Changing of the Horse Guard

[Edom35]

Looking good gents............

[OSkyFireO]

I feel a dire need to apologize for my trumpet call that day.....State Trumpets aren't all that great to play in the first place....let alone when it's cold...or worse still...mounted....but...no excuses! ...bad day! :P

[durbanbay]

@OSkyFireO Wow - glad someone from the parade commented. No need to apologize :) - My mom, wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the parade and we all thought it was really sharp. Hope you are well.

[LikaPyramid]

ALL HAIL DE ROTHSCHILDS!!! Ergghhm..

[durbanbay]

@LikaPyramid Sure - thanks for watching and your comment.

[durbanbay]

There have been some racist comments and also personal attacks in the comment section of this video - I am thankful to all those who commented and appreciate your kind words but won't tolerate personal attacks or prejudicial comments on my video feeds - add something meaningful to the conversation or don't comment. Thanks.

[Insperato62]

@CondusedMind - you are an insulting little racist.

[CondusedMind]

Sad fucking people, England has to grow up.

[Dojocho]

MY respect to the Uk for keeping the traditions alive in this world today.......Irish Scots too.......

[joetheking78]

They look so cool...

[Geordieerskine]

May I also add that this is in fact a long guard! The Officer, Warrant Officer & Trumpeter are only on guard whilst The Queen is in residence at the palace. The Regiment on guard is The Life Guards.

[flynnjo2323]

Thanks for the video I enjoyed seeing the cavalry !

[mrrmancunian]

I think the Blues & Royals are a lot smarter looking than the Lifeguards, but that's my reservation; the whole of HCR are smart, and classy.

[cheggsisdrunk870]

This isnt actually the changing of the guard it is the "4o'clock inspection" its from the reign of queen victoria when she came past in her carrage. On passing there were no guards outside guarding. instead they were inside playing cards. she said for 100years there would be a 4o'clock inspection. its been over a hundred years and has stuck

[durbanbay]

@cheggsisdrunk870 thanks for the info Chegg, very interesting. As I said we were just walking by and saw the guards there so we stopped to watch. We certainly didn't know the details, history or context.

[itsmepaul57]

Personally I much preferred summer dress - especially when we wear the cuirasses or breastplates (usually when mounted)

[wannos27]

well no cuirasses for the boys on foot. just the mounted i hour guards. and yea the 4 oclock inspection is definately a punishment lol. not a parade. although it is very very laid back to the point that you dont get inspected really, just a few blunt cheerfull remarks from the officer.

[itsmepaul57]

actually this is winter dress. In the summer the dismounted sentries in the hour BEFORE the guard change at 11am DO wear thier Cuirasses as otherwise they would not have time to dress (Its a 2 man opperation) P Ewards ex Lifeguards

[wannos27]

yea thats the only time they wear the cuirasses as, it just makes the guard change much smoother. good god i used to love bouncing those guards. such a relaxing time if you have a good 3 bar on guard with you, but most of them are so uptight and suffer with some kind of mild personality disorders. i do remember some class 3 bars though, used to have some really good gaurds despite landing 1st relief the chits lol

[skip2mylou05]

@itsmepaul57 did you fight with the life guards or serve as a ceremonial guard? i one day wish to join the cavalry as a life guard or dragoon but also intend to fight.

[itsmepaul57]

@skip2mylou05 The Household cavalry (both regiments) are Ceremonial AND Technical. In other words you can serve on both the Ceremonial and the Tanks/ Armoured side. They are deployed abroad at this very moment (you can guess where) You are supposed to do 3 years with each side of the regiment (whether Blue & Royal or Lifeguards )

Personally I wouldn't be joining the army right now to make myself a target for the Taliban - the Navy or RAF is the best bet......

[itsmepaul57]

@skip2mylou05 I did the ceremonial thing only. Loved London and still miss it.

[MsHatechina]

@itsmepaul57 hey, were u realy in the household cavalry?

[itsmepaul57]

@MsHatechina yes , I served from 1971 to 1980. We had 5 months combat, weapons and drill training and aftr that another 5 months equitation (riding) training. I didnt do public duties like those above for very long - VERY hard work up to 3 in the morning cleaning kit - young mans game!!! PE

[MsHatechina]

@itsmepaul57 cool info, wow 3am so early, bed time must be straight after dinner....can i ask, do you think guys today get weekends off? did you have a few days off to do what u wanted or was it purley 7 days a week grafting?

Thanks for your answers :)

[itsmepaul57]

@MsHatechina Well, things may have changed now but back then we had plenty of time off if you weren't on guard. On an ordinary day you might well finish at 12:30pm (Horses lunch time) If you were on 'Stables at 3:30pm you didn't get down there to the stables until then (sleep!) - and then only for about an hour. Unless you were on guard next day that was you finished. Same thing on weekends. I think we had loads of time off and I spent a lot of time over at Leicester sq or Piccadilly etc.

[jazzmundo69]

The Life Guards, the senior Regiment in the British Army, can trace its origins back to approximately 1651. But generally the date given is 1660, at the Restoration of King Charles II from his exile in Europe.

They first saw action at the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685, but their first battle honour is The Battle of Dettingen fought on June 16 1743.

[durbanbay]

Thank you for your interesting snippet of Histroy. Much appreciated. We didn't really understand much of the context of the horse guards but the changing of the guards was impressive, as impressive as any I have seen.

Once again, thanks for your insightful comment. Much appreciated.

[itsmepaul57]

@durbanbay Of course all you have to do is a Google search to find out more regarding each regiments traditions.

[wannos27]

lol did you copy and paste this sir ;)

[Ghost77Riders]

I dont understand why the British Gov.. does not expell these troublesome muslims??? What????????

[robespierrebeauregar]

obvious troll is obvious

[wannos27]

its called revenue taxation and so on, they care little for the concerns of the genral brittish public but more about the countries income and how it looks in the world. personally though im on your side. maybe not all ethnic minorities but definately thos ejokers that hitch rides on bananna boats hopeing they are aloud to stay. they need shipp back as soon as they are caught none of this hearing bullcrap or ciurt room ceromonial junk they dont live here they never have and never should go home

[England4Heritage]

Shut the bloody up!

[durbanbay]

I understand that you are upset by what the previous commenter said but please be respectful on my channels. For what its worth, we loved the horse guards and our time in England. We felt deeply enriched by the traditions and history and thought the UK had a proud and rich history. Please don't start arguments here even if other people are disrespectful.

[itsmepaul57]

You might be interested to know that this is obviously a winter scene during which the cavalry wear the long cloaks mainly designed to keep horses backs warm. The 'Blues' of course wear long dark blue cloaks with red collars.

ex LG

[durbanbay]

Hi Paul,

Yes, it was winter. We were there in February 2008. Thank you for your insightful comments. They were certainly instructive to me and I am sure to any other viewers of this page. I was interested to learn that they are an active unit with soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Thanks for your comments.

Paul

[itsmepaul57]

I spent 6 years stationed at Knightsbridge barracks - happiest years of my life, eps being on guard here in august 1976 WHAT A YEAR!!!

ex LG

[itsmepaul57]

These guys are part of the british army and have to do many months of basic training, trade training and a 5 month equitation course before they are allowed anywhere near Horse Guards.

ex LG

[DelaynaNicole]

very good, love this vid. The horses at our barn do the same thing. If i was the guard, i would be scared to walk behindd a horse that had back shoes, but they all did great!

[durbanbay]

Hi Delayna.

Glad you liked the video. I would also be suspect of walking behind a horse. We don't know much about horses but watching ceremonie like this are certainly interesting.

Thanks for the comment.

Paul

[robbe8889]

i never seen this but i have seen the "normal" ceremony and it was great!!! i love the drill and order :D

Thanks for the vid

[durbanbay]

Hi There JRK

Yes, we really enjoyed watching the ceremony. It is very special because this is an active regiment. We were lucky to stumble onto the ceremony.

Thanks for your comment. Have a great day

Paul