London's Pageants and Ceremonies
Ceremonies and pageants are, of course, part of our nation's rich history. Over the
ages, as the capital has grown, it has acquired more and more of them. Sometimes it seems
that someone has forgotten to cancel the original order, sometimes we may have forgotten
why we had them in the first place. But have them we do, and rich and colourful they are.
Some, like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, take place daily, others
like the Lord Mayor's show are annual events. Here is a brief guide to some of them
| Changing the Guard |
Buckingham Palace |
daily |
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11.30 a.m. at the palace |
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| Mounting the Guard |
Horse Guards |
daily |
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11a.am with the cavalry |
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| Ceremony of the Keys |
Tower of London |
daily |
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10 p.m. at the entrance to the Tower |
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| Trooping the Colour |
Horse Guards Parade |
annual |
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on Queens official birthday in June |
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| Royal Salutes |
Hyde Park and Tower |
random |
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various state occasions are so marked |
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| Lord Mayors Show |
City of London |
annual |
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2nd Saturday in November |
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| Doggets Race |
London Bridge |
annual |
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late July |
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| Quit rents |
Law Courts, Strand |
annual |
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October 26, lawyers make more money |
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| Traditional roadsweep |
City of London |
annual |
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July, only the British could invent this |
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| Beating the bounds |
St Peter ad Vincula |
3 years |
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Ascension Day ceremony by choirboys |
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| Blue Coat march |
Holborn |
annual |
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Late September |
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| Swan Upping |
Thames |
annual |
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July marking of ownership of all swans |
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| Opening of the Courts |
Westminster Abbey |
annual |
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More rich lawyers on show |
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| Maundy money |
varies |
3 years |
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Maundy Thursday, Queen distributes it |
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| Opening of Parliament |
Westminster |
annual |
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The queen opens parliament in style |
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London ceremonies
