Guard ceremony cancelled at Buckingham Palace to allow police redeployment

The Changing The Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace has been cancelled on Wednesday to redeploy police officers in the wake of the Manchester attack.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “The decision has been taken in order to release the police who would otherwise be dealing with the road closures.”

The New Guard, the RAF Queen’s Colour Squadron, were due to process to the Palace from Wellington Barracks to replace the Old Guard in the traditional ceremony which attracts hundreds of tourists.

Armed troops are to be deployed to guard key locations such as the palace, Downing Street, the Palace of Westminster and embassies, Scotland Yard has said.

Soldiers will replace armed police at many sites under Operation Temperer, which is being enacted after security experts warned the Government another terrorist attack could be imminent.

Monday night’s attack at the Manchester Arena after a concert by US pop star Ariana Grande left 22 people dead, including an eight-year-old girl, and dozens injured.

Changing The Guard is one of the Palace’s most time-honoured traditions.

Thousands of tourists flock to the Queen’s official residence to see the soldiers in their red tunics and bearskins processing to and from the historic building to the sound of a military band.

In January, it was confirmed the event was switching to fixed days in the autumn and winter after security was stepped up in the wake of the Berlin terror attack.

At Windsor Castle, Changing The Guard was also cancelled. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards were ferried to the Queen’s Berkshire residence by bus instead of marching up from the town’s Victoria Barracks.

At Buckingham Palace, there was also only an administrative move. The new guard took over from those on duty without the usual pomp and ceremony of marching troops and military bands.