The Ceremony of The Keys

The Ceremony of The Keys at the Tower of London.
The ancient custom of the Ceremony of The Keys, which involves the formal locking of the gates of the Tower of London, has been carried out continuously every night, without fail, for more than 600 years since 1340.
Every night, at exactly seven minutes to 10 o'clock, the Chief Yeoman Warder of the Tower emerges from the Byward Tower wearing his long red coat and Tudor bonnet. He carries in one hand a candle lantern and in the other hand the Queens Keys.
With solemn tread he moves along Water Lane, to Traitor's Gate where his escort, provided by one of the duty regiments of Foot Guards, awaits him. He hands the lantern to an escorting soldier and the party moves to the outer gate. On the way, all guards and sentries salute the Queen's Keys.
After locking the outer gate the Chief Yeoman Warder and escort retrace their steps. The great oak gates of the Middle and Byward Towers are locked in turn.
They now return along Water lane towards Traitor's Gate where, in the shadows of the Bloody Tower archway, a sentry awaits.
"Halt, who comes there?" the sentry barks.
"The Keys!" answers the Chief Yeoman Warder.
"Whose Keys?"
"Queen Elizabeth's Keys"
"Pass Queen Elizabeth's Keys" replies the sentry, "and all's well"
The party then proceeds through the Bloody Tower archway and up towards the broadwalk steps where the main guard is drawn up. The Chief Yeoman Warder and escort halt at the foot of the steps and the officer in charge gives the command to the Guard and Escort to present arms.
The Chief Yeoman Warder moves two paces forward, raises his Tudor bonnet high in the air and calls "God preserve Queen Elizabeth." The guard answers "Amen" exactly as the clock chimes ten and 'The Duty Drummer' sounds The Last Post on his bugle.
The Chief Yeoman Warder takes the keys to the Queen's House and the guard is dismissed.

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Travel & Events

Tags:

• British
• military
• ceremony
• pageantry
• tower of london
• keys
• guards