They’re changing the guard at Buckingham Palace once more.
The Queen’s Guard from the Coldstream Guards have again donned their signature red uniforms and black bearskin hats to perform the ceremony which was put on pause in March 2020 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dating back to the reign of King Henry VII, who ruled Britain until his death in 1509, the ceremony has changed palaces many times, is size-dependent on whether or not the monarch is in residence, and has been performed by foreign regiments throughout its 500-year history.
Here are some interesting facts about the world-famous ceremony …
What is Changing the Guard?
Changing the Guard occurs across three locations: Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Wellington Barracks, which is located only 275 metres from Buckingham Palace.
It is a ceremony whereby the Old Guard leave St James’s Palace, the most senior royal palace in the UK, to relieve the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
The official start time is 11am. The St James’s relief leaves Buckingham Palace at 11.10am; relieved sentries leave St James’s Palace at 11.25am; the Old Guard leaves Buckingham Palace at 11.40am; and the St James’s Palace Guard leaves Buckingham Palace at 11.45am.
The ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from August to May, and daily throughout June and July.
How old is the Changing the Guard ceremony?
It was King Henry VII, the first monarch of the House of Tudor who reigned from August 1485 to April 1509, who made the Royal Body Guard a permanent institution.
Faced with a need to restore royal authority in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses, in which England was ruled by powerful noblemen in possession of their own private armies, Henry created the Guard which changes its name in accordance to whether there is a King or Queen on the throne. Currently, it is called the Queen’s Guard.
Is Changing the Guard only held at Buckingham Palace?
Guard-changing ceremonies are also held at the Tower of London, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
The London ceremony originally took place at the Palace of Whitehall, which was the monarch’s official London residence up until 1689. When the Royal Court moved to St James’s Palace, the ceremony moved too.
When Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace in 1837, the Queen’s Guard stayed at nearby St James’s Palace, with a detachment guarding Buckingham Palace.
The size of the Guard is dictated by whether or not the Queen is in residence, which you can tell by whether the Royal Standard is flying. The number of sentries is increased if Queen Elizabeth II is at the palace.
Who are the soldiers involved in Changing the Guard?
The Queen’s Guard is made up of soldiers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who are famous worldwide for their scarlet uniforms and bearskin hats. The Guards not only perform ceremonial duties but are also active on-duty soldiers.
In June 2017, Capt Megan Couto became the first female to lead the Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace.
Are the Guards only from British regiments?
While the Coldstream Guards traditionally mount the Guard, there have been occasions when other British regiments and nations have taken over, including the Royal Navy, the Gurkhas and Royal Malay Regiment from the Malaysian Army.
The first foreign troops ever to mount the Guard were the 117th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1916. In 2000, the Australia's Federation Guard took over duties. In 2008, the 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment became the first country outside of the Commonwealth to mount the guard.
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Initial investment: Undisclosed
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Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
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Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
UAE squad
Men's draw: Victor Scvortov and Khalifa Al Hosani, (both 73 kilograms), Sergiu Toma and Mihail Marchitan (90kg), Ivan Remarenco (100kg), Ahmed Al Naqbi (60kg), Musabah Al Shamsi and Ahmed Al Hosani (66kg)
Women’s draw: Maitha Al Neyadi (57kg)
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
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Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
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