Here is Buckingham Palace as seen in a postcard dating from before 1902. If your eyes are good, you will see that there is a sentry box to the left of the main gates, outside the fence. If you click on the image, you will see it much magnified.
In those days, until 1901, it could well have been Queen Victoria who was in residence but by the time Christopher Robin went down with Alice it would have been King George V. I can't resist a verse or three:
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
Says Alice.
And Alice was right, a soldier's life was "terrible hard". The Guard always used to be outside the fence, having to endure all the attentions that tourists saw fit, subjecting them to all sorts of provocations. This could include pulling funny faces, putting toys on their shoulders, marching alongside them. Eventually in 1959 an incident occurred involving a female tourist and a guardsman which resulted in the guardsman kicking the tourist on the ankle as he marched.
The tourist complained, the guardsman was confined to barracks, and soon after the sentry boxes were moved inside the fence away from the attentions of tourists. The incident was reported in Time Magazine.
The second card dates from 1963 and shows the new position of the sentry boxes. Here the sentries are safe from distraction and so presumably the Queen is safer too.
I do like all the pomp and circumstance and I understand that the busby (guardsman’s headddress) is iconic but I’m sure it adds to their difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI have always felt sorry for those poor guards having to endure tourists that act like idiots.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is so cool and I have been there to see it for myself! It's so interesting to know the story about them being inside....the first day I was outside taking photos there was a tea or something going on and the guests arriving were amazing, the ladies dressed in very different hats but everyone was dressed nicely! It was beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like two women pushing a pram past the sentry box. I think I've been there in my youth, but I don't have a very good memory of it. Are the railings much further back from the building now, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteTwo great cards. I have a friend who used to be a guardsman who has a legion of stories he tells about being on guard duty at Buckingham Palace.
ReplyDeleteIn the top photo, that is the yellow stone building, isn't it? This is fascinating because when I was researching my post on St James's, I could not find any images of Buckingham Palace before the 1913 extension.
ReplyDeleteI have to concur - those poor guards are teased and provoked to the extreme and some are not so lucky to be inside a gate (for example, the ones outside St James's Palace).
I feel sorry for the guards, but they probably would choose a different job if they didn't like all the attention.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love that Christopher Robin verse. What great memories that brings back.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how they do it- standing still, ignoring passers-by, and the weather. I would be fidgety..and probably fired the first day.
ReplyDeleteHow sad that it was an American who caused all this grief! I apologize on behalf of us! Disgraceful.
ReplyDeleteNothing but the highest respect for the tough work these guards do. Watching the changing of the guard was a highlight of my visit to London.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that there wasn't more than one such incident; the urge to retaliate for some of the torment that went on must have been hard to resist.
ReplyDelete@Nell, I can't imagine having to wear a busby like that - heavy, hot and a balancing act.
ReplyDelete@Odoe, yes, me too!
@Karen, I've never seen it myself! It must have been lovely that day.
@Brett, yes there's a pram there and that's what made me think of Christopher Robin. :) I believe the forecourt has been remodelled.
@Alan, I'd like to bet he has some stories to tell!
@Emm, I wasn't able to say why I thought it looked odd so now I've done some research. In 1913 it was re-faced with Portland stone and remodelled. I found some before and after pictures on Wikipedia.
@Postcardy, I think they chose to be soldiers first before they thought of guard duty.
@Christine, yes, I was brought up on it too. :)
@SW Arkie, it wouldn't be the job for me either.
@Carmen, I think the American was just one of many. I've seen plenty of other tourists behaving in that way with guards elsewhere.
@Liz Stratton, it's not the easiest of jobs. I'm very glad you enjoyed the spectacle.
@Bob, I'm sure there are plenty of unreported incidents, perhaps more subtle than ankle kicking. Though it's hard to think of how to be subtle in those circumstances.
Am willing to bet the kicking tourist was an American.
ReplyDeleteOh brilliant, thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteLove the first card best - but what on earth did the tourist do?! I'm thinking I'd probably be on the side of the sentries...
ReplyDelete@Limner, yes, I'm afraid an American was involved. :)
ReplyDelete@Emm, no problem. :)
@Alison, hi! I really don't know what the tourist did but some of them are pretty irritating. I saw some tourists doing their best to disrupt the guards at Prague Castle. I'm surprised "indicents" don't happen more often.