Ceremony of the Keys (London)
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date2029 | date2030 | duration | ends | firsttime | frequency | holiday_name | image | image_size | imagesize | lasttime | litcolor | longtype | mdy | month | nickname | observances | observedby | official_name | relatedto | scheduling | significance | startedby | type | week_ordinal | weekday | module}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual, held every evening at the Tower of London, when the main gates are locked for the night.<ref name="LondonEncyclopaedia">Template:Cite book</ref> It is said to be the oldest extant military ceremony in the world,<ref name="Hogg">Template:Cite book</ref> and is the best-known ceremonial tradition of the Tower.<ref name="Brewer">Template:Cite book</ref>
Ceremony
At exactly 9.52 pm,<ref>https://www.householddivision.org.uk/guard-at-the-tower-ceremony</ref> the Chief Yeoman Warder, dressed in Tudor watchcoat and bonnet, and carrying a candle lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the Escort to the Keys, a military escort made up of armed members of the Tower of London Guard.<ref name="HouseholdDivision">Template:Cite web</ref> The Warder passes his lantern to a soldier, and marches with his escort to the outer gate. The sentries on duty salute the King's Keys as they pass.<ref name="Changing-Guard">Template:Cite web</ref>
The Warder first locks the outer gate and then the gates of the Middle and Byward Towers. The Warder and escort march down Water Lane, until they reach the Bloody Tower archway where a sentry challenges the party to identify themselves:<ref name="Changing-Guard"/>Template:Efn
The Warder and escort march down to the foot of Broadwalk Steps where the main Tower Guard is drawn up to meet them. The party halts, and the officer in charge gives the command to present arms. The Chief Warder steps forward, doffs his bonnet, and proclaims:<ref name="Changing-Guard"/><ref name="LondonEncyclopaedia" />
On the answering "Amen", the clock of the Waterloo Barracks strikes 10pm and the Last Post is sounded, marking the end of the ceremony.<ref name="Changing-Guard"/><ref name="LondonEncyclopaedia" />
The Guard is dismissed, and the Chief Warder takes the keys to the King's House for safekeeping overnight.<ref name="Changing-Guard"/>
History
The origins of the ceremony are unknown. It may have begun during the Middle Ages,<ref name="LondonEncyclopaedia" /> and it is often stated that a ceremony in some form has been held since the 14th century.<ref name="HRP">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Written instructions that the keys should be placed in a safe place by a Tower officer, after securing the gates, date back to the 16th century.<ref name="LondonEncyclopaedia" /> In its current form the ceremony is likely to date to the 19th century when the institution of the Yeomen Warders was reformed by the then Constable of the Tower, the Duke of Wellington.<ref name="LondonEncyclopaedia" />
The ceremony has never been cancelled, and has been delayed only on a single occasion due to enemy action during the Second World War.<ref name="Changing-Guard"/><ref name="HouseholdDivision"/>
During much of the First World War, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) provided the Tower garrison but in 1919 after handing back the Tower Guard to the Foot Guards, the HAC's 3rd Battalion presented a lantern to the Yeomen Warders on the 12 May 1919 as a mark of friendship during their time on duty.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> The lamp was used for the ceremony of the keys that night and every night ever since.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Access
Between 40 and 50 visitors are allowed access to the ceremony each night, under escort.<ref name="HouseholdDivision"/> Tickets are £5 and must be obtained in advance from Historic Royal Palaces, the organisation that looks after the Tower.<ref name="HRP2">Template:Cite web</ref> Tickets go on sale usually on the first working day of the month, for the following month. For example, tickets for June can be purchased on the 1st of May.<ref name="HRP2"/>
Following the suspension of public visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was opened to the public again from 1 June 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notes
References
External links
- Template:Cite web
- A 1936 BBC recording of the Tower of London ceremony: Template:Cite web
- Order of the Ceremony of The Keys (London), a personal website describing the ceremony (with photographs)