Ceremony of the Keys
The Ceremony of the Keys is the traditional locking-up of the Tower of London. It's happened every night without fail for at least 700 years. Don't miss your chance to watch this fascinating tradition on your trip to Britain.
Every night, at exactly 21:53, the Chief Yeoman Warder of the Tower emerges from the Byward Tower wearing his long red coat and Tudor bonnet and carrying a candle lantern and the Queen's Keys.
The Chief Yeoman Warder then meets his military escort (members of the Tower of London Guard), and together they lock the main gates of the Tower. As they pass, all of the Tower's guards salute the Keys. The Chief Yeoman Warder and his escort then retrace their steps, and lock the great oak gates of the Middle and Byward Towers on the way.
On the way towards Traitor's Gate, a guard in the shadows of the Bloody Tower stops them -
'Halt, who comes there?' he calls
'The keys!' answers the Chief Yeoman Warder
'Whose keys?'
'Queen Elizabeth's keys'
'Pass Queen Elizabeth's keys. All's well.' replies the guard.
After this, the group make their way through the Bloody Tower Archway, and stop at the bottom of the Broadwalk steps. On the top of the stairs, under the command of their Officer, the Tower Guard present arms.
The Chief Yeoman Warder then steps forward, raises his Tudor bonnet high in the air, and calls 'God preserve Queen Elizabeth!'. The Guard answers 'Amen' exactly as the clock strikes 22:00, and the Duty Drummer plays the Last Post on his bugle. To end the ceremony, the Chief Yeoman Warder takes the keys to the Queen's House, and the Guard is dismissed.
The only time the ceremony has been interrupted in the last 700 years was during the Second World War. During an air raid, bombs fell onto the old Victorian guardroom as the Chief Yeoman Warder and his escort were coming through the Bloody Archway. The shock and the noise of the bombs sent the group flying to the floor, 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, along with a reply from the King which says that the Officer is not to be punished as the delay was due to enemy action.
Tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys are free, but due the popularity of the ceremony, you must apply in writing at least 2 months in advance. For details on how to apply for tickets, visit the Tower of London - Ceremony of the Keys (www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/ceremonyofthekeys.aspx).