Ceremony of the Keys

[Windsor]

Every night the Tower is locked up by the Chief Warder who makes his way to the gates from the Byward Tower at exactly 21:53. Once all the Tower gates are locked, the last post is sounded by a trumpeter and the ceremony is concluded. This ceremony represents a 700 year-old tradition and lasts no more than 10 minutes. As with many ceremonies, it takes some significant outside influence to interrupt the Ceremony of the Keys. The one time when the ceremony was interrupted was during the Second World War, when there was an air raid on London, and a number of incendiary bombs fell on the old victorian guardroom just as the Chief Yeoman Warder and the escort were coming through the Bloody Tower archway. The shock and the noise of the bombs falling, blew over the escort and the Chief Yeoman Warder but they stood up, dusted themselves down, and carried on. The Tower holds a letter from the Officer of the Guard apologising to King George VI that the ceremony was late and a reply from the King which says that the Officer is not to be punished as it was due to enemy action that the Ceremony of The Keys was late.

Tickets for this ceremony are free but you need to apply 6-8 weeks in advance. Write to The Ceremony of the Keys, Waterloo Block, HM Tower of London, London, England EC3N 4AB enclosing a stamped addressed envelope or coupon-résponse international and stating the names of the attendees.

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[T125eagle]

thanks windsor!

[LouisFerdinand]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKhILNfbtpc   
Ceremony of the Keys