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Buckingham Palace cancels Changing of the Guard for two days due to heat
The Household Division suspended ceremonial guard changes at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle on Wednesday and Thursday. Officials cited excessive temperatures forecast to exceed 39 degrees Celsius.
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The Household Division suspended the daily Changing of the Guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle on Wednesday and Thursday. The move follows an extreme high-temperature warning issued by the national weather service. Officials said temperatures could reach above 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit), a level that carries a risk to life even for healthy individuals.
Heat measures The Household Division stated that ceremonial operations would be adjusted for the week. Soldiers will continue guarding the residences but will be moved to shadier positions and rotated more frequently. More than 1,000 schools in England and Wales have closed because of the heat.
The United Kingdom's June temperature record is expected to be broken this week, according to the national weather service. The ceremony involves soldiers in heavy ceremonial uniforms and bearskin hats. Household Troops have guarded Buckingham Palace since 1837.
The Household Division said the decision may disappoint visitors but that the safety of the public, soldiers, and military horses remains the priority. The last extended suspension of the ceremony occurred in March 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.
