttons in groups of five on their tunics and their collar badge is a leek. They were formed in 1915, during the First World War, by the Royal Warrant of King George V.

The Sentry

A sentry will be on duty at their post for two hours. There is a sentry box for the sentry to use in inclement weather. Every ten minutes, he/she comes to attention, slopes the rifle, and does a march of fifteen paces across the area of the post. The sentry does this four to five times. He/she then shoulders the rifle and stands at ease.

Sentries receive instructions on how to deal with nuisances or possibilities of threats from the public. The protocol begins with the sentry stamping and coming sharply to attention. He/she shouts: “Stand back from the King’s Guard!” If a person steps in front of a sentry while he/she is marching, the sentry will shout: “Make way for the King’s Guard.” If the initial protocols do not eliminate the nuisance or threat, the sentry repeats the protocol. If the nuisance or threat continues, the sentry will assume the position of port arms (holding the rifle diagonally in front of the body with the muzzle pointing upward to the left) and then point his/her rifle at the person, and shout, “Stand back from the King’s Guard!” If the warnings are not heeded the sentry then has the choice of detaining the person(s) himself or pressing the button in his sentry box to summon assistance.

At Buckingham Palace, the sentry on duty stands behind the gates so there is no direct contact with the public. However, at other sites, the public can get quite close to the sentry and sometimes become a nuisance. While at Windsor Castle on July 17, 2015, this writer witnessed such a nuisance from a young man (from a country whose young people were observed by my husband and me to be rude and disrespectful during our visit to England). As the sentry walked back and forth, this young man walked next to the sentry. This writer witnessed all the protocols in the above paragraph except for detaining the person or summoning assistance, so, yes, I did see the sentry in the photo above point his gun at the young man and shout, “Stand back from the Queen’s Guard!” This short video taken at Windsor Castle shows a similar situation: YouTube: Why you don’t harass the Queen’s Guard. Soon after this incident, ropes were installed between the sentry posts at Windsor Castle and the public to keep the public away from the sentry.

Changing The Guard

At Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, and Clarence House

 

• YouTube – The Royal Family: The Changing of the Guard

The King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, and Clarence House is provided by one of the five regiments of the Foot Guards – Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. The Changing of the Guard occurs behind the palace gates in the Buckingham Palace forecourt at 11:00 AM usually every day during the summer and on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday during the rest of the year. The public can observe the ceremony by standing outside Buckingham Palace gates.

The New Guard forming up on the parade square at Wellington Barracks before taking part in Changing the Guard in Buckingham Palace

The St. James’s Palace detachment of the King’s Guard, including the guard at Clarence House, the London residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, adjacent to St. James’s Palace, is also changed during this ceremony. They march the short distance along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where the Buckingham Palace detachment has formed up to await their arrival. These two detachments are the Old Guard. At the same time, the New Guard is forming on the parade square at Wellington Barracks located about 300 yards/270 meters from Buckingham Palace. When the New Guard is formed, it marches across into the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, advances toward the Old Guard in slow time, and halts. The Old Guard presents arms and then the New Guard presents arms. The captains of the guards march towards each other for the handing over of the palace keys. The new relief guards are marched to the guardrooms of Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace to await their sentry duty rotation.

The band by the center gate, in a half-circle, and playing music

Meanwhile, the band has taken its place by the center gate, in a half-circle, and plays music. The two regimental colors are paraded up and down by the junior officers. With the Old Guards and New Guards formed once again, the Old Guard marches out through the center gates in slow time to a regimental slow march played by the band. At the end of the slow march, the captain of the Old Guard gives the word of command to “Break into quick time” and with a brisk five-pace roll from the drums, the band leads the way back to Wellington Barracks.

The Old Guard leaving Buckingham Palace and returning to Wellington Barracks

At Windsor Castle

• YouTube – Armed Forces Videos: Changing the Guard Windsor

A similar Changing of the Guard ceremony occurs at Windsor Castle. However, the ceremony takes place inside the Windsor Castle precincts, so a castle ticket is needed to watch the ceremony. The King’s Guard at Windsor Castle is provided by one of the five regiments of the Foot Guards – Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards. The guards march from Victoria Barracks on Sheet Street, up the High Street, and into Windsor Castle, and the public gathers along the streets to see them marching to Windsor Castle.

At The Tower of London

The King’s Guard, at the Tower of London is provided by one of the five regiments of the Foot Guards – Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards, consists of one officer, six non-commissioned officers, and fifteen soldiers. A sentry is posted outside the Jewel House, where the Crown Jewels are kept, and outside The Queen’s House. Protecting the Tower of London is a joint effort of the King’s Guard, the Yeomen Warders, and the Jewel House Wardens.

The Ceremonial Opening at the Tower of London

• YouTube: The Ceremonial Opening at the Tower of London

Three main military ceremonies take place at The Tower of London. At 9:00 AM, during The Ceremonial Opening, a military escort and the Duty Yeoman Warder open the Middle and Byward Towers after which the public is allowed to enter. At 3:00 PM, The Officer of The Guard and an Escort, march to the Byward Tower to collect the Word. The Word is the daily changing password for after-hours entry to the Tower of London, used by Tower staff, residents, and the soldiers on duty.

• YouTube: The Ceremony of the Word

Filming is not allowed during the Ceremony of the Keys. C-SPAN was permitted to film the Ceremony of the Keys during the 1991 Economic Summit of the United Nations and the summit participants attended.

• C-SPAN: Ceremony of the Keys 

The third ceremony starts at exactly 9:52 PM every night, when the Chief Yeoman Warder with a military escort, secures the Tower in the centuries-old custom of the Ceremony of The Keys, during which the main gates are locked. Between 40 and 50 visitors can see the ceremony each night but tickets must be purchased in advance. The Chief Yeoman Warder, carrying a lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the military escort.

 

The Warder gives his lantern to a soldier and marches with the escort to the outer gate. The sentries on duty salute the King’s Keys as they pass. The Warder first locks the outer gate and then the gates of the Middle and Byward Towers. (above photo)

 

The Warder and escort march to the Bloody Tower archway where a sentry challenges the party to identify themselves (above photo):

Sentry: “Halt! Who comes there?”
Chief Warder: “The keys.”
Sentry: “Whose keys?”
Chief Warder: “King Charles’s keys.”
Sentry: “Pass King Charles’s Keys. All’s well.”

 

The Warder and the military escort march down to the Broadwalk Steps where the main Tower Guard is in formation to meet them (above photo). The Warder’s party halts, and the officer in charge gives the command to present arms. The Chief Warder steps forward, doffs his bonnet, and proclaims: “God preserve King Charles!” and the Guard responds “Amen!”

On the answering “Amen!”, the clock of the Waterloo Barracks in the Tower of London strikes 10:00 PM, and the Last Post is sounded, marking the end of the Ceremony of the Keys. The escort is dismissed, and the Chief Warder takes the keys to the King’s House for safekeeping overnight

At Horse Guards

The King’s Life Guard is provided by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, which consists of the Life Guards who wear red tunics and white helmet plumes, and the Blues and Royals who wear blue tunics and red helmet plumes. They serve as sentries, mounted on horses at the entrance to Horse Guards on Whitehall in London. Horse Guards, a building in between Whitehall and Horse Guards Parade, is still used for military purposes. Behind the Horse Guards building is the Horse Guards Parade. It was originally the courtyard in the middle of Whitehall Palace, built during the reign of King Henry VIII. Whitehall Palace was the main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when most of its structures, with the notable exception of the Banqueting House, were destroyed by fire. It is now the ceremonial parade ground used for royal and ceremonial events throughout the year.

 

Two mounted sentries guard the entrance to Horse Guards from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM and are changed every hour. From 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM, a pair of dismounted sentries guard the entrance. At 8:00 PM, the gates of Horse Guards are locked, and a single sentry remains until 7:00 AM.

• YouTube: Changing of The Guards At Horse Guards Parade

The main ceremony occurs every morning. Every morning at 10:30 AM, the new mounted guard leaves the Hyde Park Barracks, and arrives at the Horse Guards Parade, behind the Horse Guards building, at 11:00 AM for the Changing of the Guard. When the Monarch is in residence in London, the guard consists of one officer and twelve other ranks including a trumpeter and standard bearer, known as a Long Guard. The Standard and trumpeters only parade with a Long Guard. When the monarch is not in London, the guard is reduced to two non-commissioned officers and ten troopers, known as a Short Guard.

The Old Guard forms up on the north side of Horse Guards Parade and the New Guard forms up on the south side. When both Guards have formed up, the Corporal Major, the senior non-commissioned officer, and the sentries of the first relief of the New Guard leave for the Guard Room which is then handed over. The sentries of the Old Guard, after being relieved, rejoin the remainder of the Old Guard on the North side of the enclosure. They then return to their barracks.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Changing the Guard. The Royal Family. (n.d.). https://www.royal.uk/changing-the-guard
• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace. (n.d.). https://www.buckinghampalace.co.uk/changing-the-guard.php
• The Household Division – Official Site. (n.d.). https://www.householddivision.org.uk/
• Wikimedia. (2024, February 19). Ceremony of the Keys (London). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremony_of_the_Keys_(London)
• Wikimedia. (2024, April 15). Guard Mounting. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard_mounting#Unit Household Division ed_Kingdom
• Wikimedia. (2024, April 19). King’s Guard. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Guard

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand at the top of the steps on the West Terrace before meeting guests attending a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 3, 2023

2024 Garden Parties – May 8, 2024 and May 21, 2024 at Buckingham Palace in London, England and September 5, 2024 at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Each year two, and sometimes three, garden parties are held at Buckingham Palace in London, England in the late spring or the early summer and one is held at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland during Holyrood Week when the Monarch spends a week in the summer visiting various parts in Scotland. About 8,000 guests attend each garden party. The garden parties are a way for the Monarch to recognize and reward public service. A network of sponsors is used to nominate guests including Lord-Lieutenants (the Monarch’s personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom), charities, various societies and associations, government departments, local government, the armed services, the Church of England, and other religions. It is not possible to obtain invitations to garden parties by contacting Buckingham Palace.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE GARDEN PARTY

History

Although previous monarchs held entertainments in the Buckingham Palace garden, the tradition of large, formal, garden parties began during the reign of Queen Victoria when two garden parties were held at Buckingham Palace during her Golden Jubilee in 1887 and her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II all held garden parties. Videos of past garden parties can be seen at  https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/170525/ King George V’s 1935 garden party is at the top of the page but more video clips can be seen by scrolling down.

Buckingham Palace Garden

Behind Buckingham Palace and the privacy wall bounded by Constitution Hill to the north, Hyde Park Corner to the west, Grosvenor Place to the south-west, and the Royal Mews, the King’s Gallery, and Buckingham Palace to the south and east, is a 42 acre park, the Buckingham Palace Garden, the setting for monarch’s annual London garden parties. This writer has had the good fortune of visiting Buckingham Palace Garden as it is included with the price of admission to Buckingham Palace. It was truly amazing. I had no idea that such a beautiful park lay hidden behind those walls.

The garden at Buckingham Palace had its beginning from the garden created at Buckingham House, a large townhouse built by John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham in 1703. The core of today’s Buckingham Palace is Buckingham House. King George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 as a private residence for his wife Queen Charlotte and became known as The Queen’s House. During the 19th century, it was enlarged by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, who constructed three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace became the official residence of the British monarch during the reign of Queen Victoria.

The garden forms a triangle with Buckingham Palace at the top. The western (rear) facade of Buckingham Palace opens to the West Terrace overlooking the Main Lawn. Beyond the Main Lawn is the lake. As stated above, the garden is surrounded by a wall.

A gravel path goes around the garden’s perimeter with paths branching out around the lawns, lake, and flowerbeds. The main trees in the garden are London Plane trees, similar to the American sycamore tree. There are many commemorative trees, planted to celebrate royal occasions, a tradition begun by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The garden is maintained by eight full-time gardeners and several part-time gardeners. Most of the statuary in the garden, including vases and urns on the West Terrace, was designed by architect John Nash.

While strolling around the Buckingham Palace Garden, some architectural features can be seen. The Waterloo Vase, a 15-foot (4.6 m) stone urn made from a single piece of Carrara marble, was initially presented to Napoleon I, Emperor of France who intended to have it carved in celebration of his future military victories. After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the uncarved vase was given to The Prince Regent, later King George IV. The Prince Regent commissioned sculptor Richard Westmacott to decorate the vase with reliefs celebrating the victory of the British-led force of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Hanover, Brunswick, and Nassau, under the command of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.

A summerhouse, previously at the old Admiralty Garden at the other end of The Mall, is opposite the Waterloo Vase and is attributed to architect William Kent.

What Happens at a Garden Party?

Guests walking through the gates of Buckingham Palace for a Garden Party on July 23, 1931

The guests, with gentlemen in morning dress or lounge suits and women in day dress, usually with hats or fascinators (national dress and uniform are also often worn), enter the Buckingham Palace gates or the Holyrood Palace gates at 3:00 PM. The guests take tea and sandwiches in marquees erected in the garden.

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester arrive to meet the guests attending the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, in London, on May 3, 2023 

Members of the Royal Family enter the garden at 4:00 PM as the National Anthem is played by one of the two military bands present who also play music throughout the garden party. The Royal Family then walks through the ranks of assembled guests through ‘lanes’, with each Royal Family member taking a different route so that everyone has an equal chance of randomly speaking to a member of the Royal Family. The Royal Family arrives at the Royal Tea Tent, where they meet guests previously selected for the honor. Guests are free to eat, drink, and stroll around the garden.

The Duchess of Edinburgh speaks to guests during the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 3, 2023

HOLYROOD PALACE GARDEN PARTY

Holyrood Palace Garden Party during the reign of King George V

The Holyrood Garden Party began during the reign of King George V (reigned 1910 – 1936). King George V and Queen Mary began the tradition of spending a week each year at Holyrood Palace and hosted the first garden party in the palace gardens in 1928. The guest selection process, the Buckingham Palace garden party program, and the dress requirements are also used for the Holyrood Palace garden party.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla pause for the National Anthem at a Garden Party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on July 4, 2023

Guests during a garden party at Holyrood Palace on June 29, 2022

Holyrood Palace, which this writer has visited, is located at the end of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and is the British Monarch’s official residence in Scotland. The palace is adjacent to  Holyrood Abbey, now in ruins (behind and just to the right of Holyrood Palace in the above photo). The palace, the abbey, and the gardens (the grassy area on the right in the photo above) are set within Holyrood Park. Between 1501 – 1505, James IV, King of Scots constructed a Gothic palace adjacent to the Holyrood Abbey which was the residence of the Scots Monarch. James V, King of Scots added to the palace between 1528 – 1536. From 1671 – 1678, the palace was rebuilt and restored after years of neglect and several fires. However, some of the older palace was retained including the 16th-century historic apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots and the State Apartments.

The Princess Royal greets guests during a Garden Party at Holyrood Palace on July 4, 2023

Holyrood Palace Garden

Behind Holyrood Palace is a ten-acre garden set within the much larger Holyrood Park. Overlooking Holyrood Palace is Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano, the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park. Unlike the Buckingham Palace Garden, the Holyrood Gardens are not walled. It is mostly an open area with panoramic views of Arthur’s Seat and the surrounding hills, and views of the entire park.

The garden we see today was started by Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert. When Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first came to Holyrood Palace, the gardens were overgrown. Prince Albert established new planting areas. Since then, the gardens have been continually improved and updated, and seven greenhouses were built which supply Holyrood Palace with flowers throughout the year. Recent additions to the gardens include a physic garden containing medicinal and culinary plants that would have grown in the 17th-century garden, and a flowering meadow evoking the 15th-century monastic garden of Holyrood Abbey, the first recorded garden on the site.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• Garden Parties 2023. The Royal Family. (2023). https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-05-03/garden-parties-2023
• Garden Parties. The Royal Family. (n.d.-a). https://www.royal.uk/garden-parties
• Hardman, Robert. (2007). A Year With The Queen. Simon and Schuster.
• Holyrood Week. The Royal Family. (2023). https://www.royal.uk/holyrood-week
• Queen’s Garden Parties. (2019). https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/bazaar-art/g27554967/queen-royal-garden-parties-history/
• Taylor, Elise. (2019). The Historic Evolution of the Royal Family’s Grand Garden Parties. Vogue. https://www.vogue.com/article/the-historic-evolution-of-the-royal-familys-grand-garden-parties
• The Palace of Holyroodhouse Garden. Royal Collection Trust. (n.d.). https://www.rct.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse/the-palace-of-holyroodhouse-garden
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2023). Buckingham Palace Garden. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckingham_Palace_Garden#Garden_parties

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

NOTE: This is the first in a series of new articles about Royal Ceremonies and Events in the ten European monarchies. This article is being published to coincide with the Royal Maundy Service of March 28, 2024, at Worcester Cathedral where Queen Camilla represented King Charles III who canceled engagements due to his cancer diagnosis. Additional Royal Ceremonies and Events articles will be published starting in May. Unofficial Royalty has some previously published articles at Unofficial Royalty: Royal Ceremonies, Events.

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The Royal Maundy Service is held on Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter and the day before Good Friday. It is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles and Jesus washing of the feet of the Apostles, known as Maundy from Old French mandé and from Latin mandatum meaning “command”. The root of the practice of washing the feet is found in the hospitality customs of ancient civilizations, especially where sandals were the usual footwear. A host would provide water for guests to wash their feet, provide a servant to wash the feet of the guests, or even serve the guests by washing their feet. The traditional Maundy of washing feet is still observed in many Christian denominations. Today, the Royal Maundy Service involving the British monarch no longer involves foot washing. Instead, the monarch gives small silver coins known as Maundy Money as symbolic alms to elderly people. The only traces of the washing of the feet at the modern Royal Maundy Service are the nosegays, small flower bouquets, traditionally with the stems bound by doilies, and the linen towels worn by several officials.

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History of the Royal Maundy Service

On April 15, 1210, King John (reigned 1199 – 1216) became the first recorded English monarch to distribute alms to the poor at a Maundy service when he gave clothes, forks, food, and other gifts to the poor of Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England. In 1213, King John also became the first recorded English monarch to give gifts of small silver coins to the poor when he gave gifts of thirteen pence to thirteen poor men at a ceremony in Rochester Cathedral. The number thirteen represented those at the Last Supper, Jesus and the Twelve Apostles. By 1363, during the reign of King Edward III (reigned 1327 – 1377), the monarch gave gifts of pence but also washed the feet of the recipients. King Henry IV (reigned 1399 – 1413) was the first monarch to decree that the number of pence given be determined by the monarch’s age.

When washing the feet, the monarch used scented water to hide any unpleasant odors from the poor. In addition, the feet were washed three times before the monarch washed the feet, once by a servant and twice by court officials. In later years, sweet-smelling nosegays were used to hide odors and the nosegays are still carried today during the Royal Maundy Service. During the years when the plague was running rampant, the monarch did not attend the Royal Maundy Service. Instead, the Lord High Almoner attended, washed the feet, and distributed the alms.

The Catholic Queen Mary I (reigned 1553 – 1558) and her Protestant half-sister Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558 – 1603) both participated in elaborate Royal Maundy Services. In 1556, Mary washed the feet of forty-one poor women, one for each year of her age while “ever on her knees”, and gave each woman forty-one pence, along with gifts of bread, fish, and clothing. She also donated her gown to the poorest woman. In 1572, Elizabeth gave each woman £1 instead of gifting her gown because she disliked seeing the women trying to grab a piece of the royal gown.

King Charles I (reigned 1625 – 1649), who was beheaded resulting in the monarchy being replaced by the Commonwealth of England, rarely attended the Royal Maundy Service. After the Restoration in 1660, when the monarchy was restored, King Charles I’s son King Charles II (reigned 1660 – 1685) attempted to gain popularity by always attending the Royal Maundy Service. He even attended during the plague years of 1661 and 1663. His brother and successor King James II (reigned 1685 – 1688) also attended the services during his reign. King William III (reigned jointly with his wife and first cousin Queen Mary II, the daughter of King James II) attended the Royal Maundy Service in 1685. Pre-1725 records are vague and there is no record of any monarch attending the service from 1698 to 1932. However, over those years, the Lord High Almoner continued to attend and represent the monarch.

In the early 20th century, members of the royal family sometimes attended the Royal Maundy Service. Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII (reigned 1901 – 1910) attended twice. Most Royal Maundy Services during the first part of the 20th century were attended by Princess Helena, the fifth child, and third daughter of Queen Victoria, or Princess Helena’s daughter Princess Marie Louise. In 1931, Princess Marie Louise attended the Royal Maundy Service and suggested that her first cousin King George V (reigned 1910 – 1936) distribute the gifts the following year. King George did so in 1932, the only time he attended the service during his reign.

In January 1936, King George V died and his son King Edward VIII attended the Royal Maundy Service that year. King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in December 1936 and was succeeded by his brother King George VI (reigned 1936 – 1952). King George VI attended the Royal Maundy Service only twice during his reign in 1940 and 1944. He was represented at the services during the other years of his reign by the Lord High Almoner, Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Queen Elizabeth II (reigned 1952 – 2022) attended all but five Royal Maudy Services during her seventy-year-reign. She missed two services following childbirth and two services because she was on official visits to Commonwealth countries. In 2022, the year of the death of the 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, she was represented at the service by her son then The Prince of Wales and her daughter-in-law then The Duchess of Cornwall. Due to COVID, two services during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II (2020 and 2021) were canceled but the gifts of coins were mailed to the recipients.

King Charles III‘s first Royal Maundy Service as king took place at York Minster on April 6, 2023, and he was accompanied by Queen Camilla. After the announcement in February 2024 that King Charles III was temporarily stepping back from royal duties following a cancer diagnosis, he was represented by Queen Camilla at the 2024 service at Worcester Cathedral.

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Royal Maundy Service Sites

For the monarch’s convenience, the Royal Maundy Service was usually held in or near London. After 1714, when the monarch no longer attended, the Royal Maundy Service was held at the renovated Chapel Royal, Whitehall in the former Banqueting Hall, the only part of the Palace of Whitehall to survive a fire in 1698, until the chapel was given to the Royal United Services Institute.

From 1890 – 1954, the service was held at Westminster Abbey, London except for years when there was a coronation. Because Westminster Abbey had to be closed for the coronation preparations, the Royal Maundy Service was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London during the coronation years. From 1954 to 1970, the service was held in even-numbered years at Westminster Abbey and in odd-numbered years at cathedrals throughout the United Kingdom. Since 1970, the Royal Maundy Service has been held at different churches, usually a cathedral, throughout the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II had directed that the service be held in London only once every ten years. However, during the last years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the Royal Maundy Service was held or scheduled to be held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle or Westminster Abbey in London for the convenience of the elderly Queen Elizabeth II.

• Wikipedia: Sites of the Royal Maundy Service during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II
• Wikipedia: Sites of the Royal Maundy Service during the reign of King Charles III

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The Royal Maundy Gifts

Preparing the Maundy Money in 1932

Currently, the gift recipients are pensioners, retired people, one man and one woman for each year the monarch has lived including the year the monarch is currently living. They are chosen from various Christian churches for their service to their churches and communities. The gift recipients attend a Maundy Lecture so they will be familiar with the Royal Maundy Service. Until the joint reign of King William III and Queen Mary II (1689 – 1694), the gift recipients were poor people of the same gender as the monarch. During the the joint reign of King William III and Queen Mary II, each monarch made gifts to poor people of their gender but after Queen Mary II died in 1694, only men received gifts from King William III who reigned alone until he died in 1702. Beginning with the reign of King George I (1714 – 1727), both men and women have received gifts, with each gender in a number coinciding with the monarch’s age and each recipient receiving that number of pence. The gifts of food and clothing were eventually discontinued and replaced by monetary allowances. In 1837, when 71-year-old King William IV died and was succeeded by his 18-year-old niece Queen Victoria caused a large drop in the number of gift recipients.

Today, each gift recipient receives two small leather purses, one red and one white. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the red purse contained a total of £5.50, symbolizing the monarch’s gift of food and clothing once presented: £1 representing the money for the redemption of the monarch’s gown, £3 in place of the clothing, and £1.50 in place of the food. However, in 2023, the first Royal Maundy service during the reign of King Charles II, the red purse contained two commemorative coins, one to mark the King’s upcoming 75th birthday, the other to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of West Indian workers on the Empire Windrush and their contribution to multi-racial Britain.

The white purse contains the Maundy coins equivalent in pence to the monarch’s age. The coins are legal tender but recipients usually consider them as a keepsake. At the 2023 Royal Maundy Service, the new Maundy coins using the official coinage portrait of King Charles III by Martin Jennings made their debut.

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The Royal Maundy Service

King Charles III and Queen Camilla with the traditional nosegays, enter York Minster for their first Royal Maundy Service as King and Queen (2023)

After being greeted at the door of the church by the clergy, the monarch is presented with the traditional nosegay and then proceeds up the nave of the church.

The Yeomen of the Guard carrying the Maundy Money

The purses containing the Maundy Money are carried into the church by the Yeomen of the Guard on six silver dishes, held above their heads. Although the exact origin of this custom is uncertain, historians have speculated that it is related to earlier times when food was distributed to the gift recipients and that the dishes were held high to prevent premature grabbing of the food. The six silver dishes date from the reign of King Charles II (reigned 1660 – 1685) and are part of the Royal Regalia which is kept at the Jewel House of the Tower of London when not in use.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the 2023 Royal Maundy Service at York Minster in York, England

The Order of Service for Royal Maundy is short and simple. It begins with the reading of the Gospel of John 13:34, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The second reading from the Gospel of Matthew 25: 35-36, says: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me.”

King Charles III distributing the Maundy Money in 2023

The monarch distributes half the gifts after the first reading, and the other half after the second reading. During the gift distribution, the Chapel Royal Choir and the local choir sing anthems, concluding with George Frideric Handel‘s magnificent coronation anthem Zadok the Priest. The Royal Maundy Service concludes with prayers, the blessing and the singing of God Save the King.

• YouTube: The Royal Family: Royal Maundy Service 2023 at York Minster (video clips)

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

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Works Cited

• Royal Maundy Service. The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/royal-maundy-service
• Royal Maundy Service 2023. The Royal Family. (2023). https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-04-06/royal-maundy-service-2023
• The King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard – Royal Maundy Service. The King’s Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard. https://www.yeomenoftheguard.co.uk/maundy-service
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Maundy (foot washing). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_(foot_washing)
• Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Royal Maundy. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Maundy