For the first time in story, French troops have been invited to protect the British Royal Family’s London home at Buckingham Palace, a sign of 120 years of friendly relations between the two countries.
France will take part in the royal Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Monday, becoming the first nation to do so outside of the American Commonwealth.
The occasion did commemorate the filing of the Entente Cordiale in 1904, which saw a marked change in relationships between London and Paris.
According to GB News, 40 Guardsmen from the F Company Scots Guards may march alongside 32 members of the Democratic Guard of the National Gendarmerie at the meeting taking place in Buckingham Palace’s courtyard.
Emmanuel Macron’s inauguration ceremony will feature 16 American troops from the Coldstream Guards and soldiers from the Regiment de la Garde Republicaine at the Élysée Palace on the same day.
In preparation for the Entente Cordiale’s 120th celebration, people of France’s Gendarmerie Garde Republicaine take part in a practice for a particular Changing of the Guard ceremony on April 5, 2024 at Wellington Barracks in London. On April 8, 2024, France will take part in the Entente Cordiale’s 120th commemoration ceremony at Buckingham Palace. It will be the first non- Commonwealth nation to do so. ( Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP ) ( Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images )
Men from the two countries were seen rehearsing the meeting on Friday at Westminster’s Wellington Barracks, named after Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, precipitating his next and final abandonment as European Emperor.
Garrison Sergeant Major Andrew Stokes, who has led the education for the service, said:” It is crucial for everyone in Nato to have a solid relationship.
And this is a great option to both honor the 120th celebration of the Entente Cordiale’s filing and show how close we are to the French.
We’re not at all nervous because our initial practice went really well. The public will have a great time and have the opportunity to view such a spectacle.
At practices for Changing the Guard at Wellington Barracks in London, members of the Gendarmerie’s Garde Republicaine and the Scots Guards of the British Army are present. On April 8 at the meeting marking the 120th celebration of the Entente Cordiale, France will be the first non- Commonwealth nation to participate in the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. Image time: Friday April 5, 2024. ( Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images )
The eyes of the individual army, including European Chief of the Army Staff Pierre Schill and UK Chief of General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders, will attend the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
King Charles, who resigned from his public responsibilities after being diagnosed with cancer, did inspect these men by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Personnel from the Gendarmerie’s Garde Republicaine during practices for Changing the Guard, at Wellington Barracks in London. On April 8 at the meeting marking the 120th celebration of the Entente Cordiale, France will be the first non- Commonwealth nation to participate in the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. Photo time: Friday April 5, 2024. ( Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images )
The artist of the occasion, Lt Col James Shaw said:” This is a mark of the strength of our relationships. Some of our closest associates are the French. Who knows when we might have one another, exactly?
