London’s oldest tradition, the Ceremony of the Keys, has been performed at the Tower of London every night without fail for over 700 years. The ceremony which dates back to the mid-1300s, was first introduced by King Edward III after he strolled into the Tower of London unchallenged one evening. Since then, the gates of the Tower have been locked every evening to protect the palace from outside attack, a tradition that every subsequent king and queen has been keen to continue.
Every night at 9:46 PM, the Chief Yeoman Warder, carrying a lantern in one hand and the Queen’s Keys in the other, emerges from the Bloody Tower. Members of the Tower Guard await his arrival in the archway, and together they march to the two gates that need to be locked for the night. After locking the gates, the Chief Yeoman Warder and the Tower Guard return towards the Royal Tower, where the Chief Yeoman Warder proclaims, “God preserve King Charles,” to which the Guard and audience chorus, “Amen”. The clock strikes ten, and the ceremony concludes with the solitary sound of The Last Post played on a bugle.
Over the years, the number of Yeoman Warders has increased to provide additional security, a trend that continued until the Tower ceased to be a Royal Residence. However, it is still a Historic Royal Palace, and the Ceremony of the Keys has taken place every day since its inception.
Recently, the Royal Marines participated in the ceremony to mark the beginning of their 360th anniversary celebrations. As the Tower Guard marched with the Chief Yeoman Warder, they kept him safe while he protected the palace that was historically the most important in London.
To witness this ancient tradition, visitors can book their tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys online. Since tickets sell out well in advance, it is best to book as early as possible. The Ceremony of the Keys is an opulent yet fascinating tradition that every person visiting or living in London should see at least once in their lives.
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