King Charles “remarked” about the noise made by members of the elite King’s Guards issuing orders and taking up their spot during the traditional Changing of the Guard, it has been claimed. A leaked memo from the office of the equerry of the monarch read, according to The Sun: “His Majesty remarked the other day how loud the outgoing sentries were at St James’s Palace in the morning. Full marks for vigour and volume, but please could you pass down to those on guard that Clarence House is a residence and so some volume control would be very much appreciated by those inside!” The publication said it is understood the sovereign, who works from his home in the morning before heading to Buckingham Palace to carry out more state affairs, was distracted from state business.
Following King Charles’ note, an army officer reportedly told the guard commanders: “Please could you pass onto your troops that when posting sentries first thing in the morning at St James’s Palace that they should do so at a slightly lower volume.” King Charles’s remark is understood to have been a “gentle request” to be applied only in the mornings rather than a complaint about the guardsmen’s behaviour. The King’s Guard has been protecting royal palaces since 1660 and carry out the ceremonial Changing of the Guard – during which they hand over the responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace to the new guard – either every day or four times a week, depending on the season.
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