The Ceremony of the Keys is an ancient ritual, held every evening at the Tower of London, when the main gates are locked for the night. It is said to be the oldest extant military ceremony in the world, and is the best-known ceremonial tradition of the Tower.

Ceremony

At exactly 9.52 pm, the Chief Yeoman Warder, dressed in Tudor watchcoat and bonnet, and carrying a candle lantern, leaves the Byward Tower and falls in with the Escort to the Keys, a military escort made up of armed members of the Tower of London Guard. The Warder passes his lantern to a soldier, and marches with his escort to the outer gate. The sentries on duty salute the King's Keys as they pass.

The Warder first locks the outer gate and then the gates of the Middle and Byward Towers. The Warder and escort march down Water Lane, until they reach the Bloody Tower archway where a sentry challenges the party to identify themselves: Written instructions that the keys should be placed in a safe place by a Tower officer, after securing the gates, date back to the 16th century.

During much of the First World War, the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) provided the Tower garrison but in 1919 after handing back the Tower Guard to the Foot Guards, the HAC's 3rd Battalion presented a lantern to the Yeomen Warders on the 12 May 1919 as a mark of friendship during their time on duty. The lamp was used for the ceremony of the keys that night and every night ever since.

Access

Between 40 and 50 visitors are allowed access to the ceremony each night, under escort. Tickets go on sale usually on the first working day of the month, for the following month. For example, tickets for June can be purchased on the 1st of May.

Notes

References

  • A 1936 BBC recording of the Tower of London ceremony:
  • Order of the Ceremony of The Keys (London), a personal website describing the ceremony (with photographs)