Queen's Guards on a Monday morning

My commute is better than your commute

Cycling to work yesterday I came around Parliament Square to head up Horse Guards road. The police had the road blocked off, and were telling cyclists to walk, not ride. The roads had just a few cyclists and other commuters, busily going to work first thing on a Monday.

I heard some faint brass band music, and looking up birdcage walk, I could see a patch of red amongst the dark green leaves.



The Queen's Guards were marching up the street, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. You could see people walking in front, a little bemused, not sure what the occasion was. There were no tourists present to line the route and block the view.



The songs were a medley of old marching tunes, expertly and effortlessly played. I caught a snippet of Rule Britannia.

One man approached and stood in their path. The leading policeman on horseback used his horse to push the man out of their path. You can see him pointing at the man in this picture, warning him to stay away.



The playing continued as they rounded the corner from Birdcage Walk onto Horse Guards Road. There's something in those marches that is both incredibly old-fashioned and yet rousing at the same time. I walked alongside them with my bicycle, grinning from ear to ear.

The image of these guards is so familiar to anyone, even those who have never visited London, that it can be surprising the effect it has to see a group (regiment?) of these soldiers close-up. Unlike Hollywood props and sets, that often disappoint when viewed for real, it's striking to see these uniforms in the flesh - the details, the sharp creases, the whiter-than-whites.



As the band passed, it revealed another regiment (?) of foot soldiers behind them. As they turned again and marched across the Horse Guards Parade, the sound of their boots on the gravel echoed off the walls, along with the music.

And just like that, they were gone.

I walked to the top of the road, marvelling at the things you might happen to see first thing on a Monday morning. I mounted my bicycle, and a fellow bicycle commuter turned to me, smiling.

"You don't see that every day", I said.
"I know. And now I'm so late for work!", she replied, and pedalled off.

You can see a full set of photos here

UPDATE: As it was pointed out to me in the comments: "The band is the Coldstream Guards and the following detachment is from the Welsh Guards." In truth I don't quite know what that means, but it seems like an important detail to correct.

London | Queens Guards | England | Soldiers | Marching | Brass Band | Horse Guards| Birdcage Walk