They’re back...and by they, we mean Queen Elizabeth’s Grenadier Guards.
On Thursday, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards performed a Changing of the Guard ceremony at Windsor Castle for the first time since March 2020. During the event, castle visitors looked on as the guards marched, sporting their famous red tunics and bearskin hats. Lucky for us, Queen Elizabeth shared some photos and videos from the occasion.
Per the official Instagram account of the royal family, the Changing of the Guard ceremony marks the moment when the soldiers currently on duty, the Old Guard, exchange places with the New Guard. If you didn’t know, the troops have guarded the sovereign and the royal palaces since the 1960s.
The queen’s guards have continued their sentry duties privately throughout the pandemic. However, all ceremonial and musical duties at Buckingham Palace, St. James's Palace and Windsor Castle were put on hold (until yesterday, that is) to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
And we weren’t the only ones excited the see the guards back in action. One user commented on the post, “Iconic moment wherever and whenever it happens! So glad they are back,” while another added, “I’ve missed this for a long time.”
A handful of followers were also concerned with the guards rocking their heavy ensembles in the summer heat. A fan wrote, “Feel for them doing ceremonial in this heat [fire emoj].”
The return of the ceremony wasn’t the only reason Thursday was special. The day also marked Prince George’s eighth birthday. For the occasion, his family released a never-before-seen portrait on the shared Cambridge Instagram account. In the picture, George is seen flashing his signature grin and sporting a striped polo and a pair of royal blue shorts.
Talk about a busy day.
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