Her Majesty the Queen's royal residences have been particularly quiet following the pandemic, but for the first time in over a year, the Changing of the Guard ceremony has resumed at Windsor Castle.
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On Thursday 22 July, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards performed the special ceremony, which was even more poignant this time due to the lack of ceremonies over the last year and a half.
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Photographs were captured showing the magical moments where the guards paraded in their finery of tunics and bearskins. In the background, crowds of hundreds of people could be seen gathering to watch the performance, keen to observe the ceremony as well as capture it on their own phones.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe crowds were out in force to see the ceremony
This practice was put on hold in March 2020 in order to avoid members of the public gathering, but now with England's restrictions easing, we are glad to see it back.
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Guardsmen have been guarding kings and queens in the UK since 1660 and so it is a welcomed tradition to have been restored.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThis is the first time the Changing of the Guard has taken place since March 2020
Reports suggest that the Changing of the Guard could resume at the Queen's London home of Buckingham Palace soon, too, so watch this space!
The monarch's annual birthday celebrations, Trooping the Colour, have also been scaled back for two years in a row now but perhaps in 2022 we can look forward to the full performance with other members of the royal family present.
© Photo: Getty ImagesWindsor Castle is the first royal residence to reinstate the tradition
Since the death of her beloved husband Prince Philip, the Queen has been mainly residing at Windsor Castle. This 900-year-old property is where her late husband spent his final days, and it is a spectacular home which holds lots of loving memories for the Queen. It was reported by The Daily Mail that the monarch plans to make this royal house her permanent residence, instead of Buckingham Palace.
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