The Ceremony of the Keys: A Glorious History

Historic Royal Palaces has given me the exclusive honour of publishing one of their articles.

Although the monarchy no longer resides at the iconic Tower of London, securing it for the night remains one of the most symbolic ceremonies still undertaken by the British monarchy. While a similar regal ceremony has been adopted in both Gibraltar and Edinburgh, The Tower of London’s Ceremony of the Keys endures as a popular sight for tourists – with the free tickets made available for the ceremony often snapped up months in advance. The history of the ceremony is an endlessly fascinating one. How did it come to be? Has it really been observed for 700 years without fail? And what makes it such a popular attraction for tourists?

Securing the Tower of London

With its history rooted firmly in the militant defence of England and the country’s monarchy, the security of The Tower of London has always been of upmost importance. While the construction of the Tower itself was first commissioned by William the Conqueror in the early 1080s, the first formalised reference to the daily securing of the fortress did not come until 1555. While it is believed that the Ceremony of the Keys has been performed for at least 700 years, it was not until the mid-16th Century that the process was verified in writing – featuring in Regulations for the Officers and Servants Civil and Military, a document issued by Mary Tudor on 12th October of that year. At this time the traditional locking up of the Tower was of particular importance as the presiding monarch lived within the Tower on a day-to-day basis. Nowadays, while many of the Yeoman Warders remain within the grounds overnight, The Queen now spends her days and nights in Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Holyrood Palace, Sandringham or Balmoral. However, this is not to say that protecting the Tower of London is no longer important. The Crown Jewels – with an estimated value of anywhere in the region of £13bn – are still situated under armed guard in the Jewel House, within the Waterloo Barracks.

Observing the Ceremony

It is not known when the Ceremony of the Keys was first opened up for public viewing, but one thing is certain – the seven minute ritual has been observed with painstaking accuracy ever since. Beginning at 9.53pm, the ceremony sees the Chief Yeoman Warder and the on-duty Watchman secure the main gates of the Tower before returning along Water Lane. Here they are challenged to identify themselves by the sentry and following a carefully regimented exchange, the party proceeds through the Bloody Tower Archway to the bottom of the Broadwalk Steps. The Tower Guard then present arms, while the Chief Warder exclaims “God preserve Queen Elizabeth”. As the Last Post is sounded, the clock ticks to 10pm and the Tower is secured for another night. The timings of the ceremony have been observed with incredible accuracy, although 9.53pm has not always been the designated start time. As Constable of the Tower in 1826, the ever-demanding Duke of Wellington altered the timings as he felt it previously allowed the garrison too much free time out on the town prior to the gates being locked. The general public can now observe the Ceremony of the Keys on a near daily basis, although tickets are free of charge and in short supply, meaning they are often accounted for months in advance. They can be applied for in writing, with only those holding a date stamped ticket being admitted.

Disturbing 700 Years of Tradition

Given the at-times dramatic history of Britain and all that has occurred over the past 700 years, it is remarkable to think that there are no recorded instances of the ceremony being cancelled and only once is it said to have run behind schedule. In September 1941, with Britain under heavy aerial attack during World War II, the Tower of London was struck by a direct hit from the skies. Remarkably the ceremony is said to have only ran 30 minutes late and was carried out as per usual – a great testament to the strength of tradition and will of the British monarchy and those under its employ. To find out more about the enthralling history of the Ceremony of the Keys and how to apply for free tickets, visit the Ceremony of the Keys page on the Historic Royal Palaces Website.